Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence (MPA-AI) and The University of the West Indies (UWI), is establishing an Open-Source Programme Office (OSPO) for Trinidad and Tobago. The OSPO will serve as the central hub for building a sustainable open-source ecosystem, enhancing public sector digital capacity, and deploying open-source solutions to improve government services, in direct support of the National Digital Strategy 2023-2026.

 

An important development challenge in Trinidad and Tobago is the need for a sustainable Open-Source ecosystem to advance digital transformation in the public sector. Barriers to Open-Source adoption include limited technical expertise, concerns over long-term costs, and a lack of structured support, which hinder government’s ability to leverage digital tools effectively and improve service delivery. These challenges prevent the public sector from fully utilizing open-source solutions to increase accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in government services.

 

This project aims to establish an Open-Source Programme Office (OSPO) in Trinidad and Tobago to address these needs. The OSPO will build local capacity to deploy and support open-source technology, promote sustainable Open-Source practices, and support pilot projects that demonstrate open-source applications in key sectors such as healthcare and education.

 

Expected results include:

These outcomes align with the Trinidad and Tobago’s digital strategy, and they contribute to an inclusive, digitally empowered society by fostering a resilient Open-Source ecosystem.

 

The Open-Source Project Manager will be the strategic lead and public face of the OSPO, responsible for its overall direction, management, and integration into the national digital transformation agenda.

 

Over the course of the pilot, the Open-Source Project Manager (OSPO Manager) will facilitate the government’s engagement with Open-Source communities, while developing strategies to enhance the country’s presence and reputation in global Open-Source spaces. The Project Manager will collaborate with national and international stakeholders, build key relationships, deliver training, and integrate Open-Source approaches into national digital transformation efforts, with a goal to establish Trinidad and Tobago as an active contributor in the global Open-Source ecosystem.

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager (OSPO) will be responsible for the following key outputs:

 

1.) Strategic Leadership & OSPO Governance:

2.) Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building:

3.) Programme & Project Management:

4.) Ecosystem Development & Sustainability:

5.) Capacity Building & Training & Knowledge Management:

6.) Change Management and Adoption:

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

 

 

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Manager (OSPO) will be supervised by the Digital Project Manager at the UNDP Trinidad and Tobago Multi-Country Office.

 

 

Competencies

• ACHIEVE RESULTS - LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• THINK INNOVATEVELY - LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• LEARN CONTINUOUSLY - LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• ADAPT WITH AGILITY - LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• ACT WITH DETERMINATION - LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• ENGAGE AND PARTNER - LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

• BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
  • SYSTEMS THINKING: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
  • COMMUNICATION: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Technical Competencies

• DIGITAL
  • INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM CURATION: Ability to identify key players in an ecosystem, engage with them and management mobilise them to build a community and over time a movement around a common mission that can bring about changes at the system level. Ability to give sense of purpose and build trust, develop programmes of activities and platforms to build and strengthen relationships.
  • INNOVATION MANAGEMENT: Being able to create the, strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organisational level. Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, is able manage projects based principles of adaptation and emergence. Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in- depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, capabilities.
  • INNOVATION CAPACITY BUILDING: Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation. Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset. Ability to create the authorising environment (mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of working. In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and innovation management. Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in an ICT related field, Project Management, International Development, Public Policy or related field is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced degree.

• A minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree or equivalent) of relevant experience in project management, strategy, planning or implementation is required.

• IT Project Management: At least 2 years or more of experience implementing or managing software or information systems for large organizations or government.
• Strategic Leadership: At least 2 or more separate examples of experience leading strategic projects at large organizations, government or multilateral agencies.
• Partnership management: At least 2 years or more of stakeholder management and communications experience, managing or facilitating projects with senior government leaders, multilateral agencies, internal teams, or cross-functional stakeholders
• At least 1 year of experience working on projects with National Governments or International Development Agencies in the Caribbean or Latin America.
• Experience in the design, implementation, or management of open-source software (OSS) solutions of the European Union or its Member States.
• Experience in Sustained leadership contributions to at least one (1) major Open-Source software project.
• Experience in Open-Source licenses including appropriate use cases, and major attributes of license categories.
• Experience and familiarity with multiple programming languages (coding experience) is an asset.
• Experience implementing technology trends and digital solutions relevant to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Open-Source technology, and Artificial Intelligence.
• Demonstrated experience in critical analysis and thinking, problem solving and strategic planning.

• Fluency in the English Language is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable ((Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).

• Certification in Emerging Technologies such as open-source software, artificial intelligence, or digital public infrastructure would be considered an asset.