Advisory Technical Group Member for Assistive Technology

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Position Title: Advisory Technical Group Member for Assistive Technology
Location: Remote Work
Country: Remote
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, was established to address the significant gap in access to appropriate, high-quality, and affordable assistive technology (AT) globally. The organization aims to reach 500 million more people with life-changing assistive technology by 203

• The ATscale Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. ATscale operates with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, where access to AT is critically low, and seeks to bring greater resources and strategic focus to this global challenge.

Job Overview:
The position of Advisory Technical Group Member involves providing strategic and technical advice to ATscale on assistive technology related to vision function. The incumbent will be part of a diverse group of technical experts who will evaluate and advise on ATscale’s strategic priorities, annual work plans, and global interventions. The role requires a deep understanding of assistive technology, particularly in the context of vision-related needs, and the ability to provide independent feedback on various initiatives. The incumbent will also engage in capacity-building activities and contribute to the development of technical documents and proposals related to assistive technology initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for providing independent advice on ATscale’s strategic priorities and annual work plans. They will assist in identifying gaps and prioritizing areas for intervention, support the design and improvement of technical documents related to assistive technology for vision function, and participate in the evaluation of proposals for their strategic value and technical soundness. Additionally, the incumbent will provide expert insights on trends in the vision-related assistive technology sector, recommend potential collaborators, lead capacity-building activities, and engage in ATscale’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework. They will also participate in virtual meetings with stakeholders and undertake other related duties as required, including potential travel for in-person meetings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Masters or above) in relevant fields such as Ophthalmology, Optometry, health or public health, rehabilitation, or biomedical science. A Bachelor's degree in a related field combined with additional relevant work experience may be accepted. A minimum of 7 years of combined experience in assistive technology, particularly in public health, eye and vision care, or vision rehabilitation, is required. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in clinical or program implementation of eye and vision care services in low-resource settings, as well as experience in providing technical advice for assistive technology programs. Familiarity with global AT markets and stakeholders, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree (Masters or above) in Ophthalmology, Optometry, health or public health, rehabilitation, biomedical science, statistics, or other relevant disciplines is required. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree in Ophthalmology, Optometry, medicine, or rehabilitation-related fields, combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of combined experience in assistive technology, particularly in areas related to public health, non-communicable diseases, eye and vision care, or vision rehabilitation. Experience in low- and middle-income countries or with underserved communities is highly valued, as is familiarity with disability rights and inclusion in projects and programs.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory. A working knowledge of other UN languages is considered an advantage.

Additional Notes:
The position is offered as a retainer contract with no expectation of a minimum number of working days, and the workload will depend on the needs of ATscale. The contract type is an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA), with an initial duration of one year, renewable based on performance and funding availability. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be made for candidates with disabilities during the application and interview process.