Female candidates from all Member States are particularly encouraged to apply.

VACANCY  ANNOUNCEMENT TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Organizational Context

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. Its mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in developing countries and economies in transition. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next fifteen years. UNIDO’s mandate in SDG-9, calls for the need to "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation". Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in three thematic priorities: * Creating shared prosperity * Advancing economic competitiveness * Safeguarding the environment. UNIDO delivers its services through the following four complementary and mutually supportive core functions: (a) technical cooperation activities; (b) analytical and policy advisory services; (c ) standard- setting and compliance and (d) convening and partnership role. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

This position is located under the Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation (TII), which supports countries in their efforts to develop through trade, investment and innovation the potential of the manufacturing sector to drive socio-economic progress. The Department is responsible for assisting countries to strengthen competitiveness in global markets through capacity-building in quality, environmental sustainability, and social accountability requirements in accordance with international management system standards and private sector requirements. It supports the establishment of linkages between producers/processors in developing countries and local, regional and global value chains (retailer, manufacturers) by developing capacities in the area of product quality. The Standards and Quality Infrastructure Division (PTC/TII/SQI) seeks to build up the national and regional quality infrastructure systems needed to provide internationally recognized quality services, including guidance on quality policies and good governance strategies; evaluation and modernization of technical regulation regimes (including policy and legislation development, market surveillance and import inspection system development); strengthening capacities of national and regional quality systems (i.e. metrology, standardization and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of standards, be more competitive and thus participate in global value chains; trade facilitation (incl. via E-commerce) and promoting quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers. It is responsible for providing services to strengthen national capacities to establish the legal and institutional frameworks for robust quality infrastructure (QI) systems. UNIDO’s interventions in this respect span from policy and governance advice to the development of quality infrastructure institutions and conformity assessment services, including the support of the private sector in achieving compliance with international standards. A demand-driven quality culture together with a quality infrastructure system and its conformity assessment services, support economic operators (in particular SMEs), to achieve and prove conformity with market requirements, compete on international markets and connect to global value chains. The Division also helps strengthen consumer authorities and consumer associations in developing countries.

Project Context The EU – Sri Lanka Trade-Related Assistance Project aims to increase the trade competitiveness of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in regional and European Union (EU) markets. The 4-year EU-funded project, worth EUR 8 million, will contribute to inclusive trade-led growth and regional integration. It will support SME export competitiveness and value addition in sectors with high potential for economic growth and development. The project will help Sri Lanka integrate the policies and regulatory reforms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) allowing SMEs to make the most of the potential opportunities resulting from the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus. It will also enable greater regional integration within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The project will also address compliance standards and efficiencies in cross border procedures, which are key constraints to market access, especially for Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs). Specific attention will be given to enhancing value chains in the spice, food and IT Business Process Outsourcing sectors. The project provides trade capacity building and technical assistance, with a strong focus on training and skills development. Women are heavily involved in trade and will therefore be a target group when it comes to capacity building of SMEs and exporters. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Department of Commerce. The International Trade Centre (ITC) has been designated by the Government of Sri Lanka and the European Union as the lead implementing agency for the project. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will implement ER3 and ER4 (i.e. spices and food sectors) of the project. OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Contribute to Sri Lanka’s inclusive trade-led growth and regional integration, thereby contributing to poverty alleviation. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Increase trade competitiveness of Sri Lankan SMEs in regional and EU markets. EXPECTED RESULTS: ER 1. Coherent trade strategy for export competitiveness designed and implemented, including policies, regulatory reforms and trade negotiations as shaped by the WTO, regional integration process, EU GSP+ scheme ER 2. Enhanced efficiency of cross-border procedures and SMEs’ capacities to comply with cross-border procedures for exporting to SAARC and EU ER 3. Improved compliance and quality infrastructure services to meet quality and SPS requirements in the regional and EU markets ER 4. Increased SME competitiveness in export-oriented sectors (spices, food and ITO/BPO industry) Duty Station: Colombo, Sri Lanka Approximate Duration: Until 31 December 2019 (with possible extension)

