Job Description

Title: Industrial Development Expert, L4

Requisition ID: 7675
Grade: L4
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: EUR
Application Deadline: 07-Jul-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.

ANCY N

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI).

The position is located under the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI), which promotes digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence as well as associated technologies as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secure cyber- physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation is the key, by integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, and by applying technological innovation to smart manufacturing, smart energy, smart agribusiness and others, in developing countries, transition and emerging economies, with emphasis in developing countries to provide the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

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.

Programme Context

Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA):

ID 240111 - ATCMA ECCAS Regional Programme
ID 240108 – ATCMA COMESA Regional Programme
ID 240104 – ATCMA ECOWAS Programme

The EU-funded Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, a Sub-Saharan African initiative aims at sustainably increasing intra-African and EU-Africa trade. In addition to a continental component, the programme comprises five regional components in the ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ECCAS and EAC regions, building on existing or previous regional programmes (WACOMP in West Africa, MARKUP in East Africa, PIQAC in Central Africa, RECAMP and SIPS in Southern Africa).

The programme is implemented jointly by UNIDO and the International Trade Centre (ITC). ITC is the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in charge of the sustainable promotion of trade and exports from developing countries and economies in transition. The ITC aims to make micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries more competitive in global markets, accelerate economic development and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the organization contributes to creating jobs along product value chains and promising services sectors, especially for young people and women.

The overall focus of this four-year umbrella programme is to address market access challenges faced by selected value chains in the West Africa region and enhance their competitiveness, through two pillars:

Supporting countries to benefit from trade opportunities by enabling them to conform with standards and technical regulations, requiring quality infrastructure and conformity assessment services, as well as by streamlining regulatory and procedural frameworks at the regional and national levels. The programme will help the African countries to benefit from trade opportunities by being able to conform with standards and technical regulations, which requires establishing efficient testing, certification and accreditation mechanisms that conform to the requirements of the SPS and TBT agreements and benefit from international recognition. It will also strengthen governmental institutions in their capacity of creating a more conducive business environment for MSMEs.
Maximizing MSME export potential and access to new markets by overcoming constraints or developing enablers like value addition, and export capacities: In order to maximise MSMEs export potential and support them to enter new markets, the Programme will also address other market access constraints or enablers: enhance value addition and export capacities through marketing, labelling, branding strategies, sustainability and environmental issues, technology transfer and processing for export, business promotion through market linkages and capacitate trade and investment support institutions. Support will be provided both at institutional and policy level, as well as at private sector level, with a primary focus on selected key export-oriented regional priority value chains. Particular focus on intra-African exports as well as exports to the EU will be given, so regions can fully exploit their trade-driven growth potential, with a view to contribute to sustainable growth and jobs creation.

The programme is thematically structured into five components leading to 5 outputs as follows:

In relation to Specific Objective 1:

Output 1.1: Market access barriers identified and reduced

Output 1.2: Strengthened quality compliance and standards

Output 1.3: Value-chain revision mechanism facilitated

In relation to Specific Objective 2:

Output 2.1: Enhanced value addition and diversification

Output 2.2: Enhanced SME capacities and opportunities for business and export

While UNIDO is in charge of implementing output 1.2 and 2.1., ITC is responsible for the implementation of output 1.1, 1.3 and 2.2.

Functional Responsibilities

The Industrial Development Expert works under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Chief, Division of Digital Transformation and AI (TCS/DAI), 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:

Providing technical support for the smooth and timely execution of:

1. Central Africa Component of the Programme for Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA-CEEAC) in particular output 2.1.4 “Promote the modernization and technological development of enterprises in the PVCs”.
2. COMESA Component of Programme for Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA-COMESA): output 2.1.4 “Enterprise upgrading for higher added-value for the selected Value Chains delivered” and output 2.1.5 “Future-proof industrial solutions for the COMESA region promoted”
3. ECOWAS Component of the Programme for Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA-ECOWAS) in particular “2.1.2 Future-Proof industrial solutions for the ECOWAS region promoted, 2.1.6 Enterprise upgrading for higher value-addition and market compliance delivered, and 2.1.8 Rapid response facility for country interventions” and be accountable for the achievement of its results as/if assigned. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Programme Development: Lead the implementation and monitoring of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation outputs and activities under ATCMA programme in COMESA, ECCAS and ECOWAS regions, in line with the guidelines and procedures governing the delivery of UNIDO services and obtain internal approval. Propose new initiatives or changes to ensure that the Organization’s practices are current and reflect state-of-the-art approaches and up-to-date technical and management practices.

