Artificial Intelligence Senior Specialist

The aim of the programme is to identify, develop, and deploy high potential responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) automation and optimisation solutions targeting towards tackling issues in priority areas of health, education, humanitarian, economic development, and climate action."

The incumbent will lead the design, deployment, validation, and institutionalization of AI pilots under the Ethiopia Facility. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, project management, ethical governance, capacity building, and policy engagement to ensure AI solutions are responsibly implemented, validated, and transitioned into sustainable national systems aligned with Ethiopia’s National AI Policy (2024), Digital Ethiopia 2030 & Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute priorities. The position is contingent upon the successful awarding of the Ethiopia project from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Pilot Design & Implementation

• Lead technical design and deployment of AI pilots across health, education, agriculture, humanitarian response, climate resilience, and economic governance sectors.
• Coordinate design sprints with ministries, local partners, universities, CSOs, and users.
• Ensure pilots follow the Test → Validate → Scale lifecycle with clear learning objectives, MEL baselines, and decision gate compliance.
• Lead development of AI infrastructure such as data pipelines and application programming interface that allow AI models to be used by other applications.

Technical Oversight

• Develop and adapt AI models using existing validated components.
• Ensure mobile-first, lightweight deployment where feasible.
• Monitor pilot performance using real-time dashboards, MEL indicators, and bias/equity screens.
• Support implementation of Value for Money (VfM) reviews and procurement benchmarking. 

Governance & Ethics

• Collaborate with the multi-sectorial Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for AI solutions advancement and implementation
• Ensure ethical compliance, including IRB/ethics clearance where required.
• Support bias audits, equity assessments, and inclusion safeguards.
• Ensure exclusion of surveillance/security use-cases and adherence to data governance and Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) protocols.
• Work with CSO representatives to strengthen civic-space oversight. 

Capacity Building

• Support training and mentorship under the four reinforcing orbits: leadership, universities, frontline providers, and CSOs.
• Contribute to curriculum development, accreditation processes, and embedding training modules into national university and civil service systems.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer, train-the-trainer models, and sustainability planning during scale-up. 

Policy & Institutionalization

• Support policy blueprinting, drafting of technical/policy notes, and development of regulatory frameworks.
• Assist ministries to integrate AI tools into budgets and operational SOPs.
• Contribute to Ethiopia’s positioning as a regional model through AU and HealthTech Hub Africa platforms. 

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with Jhpiego global teams, ministries, EAII, local partners, and international experts.
• Prepare technical documentation, validation reports, and institutional handover packages.
• Represent the consortium in technical forums and capacity-building workshops. 

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Collaborate with MEL teams to ensure pilots report onto central dashboards.
• Track decision triggers and provides evidence for go/no-go at decision gates.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual VfM reviews, policy briefs, and case studies.

• Master’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, AI/ML, or related field.
• Minimum 9 years of experience in AI solution development and deployment, preferably in health, education, climate action, agriculture, or development sectors.
• Proven experience in AI ethics, bias auditing, IRB/ethics compliance, and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of data governance, privacy-by-design, and DSA protocols.
• Experience working with government ministries, CSOs, and academic institutions in Ethiopia or similar contexts.
• Experience working in AI centered projects funded by international donors (Mastercard foundation, Gates Foundation, Foreign commonwealth and development office (FCDO)
• Familiarity with MEL frameworks, Value for money analysis, and pilot lifecycle management.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams.

Abilities/Skills:

• Experience with AI applications in health, education, climate action, agriculture, economic development, and humanitarian sectors.
• Knowledge of Digital Ethiopia 2030, National AI Policy (2024), EAII, AU Continental AI Strategy, and Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem.
• Experience of managing and leading AI based projects is highly preferred.
• Experience in capacity building, curriculum development, or train-the-trainer models.
• Familiarity with Jhpiego’s AI tools, HealthTech Hub Africa, or similar global health innovation platforms. 

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Professional proficiency in Amharic is required.

Salary: Between 28,659 – 53,164 USD per annum. 

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

“Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

EEO is the Law

Application Deadline: October 9, 2025

Note: Recruitment for this position is contingent upon the successful award of the bid under which this role is being advertised.

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