Main Functions

1. PROJECT COORDINATION 1.1. Advice UNIDO’s Project Manager (PM), the donor and counterparts on policy, development strategy and technical matters. 1.2. Ensure consistency within the UNIDO project components/outputs and activities. 1.3. Establish and maintain relations and exchange of information with the local authorities, private sector institutions, enterprises, support institutions and other development partners. 1.4. Prepare and monitor detailed work plans and budgets of the different interventions including a time plan for fielding experts, training, fellowships, sub-contracts, equipment purchases etc. 1.5. Define institutional development objectives, work targets that can be reasonably achieved within the project funding and time frame. Identify any pre-conditions that need to be fulfilled by the Government to achieve these objectives. 1.6. Be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Project Management Unit (PMU) [UNIDO Team] and the disbursement of local expenditures, based on standard UNIDO field disbursement procedures. 2. PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION 2.1. Provide substantive advice on questions relating to Sri Lanka’s National Quality System – Quality Infrastructure (i.e. Metrology, Standardization, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment), in particular, issues pertaining the spice and food sector. 2.2. In consultation with the UNIDO PM, identify in detail the nature of international and national expertise required; in consultation with relevant national counterparts prepare draft job descriptions. 2.3. Supervise the local work of short-term national and international consultants and sub-contractors, to ensure smooth project delivery. 2.4. Supervise the administrative organization of study tours and other training programmes including selection of participants. 2.5. Prepare technical specifications, coordinate and verify equipment specifications with the support of international expertise. 3. PROGRAMME MONITORING AND REPORTING 3.1. Ensure the administrative and financial monitoring of the programme and its activities. 3.2. Prepare activity reports, results-based reporting for the project according to donor specifications and UNIDO requirements. Prepare a mid-term and final report comprising all relevant information compiled from the interim reports, conclusions and recommendations. 3.3. In coordination with the PM, key counterparts regularly on implementation progress. 3.4. Prepare the documentation for the Project Steering Committee meetings. Participate in the meetings, keep the minutes and be responsible for follow up actions. 3.5. Be responsible for the clearance of project equipment in the field, and the keeping of a good inventory of equipment, and supervising their good use during the project lifetime, according to donor specifications. 4. PROMOTION & TRAINING 4.1. Support the preparation of promotional material on the project in consultation with PM/SS and key stakeholders and ensurethat sufficient exposure is made about the project in the media. 4.2. Organize and conduct trainings, seminars and workshops to create awareness and publicize programme results, and ensuring sustainability. Report on participants’ evaluation of training activities. 4.3. Develop a rapport with the donor community to publicize the project results and seek cooperation and funding for additional areas. 4.4. Ad-hoc requests: Any other assignments related to a timely and effective implementation of the project as requested by the PM.

Core Competencies

INTEGRITY: To work honestly, openly, impartially and in accordance with the values of the United Nations. PROFESSIONALISM: To work in a competent, committed and calm manner. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY: To work effectively, respectfully and inclusively with people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. RESULTS ORIENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: To be accountable and responsible for achieving results and meeting performance standards. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: To plan, organize and manage work effectively and efficiently. COMMUNICATION AND TRUST: To communicate effectively and build trust. TEAM ORIENTATION: To cooperate at various levels. CLIENT ORIENTATION: To be responsive towards those to whom services are provided internally and externally. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION: To realize continuous improvement, support innovation, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in Sciences, Engineering or Social Science discipline with specialization or studies in Economics, Management, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline with specialization in project management.

Languages

English - Fluent # other UN language considered an asset.

Computer Skills

Field of Expertise

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive professional experience preferably in the national quality infrastructure, or trade-related value chain context. Thorough knowledge of standardization, technical regulations, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and international harmonization.

<strong>This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal. </strong>