Executive Director / Director General - N@DIR (Contractual)

About This Job

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is hiring an Executive Director / Director General for N@DIR, the National Institute for Demographics and Identity Research, on a contractual basis in Islamabad. According to the advertisement, N@DIR is a specialised national research and technology institute being set up under NADRA that will serve as Pakistan's national centre for biometrics, digital identity, registration-process research, independent testing, sovereign ABIS/AFIS technologies, identity assurance and home-grown technology development. This is a single top leadership position, and the person selected will be expected to build N@DIR into an internationally credible, independent and strategically important research institution. The role covers setting the institute's scientific direction, leading a national research programme in biometrics, AI/ML and identity assurance, developing Pakistan-owned fingerprint, face, iris and multimodal biometric technologies, and establishing a national testing, benchmarking and certification capability for biometric and digital-identity products.

Candidates need a Master's, MS or MPhil degree from an HEC-recognised institution in computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer, electrical or electronics engineering, information technology, data science, mathematics, statistics, cybersecurity, biometrics, computer vision, digital identity or a closely related subject, and degrees must be HEC attested. Preference will be given to PhD holders, and extra qualifications in biometrics, AI/ML, cybersecurity, digital identity, applied cryptography or technology management are an advantage. The advertisement asks for at least 15 years of relevant post-qualification experience, including substantial senior leadership in technology, research, engineering, biometrics, digital identity or high-assurance ICT systems, along with a record of leading large R&D programmes, managing big teams and external stakeholders, and taking work from research and prototyping through testing, pilots and technology transfer. Experience in standards, certification, conformance testing, intellectual property and commercialisation is described as highly desirable. The maximum age is 55 years with a five-year general relaxation already included, and females, minorities, transgender persons and differently-abled candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted online only through the NADRA careers portal at careers.nadra.gov.pk by 25 October 2026. Applicants first create and biometrically verify a PAKID account on the mobile app, then sign in to the portal with their citizen number as login ID and apply for the vacancy, and an application guide is provided in the portal's Downloads section. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for test and interview, government and semi-government employees must bring a No Objection Certificate to the interview, and HEC-attested documents must be produced at the time of joining. The selected candidate will serve a six-month probation period, extendable subject to performance, and must provide medical fitness and character certificates. No TA/DA is admissible, electronic gadgets are not allowed during the test or interview, and the offer may pass to reserve candidates if declined. No application fee or salary figure is stated in the advertisement. Senior research and technology leaders interested in shaping Pakistan's identity research agenda should apply before the deadline.

Job Information

Commission / Board

NADRA

Place of posting

Islamabad

City

Islamabad

Postal Code

44000

Domicile

All Punjab Basis

Age (Male)

18–55 years

Age (Female)

18–55 years

Age note

5 years' general age relaxation is already included in the stated maximum age limit.

Salary / BPS

Contract basis - Salary as per contract terms and experience

Advt. date

9 October 2026

Last date

25 October 2026

Qualification Required

• Qualification: Master's/MS/MPhil degree in Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Computer/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) Preference will be given to candidates holding Ph.D./Doctorate degree Additional qualifications in biometrics, AI/ML, cybersecurity, digital identity, applied cryptography, technology management or related fields will be an advantage
• 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. Strong managerial skills in managing large R&D setup and team. Capabilities in large team management, external stakeholders' management, policies & regulation compliance etc. Demonstrated experience of leading large-scale R&D, technology innovation or engineering programmes. Proven experience in research, prototyping, independent testing, benchmarking, pilot deployment and technology transfer. Experience in standards, certification, conformance testing or technology evaluation will be highly desirable. Experience in intellectual property, technology transfer and commercialization will be an advantage.

Posts Breakdown

Test / Selection Process

Test/Interview (shortlisted candidates only)

Important Dates

1. Advertisement Published9 October 2026
2. Last Date to Apply25 October 2026

How to Apply

1. Create your account on the PAKID Mobile App.
2. Verify your PAKID account through Biometric Verification.
3. Sign in on the NADRA Careers Portal (https://careers.nadra.gov.pk) with your PAKID credentials; your Citizen Number is your Login ID.
4. Open the vacancy "Executive Director / Director General - N@DIR (Contractual)" and apply using your PAKID verified account before 25 October 2026; only online applications will be accepted.
5. Employees serving in Government/Semi-Government departments must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of interview.

Additional Details

Role Context

The position requires a leader capable of establishing N@DIR as an internationally credible, independent and nationally strategic research institution.

Employer Note

N@DIR (National Institute for Demographics and Identity Research), a specialized national research and technology institute being established under the auspices of NADRA, will serve as a national center for biometrics, digital identity, registration-process research, independent testing, sovereign ABIS/AFIS technologies, identity assurance and indigenous technology development.

Probation Period

6 months, extendable subject to performance

Key Responsibilities

Providing strategic, scientific and institutional leadership for N@DIR and implementing its assigned mandate and roadmap.,Developing and leading a national research programme in biometrics, digital identity, AI/ML, identity assurance, registration-process science and emerging technologies.,Leading development of Pakistan-owned AFIS/ABIS, fingerprint, face, iris, multimodal biometric, biometric-quality and PAD/Liveness technologies.,Establishing N@DIR as an independent national testing, benchmarking, standards and certification capability for biometric and digital-identity technologies.,Overseeing research and development of biometric devices, embedded systems, secure enrolment equipment, kiosks and mobile biometric platforms.,Establishing secure research environments, identity sandbox capabilities and appropriate data governance, privacy, cybersecurity and research-ethics controls.,Developing strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, international technology centers, standards organizations, government institutions and industry.,Leading the N@DIR Academic Network, research grants, fellowships, postgraduate research and technology-innovation programmes.,Driving the transition from research and prototypes to independent evaluation, controlled pilots and technology transfer to NADRA/NTL.,Building and leading a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and technology specialists.,Developing N@DIR's annual research portfolio, technology roadmap, budget and measurable performance targets.,Representing N@DIR at appropriate national and international forums.

Terms And Conditions

Selected candidate will undergo a 6 months' probation period, extendable subject to performance.,Management reserves the right to withhold/cancel the recruitment process, and accept/reject any application at any stage without assigning any reason.,Only shortlisted candidates will be called for test/interview.,Candidate shall be disqualified if false information is provided at any stage.,Employees serving in Government/Semi-Government departments must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of interview.,5 years general age relaxation is already included in above age limit.,Attested educational documents from Higher Education Commission (HEC)/respective regulatory body must be provided at the time of joining.,In the event the selected candidate(s) declines the job offer, the offer may be extended to the reserve candidates.,Selected candidate shall provide Medical Fitness and Character Certificates.,No TA/DA will be admissible.,Electronic gadgets such as mobile phone, smart watch etc. will not be allowed during test/interview.,Females, Minority, Transgenders and Differently-abled candidates are encouraged to apply.,The deadline for submission of application is 25th October, 2026 and only online applications will be accepted. Application guide can be viewed under the Downloads section.,For further details and to apply, please visit https://careers.nadra.gov.pk/ or scan the QR Code below.

Equal Opportunity Note

Females, Minority, Transgenders and Differently-abled candidates are encouraged to apply.

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