Job Description

Title: Chief Architect

Location: India; New Delhi

Salary: Competitive

Position: Full-time - 24 month contract

Posted on: 2 November 2023

Application deadline: 4 December, 2023, 6 pm IST (applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)

Background:

PxD requires a Chief Architect who will play a critical role in improving the lives of millions of smallholder farmers by developing and managing a Digital Agricultural Extension System Roadmap for India. This will involve creating an ecosystem of public-private partnerships (PPPs). The task is to identify providers that are well-suited to deliver services to underserved groups. The person will act as a bridge between innovators of new advanced technologies (e.g. generative AI, natural language processing) and smallholder farmers. We want to prioritize solutions that are built for scale. The role is to be a champion of the digital stack - iterative development, continuous improvement, system integration, interoperability and data analytics - keeping with user-centered design principles, while remaining cognisant of data security and privacy, integrity, accuracy and availability.

Key Deliverables:

As part of the overall program deliverables.

System Assessment: conduct systems diagnostics on the landscape with a focus on: * The User Perspective including ease of use, barriers to adoption, information needs, ability to reach underserved groups

• Technology Selection including alignment with government goals, vulnerabilities, interoperability, complementarities or conflicts across solutions, and commitment to building digital public goods
• Value of Data by assessing the status of existing data with the Ministry and partners, opportunities and platforms for integration
• Cost-Effectiveness by assessing costs of solutions (fixed vs. variable, one-time vs. recurring) against benefits

Roadmap: Including but not limited to: * Identifying gaps in functionality and the ability of the current landscape of solutions to address users\xe2\x80\x99 needs and identify key innovations or solutions that could address these gaps, and how they might integrate within the initiative.

• Identifying select partners based on system diagnostics that can be early champions of the roadmap.
• Defining plans for the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with input from the Steering Committee.
• Conducting one-on-one consultations with solution providers and government (national and state) to inform vision, identify challenges, socialize the concept of roadmaps and DPI, and build on existing structures.
• Assembling panels or individuals with expertise in technical areas (eg: technology, content, generative AI).
• Creating a digital roadmap tool; socializing and training stakeholders on use of the tool; ongoing maintenance.

Reporting: * Create one-page summaries on existing (and new) technology solutions, projects, interventions, and activities disaggregated by partner, geography, and level of investment.

• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of progress relative to program key deliverables and their milestones
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the progress of and interventions required of selected solution providers

Implementation: * Define evaluation criteria for when the Ministry is considering a new solution provider in consultation with technical experts and the steering committee.

• Share learnings, tools, challenges, and successes from implementation activities with stakeholders including solution providers, other state government partners, and the Ministry to drive increased integration.
• Refine and revisit the roadmap with a view to systematically increase the Ministry\xe2\x80\x99s capacity to use the roadmap and its associated tools to make decisions; with a goal of creating long-term sustainability.
• Facilitate communication, follow-ups, negotiation, and sustained engagement with all ecosystem players and respond to Government needs as and when they arise.

Requirements:

• Prior experience as an enterprise architect, senior technologist, technical evangelist or technology consultant
• Able to project manage multiple interrelated programs and projects
• Capable of mapping a digital transformation and bringing stakeholders on the journey
• Large-scale consumer architecture or enterprise architecture experience is desirable
• Aware of the technological and scientific state of the art, theory vs practice and the ability to articulate the art of the possible (in spaces such as Earth Observation, AI/ML, Mobile Digital Technologies, User Experience, Enterprise Integration, etc)
• Understanding of and promoting strong product design and development processes
• Experience with the integration of disparate tools and technologies into coherent systems
• Some exposure to the digital agriculture vertical is desirable
• Exposure to public digital infrastructure would be useful
• Understanding of regulations and laws pertaining to digital public interfaces

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Collaborate with government bodies to identify their technology needs and create priority plans to lead development
• Engage with senior stakeholders at the government and enterprise level and assess the feasibility and viability of proposed technology solutions and their integration into digital public infrastructure
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and budgets for government projects
• Oversee the implementation and deployment of technology solutions, ensuring they meet quality standards and are delivered within project stipulations
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to government clients throughout the project lifecycle
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, engineers, and project managers
• Assist with advising teams on the best use of project management disciplines and approaches and act as the first point of contact for any program management queries
• Prepare and deliver technical reports, presentations, and documentation to government clients and internal teams
• Stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends, best practices, and government regulations to ensure the solutions are compliant and effective.

Qualifications:

• Strongly relevant Scientific, Technology, Engineering or Mathematical (STEM) background and qualifications.
• Ideally hold a postgraduate qualification in a STEM-related field.
• Business or commerce qualifications are desirable, e.g. MBA or similar.

How to apply:

To apply, please visit the PxD website and use the online application form to submit a CV, cover letter, and brief responses to the screening questions. The job position may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the application deadline of Monday 4 December, 6 pm IST.

PxD is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organization. We don\xe2\x80\x99t make decisions based on gender, gender identity, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other personal characteristics that are unrelated to the role. We understand that everyone has different lifestyles and we accommodate flexible working to make sure you are as productive and happy as you can be.

We will use any personal data you provide for recruitment purposes only.

About PxD

PxD is a global non-profit that harnesses the power of technology, data science and behavioral economics to provide targeted information to farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Providing the right information to the right people, in the right way and at the right time, increases incomes, protects the environment and improves well-being. We are evidence-based: we test our interventions with randomized controlled trials to prove our impact and cost effectiveness, to simultaneously learn from and improve our service, and to demonstrate our value to funders and partners. There are few programmes in international development that are as demonstrably cost effective as ours. We currently work in seven countries in Africa, and Asia, and are expanding as more governments and organizations look for innovative ways to use new technologies to empower people across low and middle income countries.

PxD\xe2\x80\x99s activities in India are implemented in partnership with Behaviour Change Advisory Services (BCAS) LLP.

Precision Development