UN Climate Change is Hiring AI and Data Experts for High-Impact Remote Roles.Explore this opportunity to advance your career in climate technology and AI for climate action with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We are advertising for potential remote AI and Data Specialist roles within the innovative Mitigation Data Service Unit. These positions are at the forefront of developing machine learning and digital products to support global greenhouse gas emission reduction and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. If you are a data scientist, AI developer, or climate tech professional seeking a high-impact international career, monitor the official UNFCCC career portal for these and similar openings.
Background & Job Description
This job post is a speculative overview based on the publicly described work of a UNFCCC division. Our platform is an independent job board and is not affiliated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This information is provided to inform our audience of potential career paths; specific vacancies and application instructions must be sourced directly from the official UNFCCC careers page.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) stands at the center of the global political response to climate change. The secretariat of the UNFCCC provides essential substantive, technical, and operational support to the intergovernmental process, including the implementation of the landmark Paris Agreement. It is a dynamic and essential organization operating in a complex, high-stakes environment to address one of the most critical challenges of the modern era.
Within the UNFCCC, the Mitigation Division plays a pivotal role in supporting member countries (Parties) in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved by assisting with the development and implementation of key national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDs). The division is also responsible for leading work on cooperative approaches, including the development of regulatory frameworks for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which includes mechanisms for emissions trading.
The Mitigation Data Service Unit is the innovation engine within this division. It is actively engaged in the cutting-edge field of leveraging technology for climate solutions. The unit specializes in the development and piloting (through Proofs of Concept – PoCs) of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning models, and other digital products. Its mission is to collaborate on the design, testing, and integration of novel tools that enhance the collection, analysis, and reporting of climate data. This work is critical for improving transparency, tracking progress against climate goals, and empowering countries with the data-driven insights needed for effective climate policy and action.
Based on this operational background, the UNFCCC frequently seeks highly specialized contractors and staff to fill roles within this unit. These positions are typically project-based and focus on turning innovative ideas into tangible digital tools that serve the global climate agenda.
UN Climate Change is Hiring AI and Data Experts for High-Impact Remote Roles
Tasks
While specific tasks will vary by project and role, a professional in the Mitigation Data Service Unit could be expected to contribute to the following areas:
1. AI and Machine Learning Solution Development:
- Design, build, and test machine learning models and algorithms to analyze complex climate datasets, such as those related to greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy potential, or climate vulnerability.
- Develop and implement end-to-end AI pipelines, from data preprocessing and feature engineering to model training, validation, and deployment in a cloud environment.
- Conduct research and development on applying state-of-the-art AI techniques to solve specific climate mitigation challenges, such as predicting emission trends or optimizing carbon sequestration projects.
2. Digital Product Lifecycle Management:
- Collaborate with climate policy experts and country stakeholders to co-design digital tools that address real-world data needs for NDC implementation and reporting.
- Lead the development of Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to validate the feasibility and utility of proposed digital solutions, creating prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs).
- Participate in the full software development lifecycle for digital products, including requirements gathering, architecture design, coding, testing, and user feedback integration.
3. Data Engineering and Architecture:
- Build and maintain robust data pipelines that ingest, clean, and harmonize climate data from diverse international sources, ensuring data quality and interoperability.
- Develop and manage databases and data warehouses optimized for large-scale climate data analysis and accessibility for both internal and external users.
- Work with geospatial data and remote sensing information, integrating them into analytical models and visualization platforms.
4. Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building:
- Document code, models, and system architectures to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and knowledge sharing within the team and with partner organizations.
- Create technical documentation and user guides for newly developed digital tools and platforms.
- Potentially conduct training sessions or workshops for UNFCCC staff and country representatives on how to use and interpret the outputs of new data products.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Informatics, Geoinformatics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field is typically required.
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with additional years of qualifying experience and relevant professional certifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
- Certifications in cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure), machine learning specialties (e.g., TensorFlow Developer, AWS Certified Machine Learning), or data engineering are highly desirable.
Experience
Required Experience:
- A minimum of 5-7 years (with a Master’s) or 7-9 years (with a Bachelor’s) of progressively responsible experience in data science, machine learning engineering, or software development with a focus on data-intensive applications.
- Proven, hands-on programming experience in Python (preferred), R, or similar languages, with a strong portfolio of projects demonstrating expertise in libraries such as pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
- Demonstrable experience with the end-to-end process of developing and deploying machine learning models into production environments.
- Solid experience in data engineering, including working with SQL and NoSQL databases, building ETL/ELT pipelines, and using big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
- Experience with version control systems like Git and collaborative development practices.
Desired Experience:
- Prior project experience in the environmental, climate science, or sustainable development sector is a significant advantage.
- Experience working with geospatial data and using tools like QGIS, Google Earth Engine, or ESRI ArcGIS.
- Experience in developing interactive data visualizations and dashboards using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or JavaScript libraries (D3.js).
- A proven track record of successfully delivering PoCs and moving projects from the ideation phase to a functional prototype.
- Experience working in an agile development environment.
- Familiarity with the international climate policy landscape, including an understanding of NDCs, the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), or carbon markets under Article 6.
- Previous work experience within the United Nations system or other international organizations is highly valued.
Additional Information
Language Requirement:
- Exceptional written and spoken proficiency in English is essential for this role. Knowledge of other UN official languages (such as French or Spanish) is often considered a strong asset.
Contract & Location Details:
- Typical Contract Type: Consultancy (International Individual Contractor Agreement – IICA) or Fixed-Term appointment. Specific grade and duration depend on the project and funding.
- Location: Many technical roles within the UNFCCC, particularly in innovation units, offer remote or home-based working arrangements, though some positions may be based at the secretariat’s headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
The UNFCCC is committed to achieving diversity and inclusion within its workforce. It encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities. Selection is made on the basis of merit and in line with the UN’s core values.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are strongly advised to monitor the official UNFCCC career portal at careers.unfccc.int for specific vacancy announcements. Applications are only accepted through this official portal during open recruitment periods. Our platform merely advertises and summarizes potential opportunities based on public information.
Scam Alert:
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for a payment, please disregard it and report the incident to the UNFCCC secretariat.
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