The posting
UNPAID VOLUNTEER – Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Role Title: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer Number of Positions: 1 Location: Home-based / Remote Time Commitment: Approximately 20 hours per week, flexibly arranged Reporting To: Director-General
THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.
About DTID
The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.
DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.
The Role
DTID is seeking an experienced, innovative and technically accomplished Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to provide strategic and technical leadership across the organisation's emerging technology portfolio.
Reporting directly to the Director-General, the CTO will lead DTID's work across Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)/Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Data Science, Big Data Analysis, Data Modelling, Quantum Computing and technology standards.
The successful candidate will be responsible for defining DTID's technology strategy, overseeing technology research and development, leading technical teams and translating emerging technologies into practical solutions that support climate action, sustainable development and policy implementation.
The CTO will also oversee the development of Proof-of-Concepts, pilots and technology applications; strengthen DTID's internal technical capabilities; develop strategic partnerships; and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary projects.
Strong practical proficiency in blockchain development and programming is essential for this role. Experience developing artificial intelligence or machine-learning solutions is highly desirable.
This is a senior leadership position requiring strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, people leadership and the ability to communicate complex technology concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Technology Officer will:
- Define and lead DTID's technology strategy and roadmap across blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT, data technologies, quantum computing and related emerging technologies.
- Lead and manage DTID's emerging technology teams and standards-development activities, including recruitment, onboarding, mentoring and capability development.
- Oversee the design, development, testing and deployment of Proof-of-Concepts, pilots and technology solutions.
- Guide the application of DLT/Blockchain, AI, machine learning, data science, data modelling, IoT and other emerging technologies across DTID projects.
- Ensure appropriate standards for the quality, reliability, security, scalability and documentation of DTID's technology products and solutions.
- Monitor and evaluate the performance and impact of technology initiatives and recommend improvements where appropriate.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to Technology Officers and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Identify and develop strategic technology partnerships with research institutions, technology organisations, governments, international organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
- Monitor emerging technology trends and assess their potential application to climate action, sustainable development and public policy.
- Represent DTID at relevant conferences, technical forums, stakeholder meetings and external engagements.
- Contribute technical expertise to DTID research, publications, standards, proposals and institutional initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Director-General and other senior leaders to ensure technology priorities support DTID's wider strategic objectives.
Requirements
Skills and Abilities
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Strong strategic and technical leadership capability.
- Excellent analytical, mathematical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong software-development and technology architecture capability.
- Ability to lead, mentor and develop multidisciplinary technology teams.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple technology projects and competing priorities.
- Strong project-management and delivery capability.
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear information for non-technical audiences.
- Strong professional communication, presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills.
- Ability to build constructive relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take ownership of strategic priorities.
- Ability to lead effectively within a remote and internationally distributed organisation.
- Strong research capability and ability to evaluate emerging technologies and technical approaches.
- A creative, innovative and solutions-focused approach to technology development.
- Ability to commit an average of approximately 20 hours per week to the role.
General and Specialist Knowledge
Candidates should demonstrate strong knowledge and practical experience across several of the following areas:
- Distributed Ledger Technology and blockchain architecture.
- Blockchain programming and smart-contract development.
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Internet of Things technologies and architectures.
- Data science, data analysis and data modelling.
- Big-data technologies and data engineering.
- Quantum computing and emerging quantum applications.
- Cloud architecture and cloud-computing platforms.
- Cybersecurity, information security and data governance.
- Technology standards and responsible technology governance.
- Agile technology-development methodologies.
- DevOps, software architecture and technology product development.
Technical experience should include relevant programming languages, frameworks and platforms such as:
- Solidity and Ethereum or comparable blockchain environments.
- Python, R or other relevant programming languages.
- TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn or comparable AI/ML frameworks.
- APIs and data formats including JSON, XML and CSV.
- Cloud platforms including AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform.
- GitHub and other version-control or open-source development environments.
A portfolio of supported open-source projects, GitHub contributions, Proof-of-Concepts or deployed technology solutions would be advantageous.
Knowledge of climate change, sustainability, climate finance, international development and digital policy would also be highly desirable.
Education and Training
Candidates should preferably possess:
- A Master's degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering or another relevant technical discipline.
A PhD, MBA or other advanced qualification relevant to technology leadership, emerging technologies or innovation would be advantageous.
Relevant professional certifications in areas such as:
- Blockchain technologies.
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Cloud computing.
- Cybersecurity.
- Data science.
- Technology architecture.
- Agile or project management.
would also be beneficial.
Equivalent senior-level professional experience and demonstrated technical capability may also be considered where appropriate.
- Professional proficiency in English.
Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.
Experience
Candidates should ideally demonstrate:
- At least 5 years of substantial professional experience in DLT/Blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, data modelling or another relevant emerging technology field.
- Senior-level experience leading technology teams, technical projects or digital innovation initiatives.
- Demonstrable practical experience in blockchain development and programming.
- Experience designing, developing and deploying technology applications, Proof-of-Concepts or digital solutions.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary or internationally distributed technology teams.
- Experience managing technology projects using Agile or comparable methodologies.
- Experience with project planning, budgeting, reporting and technical documentation.
- Experience working with cloud infrastructure and modern software-development environments.
- Experience developing technology strategies, roadmaps or architecture.
- Experience engaging senior stakeholders, external partners and technical specialists.
- Experience identifying and developing strategic technology partnerships.
- Experience conducting or overseeing technical research and innovation initiatives.
- Experience working independently and taking responsibility for complex strategic and technical deliverables.
Experience developing AI or machine-learning algorithms and applications would be highly desirable.
Experience applying emerging technologies to climate action, sustainability, international development, public policy or environmental challenges would also be advantageous.
Benefits
What Difference Will You Make?
Emerging technologies are increasingly influencing how governments, international organisations and other institutions understand complex challenges, manage information and develop innovative solutions.
As Chief Technology Officer, you will shape DTID's technology direction and ensure that emerging technologies are researched, developed and applied responsibly to support sustainable development and policy implementation.
You will lead the organisation's technical capability across blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT, data technologies, quantum computing and technology standards while helping translate research and innovation into practical applications.
Your contribution will strengthen DTID's technology leadership, research capability, innovation pipeline, technical partnerships and ability to develop responsible digital solutions for climate action and sustainable development.
Benefits
What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?
Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:
- Provide executive-level technology leadership within an international organisation.
- Shape DTID's emerging technology strategy and technical direction.
- Lead multidisciplinary and internationally distributed technology teams.
- Apply and strengthen expertise across blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT, data technologies and quantum computing.
- Lead the development of Proof-of-Concepts, pilots and emerging-technology applications.
- Contribute to research, technology standards, publications and institutional initiatives.
- Work at the intersection of emerging technology, climate action, sustainable development and public policy.
- Collaborate with researchers, technology specialists, governments, international organisations and other stakeholders.
- Build international professional networks and strategic technology partnerships.
- Represent DTID at relevant technical forums, conferences and external engagements.
- Contribute directly to DTID's technological capability, institutional development and international impact.
Selection Process
DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.
Applications will be considered on the basis of demonstrated technical capability, relevant professional experience, leadership experience, strategic thinking and suitability for the responsibilities of the role.
The selection process will normally include:
- Application screening
- Written or technical assessment
- Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
- Final selection and onboarding
Candidates who successfully complete the written or technical assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Important Notice
This is an unpaid volunteer position.
