Thematic Lead, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, engaging the foremost leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) helps leaders anticipate exponential technologies and drive responsible sectoral and industry transformation. It creates and scales initiatives in a global network of government- and not-for-profit hosted centres which give national trailblazers access to a trusted platform of sharing, learning, and problem-solving.

Why we are Recruiting

Data and Artificial Intelligence are central to innovation, shaping every facet of organizations and governments while increasingly impacting governments, enterprises, institutions, and individuals with complex and far-reaching consequences in the coming years. While this general-purpose technology shows positive impact across sectors and use cases, there are multifaceted challenges that need addressing; ranging from data privacy and bias to the responsible application and risk mitigation of AI.

Realizing the vast economic and societal potential as well as multiple risks associated with emerging technologies such as AI, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution aims to serve as a trusted platform to foster collaboration across business, government and civil society to tackle system challenges. As part of a strategic effort to step-up its digital technology workstreams, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Japan is recruiting a Thematic Lead, Data and Artificial Intelligence.

The Lead will grow and manage an ambitious portfolio of communities and initiatives, mobilize business leaders, experts from the world's top research universities, government officials, start-up entrepreneurs, media, and civil society organizations to drive strategic insights and tangible solutions.

The Lead will collaborate closely with all technology practice leads across the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution as well as with other related World Economic Forum Centres. The Lead will also align and collaborate with the Forum’s global network of Independent Centres which build on, benefit from, and actively contribute to the Forum’s global Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution initiatives.

Reporting Lines & Interactions

The Thematic Lead, Data and Artificial Intelligence, will be based in Tokyo, Japan, and report to the Chief Representative Officer, Japan, as well as, in a dotted line, to the Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Geneva, Switzerland. The Lead will operate across multiple teams and geographies in an entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment and engage actively in building and maintaining productive relationships with independent 4IR Centres and their stakeholders.

Breakdown of main responsibilities:

• Scan the global horizon for highly relevant actors, initiatives, and projects related to emerging technologies and fields - including Artificial Intelligence, Data Policy, Metaverse, and Digital Trust & Safety - that can be leveraged and amplified through the Forum’s global network
• Generate strategic insights and foundational frameworks for business leaders and policymakers to anticipate the impact of technology related agenda and shape their human centred and society-serving adoption

• Build, manage, and mobilize high-level communities of experts and decision makers from across the Forum’s stakeholder ecosystem (industry, government, academia, international organizations and civil society) to champion and lead ambitious, system-level projects and initiatives

• Identify opportunities for the Forum’s global network of independent national and thematic Fourth Industrial Revolution Centres (C4IR Centres) to build on, benefit from and contribute to the Forum’s projects and initiatives to the global network of the C4IR

• Apply stakeholder engagement and user-centric design methodologies and techniques to rapidly move from idea to impact via creating, piloting, evaluating and iterating solutions
• Champion the identification, formation, and engagement of a nascent industry community in collaboration with the Forum’s industry and innovator teams
• Keep project and initiatives on target, timeline, and budget through the effective management and leadership of teams, internal and external stakeholders, budgets, projects and processes, as well as through effective communication and reporting via relevant digital tools
• Operate across multiple teams and geographies in an entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment; actively engaged in building and maintaining productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders including C4IR network.

Preferred requirements and experience

• Masters (or higher) degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, International Business, Law, Computer Science, or similar fields
• 7+ years professional experience in public or private sector; ideally as an advisor to government, industry association or technology company on relevant topics related to the creation or adoption of Data and AI ecosystems
• Deep knowledge of the relevant stakeholder ecosystem, including leading organizations, experts and decision makers in business, government, and civil society

• Understanding of policy making processes in Japan and have experience in crafting or shaping public policy (such as regulations, standards, guidelines, or other policy tools), inside or with businesses, governments or international organizations

• Proven track record of relevant thought leadership, including published articles, presentations in international forums, and conference participations; ability to quickly develop a clear perspective on internal and external issues that have organisational impact

• Experience in successfully driving medium to large-scale projects from design to delivery, building and motivating high-performing teams, working on and through international multistakeholder coalitions and alliances, and effectively pursuing opportunities for impact
• Excellent organizational skills: able to juggle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously and derive energy from high-pressure work settings
• Excellent verbal and written language skills in Japanese (native level) and English (professional level TOEIC800+); verbal proficiency in other languages would be an asset

• Proven experience of thriving in multicultural, highly collaborative work environments

• Results driven, proactive, self-starter, and team player

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
• Proficient with recent digital platforms

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!