Associate Technical Expert Associate Technical Expert Vienna, Austria L2
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Entry Professional Full-time Internationallly Recruited Close on 6 May 2026
Requisition ID: 7347
Grade: L2
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: 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: 86,423 USD
Application Deadline: 07-May-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
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.
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.
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 and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission 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 inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.
The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.
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-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.
Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It promotes circular economy policies, programmes and practices including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.
The position is located under the Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit (TCS/CEG/RMC), responsible for supporting Member States to implement the chemicals and wastes obligations and requirements under the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions and other emerging relevant agreements, in particular where it relates to larger and formalized industries and sectors, and to leverage its experience to address industrial pollution mitigation in general as well as other emerging compliance mechanisms. With multi-stakeholder and novel approaches to materials and chemicals management and innovation, with capacity building and awareness raising, and by implementing circular economy approaches, process redesign of products, services and solutions, the Unit further leverages its experience to facilitate responsible materials sourcing and to support smaller enterprises and entrepreneurs in greening their businesses.
At the L2 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver: (a) work that is analytical in contributing to results achieved by the Division; (b) in creating an enabling environment for collaborative work which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building relationships which contributes to counterparts’ engagement and (d) in achieving results that provide baselines for a service. The measure of success is timely, consistent and appropriate 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.
Project/Programme Context
Global Electronics Management Program
The Associate Technical Expert, under the UNIDO Program Lead, will provide technical expertise to support the implementation of the Global Electronics Management Program Global Child Project: Coordination and Knowledge Management.
The electronics sector, while driving unprecedented technological innovation and societal progress, also faces significant environmental challenges. From raw material extraction to electronic waste disposal, its operations have far-reaching environmental implications. Key issues include the depletion of finite resources, the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment, rising energy consumption due to the growth of AI-based systems (and the associated greenhouse gas emissions), and the generation of e-waste at unprecedented rates, and the related social challenges. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated, systemic response that promotes circularity, resource efficiency, and regulatory alignment across global markets while applying gender lens and environmental safeguards.
The Global Electronics Management (GEM) Program aims to substantially reduce e-waste generation and enhance circularity and resource recovery in the ICT sector, focusing on:
Implemented through nine Child Projects (CPs) spanning 16 countries, the Global Electronics Management (GEM) Program employs a hub and spoke collaboration model, in which the Global Child Project (GCP) serves as the central hub to coordinate engagement among global and national stakeholders. The GCP will be the program’s enabling platform that will support the development and strengthening of regulatory frameworks and facilitate the demonstration of effective upstream, midstream and downstream strategies to achieve the targeted environmental and social benefits. The GEM GCP has the following framework:
UNIDO will be the lead agency in the program and will execute the global child project. The organization will ensure close coordination with participating agencies - African Development Bank, UNDP and UNEP - in the program and child projects implementation.
Responsibilities
The Associate Technical Expert works under the overall guidance of the Director, Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry, the direct supervision of the Chief of Responsible Material and Chemicals Management Unit 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 the project and be accountable for the achievement of project results as assigned. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Core 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.
Minimum requirements and desirable criteria
Education:
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in economics, international relations, engineering or in a closely related field is required.
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) or a Doctorate in the same fields are accepted with a reduced requirement for years of professional experience.
Experience, technical knowledge and functional expertise:
Language Skills:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.
NOTE:
For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/
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 careers site for details on how to apply: https://careers.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
