UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Technical Officer - Standards Specialist

Role Title: Technical Officer – Standards Specialist
Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer
Number of Positions: 1
Location: Home-based / Remote
Reporting To: Chief Technology Officer / Senior Technology Leadership

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 and detail-oriented Technical Officer – Standards Specialist to support the organisation in identifying, interpreting and applying relevant international standards and recognised good-practice frameworks.

The successful candidate will contribute to DTID's work on standards relating to quality management, information security, risk management, sustainability, environmental management, governance, data management and emerging technologies.

The role will involve conducting research, reviewing relevant standards, supporting standards gap assessments, developing guidance and contributing to the integration of recognised standards into DTID's policies, projects, technical activities and internal processes.

This role requires strong analytical capability, attention to detail, sound professional judgement and the ability to translate complex standards into clear and practical organisational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

The Technical Officer – Standards Specialist will:

• Research and interpret relevant international and industry standards applicable to DTID's activities.
• Support the application of recognised standards and good practice across DTID policies, projects and technical initiatives.
• Conduct standards gap assessments and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop guidance, checklists, compliance matrices and technical reference materials.
• Review policies, procedures and technical documentation for alignment with relevant standards.
• Support quality-management, risk-management, information-security, sustainability and governance initiatives.
• Monitor developments in international standards and relevant certification frameworks.
• Prepare technical reports, briefing papers, presentations and standards-related documentation.
• Collaborate with technical, research, policy and operational teams across DTID.
• Engage with relevant standards bodies, professional associations and external specialists where appropriate.
• Support standards awareness, knowledge-sharing and training activities within DTID.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of DTID's standards, quality and governance practices.

Skills and Abilities

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Ability to interpret technical standards, frameworks and complex guidance.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to translate technical standards into practical organisational requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent organisational and documentation skills.
• Ability to identify gaps, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to prepare clear technical reports, guidance and presentations.
• Strong professional communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to communicate technical requirements to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a remote and internationally distributed team.
• A proactive, reliable and solutions-focused approach to work.

General and Specialist Knowledge

Candidates should have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• International standards and recognised good-practice frameworks.
• Quality-management systems and standards.
• Information-security management.
• Risk-management standards and frameworks.
• Environmental and sustainability-management standards.
• Governance and compliance frameworks.
• Data governance and information-management standards.
• Technology governance and digital-management frameworks.
• Certification, accreditation and conformity-assessment processes.
• Standards implementation, gap assessment and continuous improvement.

Knowledge or experience relating to one or more of the following would be particularly advantageous:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
• ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security Management Systems
• ISO 31000 – Risk Management
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
• ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management Systems
• ISO 37001 – Anti-Bribery Management Systems
• ISO 37301 – Compliance Management Systems

Knowledge of standards-setting organisations such as ISO, IEC, ITU, IEEE, BSI or equivalent national and international bodies would also be advantageous.

Candidates are not expected to be specialists in every standards area but should demonstrate a sound understanding of how recognised standards can be applied within organisational, technical or professional environments.

Knowledge or interest in climate change, sustainability, international development, artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies would also be advantageous.

Education and Training

Candidates should preferably possess:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Information Technology, Quality Management, Business Management, Risk Management, Environmental Management, Sustainability, Governance, Compliance or another relevant discipline.

Relevant professional qualifications or specialist training in ISO standards, quality management, auditing, risk management, information security, governance or compliance would be advantageous.

These may include:

• ISO Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer training.
• Quality-management certification.
• Risk-management qualifications.
• Information-security qualifications.
• Governance, compliance or assurance certifications.

Equivalent professional experience, specialist training or demonstrated 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:

• Professional experience working with international standards, quality systems, governance, compliance, risk or assurance frameworks.
• Experience interpreting or applying ISO or comparable standards.
• Experience supporting standards assessments, audits, gap analyses or readiness reviews.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, frameworks or technical guidance.
• Experience contributing to quality, governance, compliance or standards-related initiatives.
• Experience working independently and taking responsibility for assigned deliverables.
• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams or organisational functions.
• Experience communicating technical or standards-related information to different stakeholder groups.

Experience within an international organisation, standards body, certification organisation, consulting environment, think tank, nonprofit organisation, research institution, technology organisation, climate or sustainability-focused organisation would be advantageous.

What Difference Will You Make?

International standards provide organisations with recognised frameworks for improving quality, consistency, security, accountability, governance and continuous improvement.

As a Technical Officer – Standards Specialist, you will help DTID identify and appropriately apply recognised international standards across its institutional, research and technology activities.

Your contribution will help strengthen DTID's governance, quality assurance, risk management, technical credibility and institutional systems.

Benefits

What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?

Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:

• Gain practical experience within an international, volunteer-led organisation.
• Apply and strengthen knowledge of international standards and quality frameworks.
• Contribute to the development of institutional standards, governance and quality-management systems.
• Develop experience working within a fully remote and globally distributed team.
• Strengthen technical research, governance, risk and quality-management skills.
• Contribute to research and publications relating to standards and emerging technologies.
• Collaborate with professionals from different countries, sectors and disciplines.
• Build international professional networks and long-term professional relationships.
• Gain exposure to climate change, sustainability, international development and emerging technologies.
• Contribute directly to DTID's mission and institutional development.

Selection Process

DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.

As a volunteer-led organisation, DTID recognises that candidates may have acquired their skills through different professional, academic or practical pathways. Applications may therefore be considered on the basis of demonstrated capability, relevant experience, transferable skills and potential.

The selection process will normally include:

1. Application screening
2. Written or technical assessment
3. Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
4. 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.