Executive Director / Director General (N@DIR)

About the role

The Executive Director / Director General will lead the National Institute for Demographics and Identity Research (N@DIR), a specialized national research and technology institute being established under the auspices of NADRA. The post-holder will provide strategic, scientific and institutional leadership to establish N@DIR as an internationally credible, independent and nationally strategic research institution focused on biometrics, digital identity, registration-process science and related emerging technologies.

Posts and vacancies

• Executive Director / Director General (N@DIR)

The advertisement invites a senior leader to establish and lead the institute, develop its research portfolio and technology roadmap, and build multidisciplinary teams and national partnerships.

Eligibility

• Education: Master's / MS / MPhil degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Computer Intelligence, Electrical / Electronics Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Cybersecurity, Biometrics, Computer Vision, Digital Identity or a closely related discipline from an HEC-recognized institution. Degrees must be attested by HEC.

• Professional experience: Minimum 15 years of relevant post-qualification experience, including substantial senior leadership experience in technology, research, engineering, biometrics, digital identity or high-assurance ICT systems.

• Capabilities: Strong managerial skills in managing large R&D setups and teams; experience of leading large-scale R&D, technology innovation or engineering programmes; demonstrated experience in research, prototyping, independent testing, benchmarking, pilot deployment and technology transfer.

• Preferences and desirables: Preference will be given to candidates holding a Ph.D./Doctorate. Additional qualifications or experience in AI/ML, cybersecurity, digital identity, applied cryptography, standards, certification, conformance testing, technology evaluation, intellectual property and commercialization are desirable.

• Age: Maximum 55 years.

Responsibilities, skills and competencies

• Provide strategic, scientific and institutional leadership for N@DIR and implement its mandate and roadmap.

• Develop and lead a national research programme in biometrics, digital identity, AI/ML, identity assurance and registration-process science.

• Lead development of Pakistan-owned AFIS/ABIS and related fingerprint, face, iris and multimodal biometric technologies, biometric-quality and PAD/Liveness testing capabilities.

• Establish independent testing, benchmarking, standards and certification capability for biometric and digital-identity technologies.

• Oversee R&D of biometric devices, embedded systems, secure enrolment equipment, kiosks and mobile biometric platforms.

• Establish secure research environments, identity sandbox capabilities and appropriate data governance, privacy, cybersecurity and research-ethics controls.

• Develop strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, international technology centers, standards organizations, government institutions and industry.

• Lead academic network activities, research grants, fellowships, postgraduate research and technology-innovation programmes.

• Drive transition from research and prototypes to independent evaluation, controlled pilots and technology transfer to NADRA/NTL.

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and technology specialists.

• Develop N@DIR's annual research portfolio, technology roadmap, budget and measurable performance targets, and represent N@DIR at national and international forums.