Title: Programme Expert

​Requisition ID: 3730
Grade: L4
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: Project-funded Professional and higher
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term - 200 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 121,402 USD
Application Deadline: 7-May-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
THE APPOINTMENT IS LIMITED TO THE SPECIFIED PROJECT(S) ONLY AND DOES NOT CARRY ANY EXPECTATION OF RENEWAL.
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Detailed information on the project can be found at UNIDO’s Open Data Platform: https://open.unido.org/

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.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for UNIDO's relations with Member States and all external partners, including through the policymaking organs. It plays a central role for interaction and collaboration with traditional and non-traditional donors; oversees the regional bureaus as well as the network of established field offices, liaison offices and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices; and supports the implementation of particularly complex projects, programmes and special assignments, thus also fulfilling an important role in safeguarding their quality and the reputation of the Organization.

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. Within this context, the Division is responsible for determining programmatic priorities for UNIDO's services and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States and development partners at the country and regional levels.

It facilitates, upon guidance of GLO/FLS, the development of regional strategies, country programmes (including Programmes for Country Partnership - PCPs) and monitors their implementation. The Division encompasses all the UNIDO field offices and the five Regional Bureaus: Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR), also hosting the IDDA III Secretariat; the Arab Region (GLO/RFO/ARB); Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP); Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR); and Latin American and the Caribbean (GLO/RFO/LAC).

The position is located under the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC Bureau). The LAC Bureau is responsible for determining regional strategies and programmatic priorities for UNIDO’s services, and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States in the LAC region.

At the L4 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver (a) work that is innovative and original; (b) in creating an enabling environment which expands across functions and sectors; (c) in building partnerships which result in advocating and championing UNIDO’s programmes and (d) in achieving results within Programme teams. The measure of success is systemic and catalytic delivery of results.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

I. Responsibilities

• The Programme Expert works under the overall guidance of the Director, Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices; the direct supervision of the LAC Bureau Chief and in close collaboration with the colleagues to support the mandate of the Division. She/he will be responsible for providing technical support to the smooth and timely execution of projects and be accountable for the achievement of project results as/if assigned. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Contribute to UNIDO representation in the countries of coverage and maintain close relations with governments, stakeholders (including donors) and development partners as well as with UN Resident Coordinators to promote the Organization’s mandate and serve as the principal conduit for communication;
• Contribute to providing regular communications with the network of UNIDO field offices in the region to ensure a coordinated approach to identifying, dealing with and addressing requests from national and regional counterparts;
• As part of the relationship management of the Regional Bureau: a) maintain regular exchange of information with Field Offices; b) prepare background and briefing notes for meetings including partners and stakeholders of UNIDO; c) conceptualize and formulates effective and innovative cooperation strategies for the development of a coherent programme of technical assistance for the countries of region; d) carry out analysis of government policies and industrial trends; e) identify priority areas for cooperation based on country and donor priorities;
• Undertake project and programme development work with an active participation, including leadership role, if required, at the stages of identification, formulation, implementation, and monitoring of projects and programmes at national and sub- regional level, in close collaboration with relevant technical divisions at Headquarters and relevant counterpart institutions at the field level, ensuring the development of innovative and cost effective projects and programmes and the mobilization of resources. Ensure that best practices are incorporated in the development of projects and programmes while ensuring that the project and programme portfolio of UNIDO increases in the countries of the region.
• Contribute to initiating and developing, in cooperation with the field network and relevant technical divisions, country, regional and partnership strategies and programmes (including PCPs and CPs) that are effectively linked to national development priorities, donor priorities and the UNIDO mandate;
• Provide backstopping and monitoring support to the Chief on the work plan of the Regional Bureau and ensure the programmatic coherence of UNIDO’s technical cooperation and service delivery at the country and regional levels;
• Assist GLO/RFO in establishing close linkages with the extended network of UNIDO institutions in the field;
• Collaborate with national and regional counterparts and partner institutions, including Permanent Missions of Member States, with a view to enabling a constant flow of information on UNIDO’s field operations and regional activities and strengthening relationships with stakeholders;
• Collaborate with other relevant organizational units of UNIDO, on the organization of conferences and initiate other global forum activities to share knowledge and build partnerships;
• Provide monitoring support to the Chief, in collaboration with the UNIDO field offices and relevant technical divisions, on the country programme portfolio and project implementation at the country and regional level;
• Provide substantive inputs and backstopping support in facilitating, organizing DG’s and high-level missions in the Region in cooperation with the field offices;
• Act as a team member in relevant UNIDO programmes (including PCPs and CPs) in the region and participate in missions to market and promote UNIDO services and encourage governments, financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations, private and public sectors, and other international and national partners to mobilize resources for UNIDO-led programmes;
• Contribute to the development of communication materials on UNIDO activities and projects in the region and provide inputs to Office of Communication, Speeches and the Innovation Lab (ODG/CSI), as requested.
• Undertake any other related duties and assignments as required.

  II. Minimum requirements and desirable criteria