​​Requisition ID: 4478 
Grade: ISA-Junior Specialist 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 4 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 24-Sep-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

This position is located under the Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME/MDJ), which works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and economies in transition, especially emphasizing business development of SMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among SMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of SME-manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment. The Division also houses UNIDO’s work in support of health industry development.

PROJECT CONTEXT  

The Project Administrator assignments will concern two UNIDO initiatives in the area of health industry development, namely focused on establishing (i) a Slovenian-Cuban innovation cluster in biopharma sector – Phase II, and (ii) a UNIDO International Centre for Industry Readiness.

(i) The overall goal of this project is to enhance innovation and business collaboration in the health industry by leveraging international partnerships and innovative business models, contributing to improve the economic growth and the quality of life. More specifically, the initiative will promote the operationalization and internationalization of the Slovenian-Cuban innovation cluster in biopharma, medical and nanotechnologies sectors. The innovation cluster will foster the linkages among institutions and companies from Slovenia and Cuba for knowledge and experience sharing and technology transfer in the selected sectors. Furthermore, the project will assist Slovenia and Cuba’s strategic alliance in the targeted sectors by facilitating the process of identifying, attracting and mobilizing capital, knowledge and technological resources; this will be also facilitated through the UNIDO’s Network of Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs). The project will also support the formulation of new investment project opportunities with emphasis on joint ventures, business partnerships, collaboration and technology transfer, as well as provide capacity-building support to strengthen the policy regulatory framework, management and promotion associated to innovation cluster development.

(ii) The overall goal of this project is fostering the global health industry readiness to respond to future pandemics and emergency, by promoting advanced technologies and good practices in manufacturing health products, facilitating global partnerships, and sharing innovative solutions. This is realized by establishing a UNIDO International Centre for Industry Readiness, meant as a multi-stakeholder global hub of excellence based in the UAE, which leverages global foresight on potential future health-industry risks to scale-up industrial capabilities and develop cutting-edge medical products and solutions. The present project is meant to represent the first phase towards the establishment of the Centre, particularly by providing a detailed framework for its establishment. In wider perspective, the results obtained will represent the starting point to implement and scale up the centre.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Lead Project Manager and working in close cooperation with the project team in both the field and the HQ, administers elements of technical cooperation programme or specific project/s of limited complexity and execution of technical cooperation programmes and activities. Main duties are:

• Select, organize and summarize background information to describe the overall context and background relevant to a project or a sector of technical cooperation activities in a country, assess the local context for the planning and administration of individual technical cooperation projects.
• Analyze and interpret project background history and documentation; identify, reconstruct and document significant project events, decisions and deviations.
• Draft sections of project documents such as project background and justification.
• Inform experts, consultants and other project participants about logistical arrangements and internal procedures for monitoring and reporting in terms of the immediate objectives of specific projects.
• Monitor specific aspects of project execution and identify problems and proposing that actions be taken to expedite delivery of inputs.
• Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring.
• Draft project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, on the basis of changed work plans.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in Health Sciences, Engineering, Economics, Law, International Relations, or other relevant discipline, with focus on innovation and technology transfer, investment and market access, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least three (3) years of professional experience – including some at international level – in project management and/or international cooperation, particularly with a focus on the health industry (pharma, medical and biotech sectors) is required.

Experience in TC Project Cycle with a results-based project management approach is required.

Experience in working on project focused on innovation and advanced technologies; cluster and/or industrial parks development; health industry development; is desirable.

Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions, and problems in developing countries is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Spanish is desirable.

Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level. 

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org