Programme Implementation: Provide technical support to the implementation/execution of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation outputs and activities under ATCMA programme in COMESA, ECCAS and ECOWAS regions, assuming full responsibility for the provision of programme implementation services ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time at the right level of quality and within the allocated budget. This will entail the preparation of the necessary inputs (enterprise upgrading and digital transformation experts and consultant job descriptions, terms of reference, training arrangements, equipment specifications, etc.), monitoring progress in implementation, including missions to the project site, as well as taking part in oversight meetings in the field and at headquarters, and assisting the Evaluation Group in its evaluations of programme. Propose, for the Chief’s and Director’s approval, the annual work programme, including providing leadership in teamwork and close monitoring of each stage of programme implementation.

Resource Mobilization: Cooperate with other units in-house in the design and planning of resource mobilization strategies and collaborate with relevant internal and external partners to mobilize the funds necessary for complementing/sustaining ATCMA programme objectives and deliverables. Manage external relations by maintaining close relationships with all stakeholders from the relevant value chains in the three regions (COMESA, ECCAS, ECOWAS) relevant to enterprise upgrading and digital transformation, including government institutions and international entities, locally based donor institutions, international financial institutions and regional development banks, the private sector, civil society and academia to establish collaborations and synergies.

Global Forum Function: Design, plan and organize, in cooperation with other units in-house, UNIDO global forum activities (conferences, seminars, expert group meetings, etc.) relevant to ATCMA in the field of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation. Prepare technical papers or other inputs for external seminars, conferences, expert group meetings, etc. relevant to ATCMA in the field of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation. Prepares UNIDO publications and other information dissemination aids and tools relevant to ATCMA in the field of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation. Keep abreast of technical and economic developments related to productive sectors and value chains relevant to the three regions COMESA, ECOWAS and ECCAS specifically in the area of enterprise upgrading and digital transformation, including the cross cutting elements relevant to circular economy and energy, through close contacts with specialized institutions and industry representatives, following the technical press, market developments and trends.

Advisory Services to Counterparts: Provide technical advisory services to counterparts of the three ATCMA regions. This includes, among others: commenting on, appraising or revising draft project proposals submitted by requesting Governments; advising Governments on financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations and other strategic partners; and provision of technical advice to strategic partners with focus on enterprise upgrading and digital transformation.

External Relations: Support advocacy, communication and global forum activities related to enterprise upgrading and digital transformation under ATCMA programme in COMESA, ECCAS and ECOWAS regions aimed at strengthening public relations, including the preparation of promotional materials, organization of media events, dissemination of information on the project activities through UNIDO/project website and network of UNIDO offices.

Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education:

A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) in economics, international relations, engineering or 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:

A minimum of professional experience aligned with the educational level is required, as follows:

First-level university degree (Bachelor's): at least 10 years of relevant professional experience
Advanced university degree (Master's): at least 7 years of relevant professional experience
Doctorate: at least 5 years of relevant professional experience

Relevant professional experience, including some at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries is required.
Experience in all phases of Project Cycle is required.
Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries and particularly of the African continent is desirable.
Experience in enterprise upgrading and digital transformation is required.

Language Skills:

Fluency in written and oral English is required.
Fluency in or working knowledge of other United Nations languages, particularly French or Arabic is desirable.

Our Values and Behaviours

Our Values

EXCELLENCE: We deliver exceptional value through our collective professional expertise and our deep commitment to sustainable economic and industrial development.

INTEGRITY: We maintain high ethical and professional standards, embody UNIDO’s values, and take immediate action when witnessing unethical behaviour or violations of UN or UNIDO principles.

INCLUSION: We are dedicated to creating an environment that promotes fairness, equality, diversity, dignity, and respect for everyone.

HUMILITY: We demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, openness, and a commitment to learning from others.

HUMANITY: We serve with compassion and responsibility, promoting dignity, human rights, and fairness while advancing inclusive, sustainable economic and industrial development.

Our Behaviours

CONNECT AND COLLABORATE: We cultivate positive relationships through respectful communication, inclusive collaboration, and transparent decision-making, fostering teamwork and partnerships to advance UNIDO’s work and its mission within the UN System.

ANALYSE AND PLAN: We seek out and use data from multiple sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action.

DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT: We hold ourselves and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that UNIDO serves.

LEARN AND DEVELOP: We are committed lifelong learners who actively pursue our own growth while supporting the development of those around us.

ADAPT AND INNOVATE: We stay flexible and forward-looking, embracing change and applying fresh thinking to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and drive innovation.

NOTE:

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.

For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/

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