C3 2021
Job Title: AI and Digital Capability Programme Lead
Reports to: Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Terms: Fixed Term 2-years contract, Full time, Dublin based, 50% hybrid
Salary: GB8: €80,184 – €89,094
Requirements: Occasional travel requirements to other support offices and country programmes visit
About Concern: Established in 1968, Concern is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.
Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.
Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.
Role Purpose: Concern has launched its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which recognises AI and digital skills as critical enablers of the organisation’s future objectives.
While Concern has already developed a range of digital initiatives, we recognise that further capability is needed as we start this strategic initiative. We are therefore creating a new role to help close this skills gap and advance Concern’s mission through stronger digital enablement.
Reporting directly to the CIO this 2-year contract will be expected to deliver on an ambitious program and deliver measurable improvements across a number of key metrics.
The AI and Digital Capability Programme Lead is responsible for building an organisation-wide capability in digital tools and artificial intelligence, ensuring staff can use technology safely, ethically, and effectively to deliver our mission with more agility and efficiency. While balancing competing priorities the role will lead and drive the organisation’s approach to closing critical digital skills gaps across headquarters and country programmes, embed responsible AI practices into business-as-usual practices, and support inclusive, context-appropriate digital transformation. Operating with a high level of autonomy, the role holder will be expected to work independently, identify priorities, shape delivery plans, and make informed recommendations where no established organisational precedent or standard approach yet exists. The role holder must be able to lead adoption where policies, tools and best practices are still evolving. The successful candidate will be expected to exercise independent judgement and will be accountable for defining and implementing the organisation’s AI and digital skills enablement approach across Head Office (HO) and country programmes and will help define Concern’s digital skills and AI capability roadmap.
Responsibilities:
AI Development
Drive the responsible adoption of AI across the organisation by identifying innovation opportunities, coordinating AI pilots and proof-of-concepts
Evaluate the outcome of those pilots and proofs of concepts to determine the most productive options
Drive integration across systems and functions by aligning AI and digital skills with core business systems by seeking opportunities to embed AI enabled tools in business processes, data led decision making and strengthening operational efficiency.
Independently assess potential AI use cases, determine their suitability for pilot or proof-of-concept activity, and make recommendations on whether they should be scaled, adapted, or discontinued.
2. Digital Skills Development
Design and deliver tiered digital skills learning pathways tailored to different roles and contexts.
Develop practical, scenario-based learning materials focused on operational use cases e.g. Using MS Teams for Transport teams in a country programme area.
Define and drive approaches to localisation and accessibility of learning materials for country offices.
Assist in the development of a digital learning strategy and ensure its alignment with the new learning strategy
3. Responsible and Ethical Use of AI
Promote responsible AI use in line with Concern policies on data protection, cybersecurity and safeguarding.
Support understanding of risks including bias, misinformation, and data leakage.
Work with internal stakeholders such as the senior management team, country directors and regional directors to reinforce, apply and interpret governance frameworks across complex contexts. Particularly with the senior management team regional directors, and country directors.
Lead upon the development and continuous improvement of AI governance as organisational needs and external best practices evolve.
Apply independent judgement in interpreting AI governance, data protection, cybersecurity, and safeguarding requirements across varied operational contexts, escalating only where significant organisational risk or policy ambiguity arises.
4. Advisory, Coordination, and Change Support
Act as a focal point for AI and digital skills initiatives and provide expert advice across HO and country programmes.
Contribute to organisational planning and decision-making by providing strategic insight on AI and digital skills.
Lead and coordinate change management activities that support the successful adoption of new policies, tools and digital practices.
Build a global network to help establish a community of practice.
Provide independent advice and challenge to teams on the appropriate use of AI and digital tools, balancing innovation, operational need, organisational policy, and risk.
5. Strategic partnerships and Digital Governance
Represent and enhance Concerns relationships with external organisations to seek the latest on best practices in the field with a view to developing additional collaborations.
Act as the organisation’s internal authority on appropriate and approved use of AI and digital tools.
Represent Concern independently in external digital and AI forums, identifying relevant developments, partnerships, and good practice that should inform the organisation’s approach.
6. Monitoring and Improvement
Track training uptake, learning outcomes, and feedback.
Provide updates to senior management on capability, maturity and risks.
Analyse adoption, learning, and risk data independently, using evidence to identify barriers, recommend corrective action, and inform senior management decision-making.
Role Holder Requirements:
Essential Requirements
Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in artificial intelligence, digital learning, information systems, or organisational development.
Experience in digital skills development or organisational learning.
Strong applied understanding of AI and digital tools.
Experience delivering training to diverse, multicultural audiences.
Understanding of ethical, data protection, and do no harm principles.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision, exercise sound judgement, and make practical decisions in complex or evolving areas.
Desirable Requirements
Experience in humanitarian, development, or NGO environments.
Familiarity with low-resource and low-connectivity contexts.
Experience supporting organisational change or technology adoption.
Knowledge of responsible AI or technology governance frameworks.
We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organisation. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations and is committed to promoting equality.
If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter. We will respond to every applicant. Please be aware we may offer positions before the closing date.
Candidates must have unrestricted right to work in Ireland at the time of application.
If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance - for example if you have a disability e.g. a hearing impairment - please let us know and we will do our best to respond to your needs.
Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.
Your Personal Data
During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on ensuring that the name of any employee or volunteer (existing or new), does not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).
Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will only be made following a successful clearance check being conducted on the applicant and such checks may be updated periodically during the course of the period of employment.
By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists
In certain circumstances, donors may request that personal data relating to employees to work on the activities that they fund be provided directly to them - so that they can perform their own counter terrorism checks. This may involve transferring some basic personal data outside the EEA. It will be a condition of your employment contract that Concern be allowed to share this information with institutional donors for these purposes.
For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.
You have certain rights under data protection legislation. For more information on how to exercise those rights please visit www.concern.net/about/privacy
Please only apply for this position if you are satisfied with the proposed processing of your personal data as outlined above.
