Associate Industrial Research Expert

​Requisition ID: 6722 
Grade: L2 
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: 85,227 USD 
Application Deadline: 12-Dec-2025, 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.
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 UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declarationadopted 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. 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 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, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy (SPP), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Industrial Policy Research and Statistics (SPP/IPS) is responsible for delivering the Organization's research and statistics programme on industrial development. It is responsible for analysing trends in industrial development and trade, and producing UNIDO's flagship publication, the Industrial Development Report; for the compilation, storage and dissemination of worldwide industrial statistics; and for reporting on the industrial statistics indicators of SDG 9. In collaboration with other organizational entities, the Division ensures that policy advice provided, statistical data collected and analysed, and research conducted and disseminated, contributing to the Organization’s strategic planning, programming and policy approaches. The outputs of the Division in the form of policy briefs and other publications are disseminated and promoted to Member States and the wider industrial development community, complying with the Organization’s industrial development normative function. The Division comprises of two units: Industrial Statistics and SDG 9 Reporting (ISR) and Industrial Policy Research (IPR).

Project Context

Project ID 230356: Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and the co-creation of new businesses with Japan’s private industries

The full-scale armed conflict of Ukraine, starting in February 2022, has had a significant impact on the country’s industries and businesses, impeding its potential for inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). UNIDO, based on its strategic framework of the Green Industrial Recovery Programme for Ukraine 2024-2028, have been engaged in a number of technical cooperation projects to support the country’s industrial recovery and development. Based on the voluntary contribution from the Government of Japan, UNIDO initiated the project titled “Green Industrial Recovery Project for Ukraine through Technology Transfer and the Co-creation of New Businesses with Japan’s Private Industries.

The Project focuses on the promotion of technology transfer from Japan’s private industries and facilitating collaborations between Japan and Ukraine’s partners to foster the development of an innovation eco-system, creation of new businesses, job creation through skills development and knowledge transfer, thus, to materialize green industrial recovery of the economy. UNIDO’s managerial know-hows and network with Ukrainian and Japanese counterparts (including both governmental agencies, private companies, industrial associations and academia) are connected and activated to achieve the expected outcomes in a wide range of industrial sectors including agri-business, circular economy, ICT, energy, hydrogen, SME productivity enhancement, assistive equipment and telemedicine. 

Main Responsibilities

To provide analytical support to the project, SPP/IPS/IPR will produce a comprehensive research report that includes policy analysis. This report will highlight the factors that support or hinder technology transfer, drawing lessons from the experiences of Japanese companies, and provide policy implications for Ukraine on how to foster a business environment conducive to technology transfer and broader technological development for post-crisis recovery. Additionally, the Unit will develop three policy briefs, each highlighting specific lessons from the Japanese experience in technology transfer.

The staff member will lead the production of the research report and the three policy briefs, with a consultant assisting him or her.

Under the overall direction of the Chief of SPP/IPS/IPR, the incumbent will carry out the responsibilities listed below:

• In line with the guidelines and procedures governing the technical cooperation activities of UNIDO, formulate and execute the research and policy component of the project.
• Investigate the essential elements needed for successfully implementing technology transfer by reviewing theories, cases, and international development projects.
• Establish benchmarks against which the progress and final achievements will be evaluated.
• Assess the progress of the demonstration projects and assess the positive and negative impacts against the established benchmarks.
• Prepare necessary inputs (consultant job descriptions, terms of reference, training arrangements, equipment specifications, etc.), monitoring progress in implementation, including if required missions to project site(s), as well as take part in oversight meetings in the field and at headquarters.
• Report the best practices and provide recommendations on how to scale up the project beyond the demonstration phase in an economically viable and sustainable manner.
• Support advocacy, communication and global forum activities related to the project and 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.
• Support project specific fund mobilization activities.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as required.
• Furthermore, the incumbent will support the SPP/IPS activities as follows:
• Conduct technical research and analysis with the view of informing strategies to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). In particular, design and carry out studies, drafts reports, technical papers and policy briefs examining: i) the role of industrialization in achieving SDGs, ii) adoption of new technologies to make progress toward ISID, iii) job creation, and iv) effective industrial policies for decarbonization while achieving inclusive growth;
• Actively contribute to the production of UNIDO's flagship publication, the Industrial Development Report;
• Support the Unit’s efforts to strengthen international research networks and collaborations;
• Support the collection of firm-level data and indicators aimed at informing policy discussion.

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 Organizational Requirements

Education:

Advanced university degree in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in economic development, industrial policy and/or innovation, is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in the field of economic development and public policy, including experience at the international level involving research in developing countries, is required.
• Familiarity with cross-country datasets on key economic variables (GDP, employment, trade, etc.) and industrial statistics is required.
• Experience with research on technology issues is desirable.
• Experience in leading research projects is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.
• Previous experience conducting analytical work on the field of industrial development, including contributions to reports and international initiatives on this field is desirable.
• Previous experience working with firm-level data is desirable.

Language: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations as well as Ukrainian and/or Japanese, an asset.

NOTE: 
UNIDO General Service applicants are required to be at least at the GS-5 level; to have served in their current position for at least two years; and to have served in UNIDO for at least five years.

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