ICT OFFICER II (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS)
Posts: 2(PPRA) PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATORY AUTHORITY • IT and Telecoms
Job Description
SALARY SCALE:
PPRA 5
Requirements
Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science or another related technical field from a recognized higher learning institution. The candidate should possess practical project experience or a demonstrable technical portfolio and have: · Strong proficiency in Python, TypeScript or JavaScript for backend scripting, AI execution pipelines, RESTful API integration, JSON data handling and asynchronous programming, together with proficiency in Git, GitHub or GitLab for version control, collaboration and deployment pipelines. · Practical experience in deploying or configuring locally hosted Large Language Models using Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM, LocalAI or equivalent platforms, or experience with cloud-based LLM APIs such as OpenAI, Gemini or Anthropic, with readiness to work in self-hosted environments; including prompt engineering, structured outputs, JSON schemas, function calling and tool use. · Knowledge or practical exposure to agentic AI workflows, multi-step execution, LangChain, LlamaIndex or AutoGPT, as well as embeddings, vector similarity search, vector databases such as Chroma, Qdrant or Pinecone, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, and basic integration of AI services with Angular, React or Flutter applications.
Key Responsibilities
- To participate in the analysis, design, development, testing, deployment and maintenance of Artificial Intelligence applications, including their integration with web and mobile interfaces;
- To develop backend scripts, AI execution pipelines, RESTful APIs, asynchronous services and data-processing workflows using Python, TypeScript or JavaScript;
- To configure, deploy, integrate and maintain locally hosted Large Language Models using platforms such as Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM or LocalAI, as well as cloud-based LLM APIs such as OpenAI, Gemini, Anthropic or equivalent platforms;
- To design effective prompts and implement structured AI outputs using JSON schemas, function calling, tool use and related techniques;
- To develop agentic AI workflows and Retrieval-Augmented Generation solutions using multi-step execution, text embeddings, vector similarity search and vector databases; and
- To use Git-based repositories and deployment pipelines for source-code management, collaboration and software delivery, prepare and maintain technical documentation, and perform any other official duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
About (PPRA) PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATORY AUTHORITY
PPRA is a regulatory body established under the Public Procurement Act, Cap 410 and charged with the responsibility to regulate and oversee public procurement and related matters as prescribed in the Act.
The Authority was established in May, 2005 after the enactment of the Public Procurement Act, 2004 and charged with the responsibility to regulate and oversee the implementation of the Act. It replaced the Central Tender Board (CTB), which was established under the Public Procurement Act, 2001. In effort to improve the public procurement sector, the Public Procurement Act, 2011 was enacted to repeal the PPA, 2004. Due to changes and the need to embrace digitalization, the Public Procurement Act, 2023 was enacted.
OBJECTIVES
The Objectives of the Authority as stipulated under Section 9 of PPA are as follows:
a) To ensure the attainment of value for money in procurement and supply;
b) To ensure adherence to the principles of fairness, competition, transparency, sustainability, accountability, and efficient use of funds in procurement and supply;
c) To establish standards for public procurement and supply systems in the United Republic;
d) To ensure that procurement entities give preference to local bidders in the procurement of goods, construction works, and services;
e) To monitor the legal compliance of procurement entities; and
f) to build capacity in procurement and supply in the United Republic in collaboration with the responsible ministry for procurement and supply issues and other relevant academic institutions.
FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY
- To ensure the attainment of value for money in procurement and supplies;
- To advice Government, local government authorities and statutory bodies on procurement and supply principles and practices;
- To monitor and report on the performance of the public procurement and supply system in United Republic and advice on desirable changes;
- To regulate procurement of consultancies transaction advisors and private part in respect of public private partnership projects in accordance with the regulation made under the Public Private Partnership Act and guidelines issued by the Authority in collaboration with the Public Private Partnership Centre;
- To collaborate with the Office of Attorney General and professional bodies, prepare, update and issue authorized versions of the standardized tendering documents, procedural forms and any other documents authorized to procuring entities;
- To approve the use of tendering documents, procedural forms and any other attendant documents which are not under the authorized versions;
- To issue guidelines under the Act;
- To organize and maintain a system for the publication of data on public procurement opportunities, awards and any other information of public interest as may be determined by the Authority;
- To conduct periodic inspections of the records and proceedings of the procuring entities to ensure full and correct application of this Act;
- To monitor the award and implementation of public contracts.
- To build capacity to stakeholders engaged in public procurement and supply issues;
- To undertake survey nationally and internationally on procurement and supply matters.