Only nationals and/or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are eligible to apply. Female candidates 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. The mission of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, 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 in the next fifteen years. 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.” The Directorate of Programme Development and Technical Cooperation (PTC), is responsible and accountable for providing technical cooperation services to enhance the capabilities of developing countries and economies in transition to promote ISID in the areas covered by five departments: Department of Programmes, Partnerships and Field Integration; Department of Agri-Business; Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation; Department of Environment; and Department of Energy.

The position is located in the Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division (PTC/AGR/RJH), under the Department of Agri-Business (PTC/AGR). The Department of Agri-Business (PTC/AGR) provides a range of technical cooperation services to assist developing countries add value to the output of their agricultural sector and generate employment opportunities in off-farm activities for rural communities, thereby contributing to increased food security and a sustainable reduction of poverty. The conceptual framework is that of agri-business value chains: comprehensive analyses offer a rigorous base for the deployment of specialized services targeting the weaker links of the chain: agricultural mechanization, modern processing technologies, packaging of perishable products, the promotion of food safety in the processing and regulatory environment; and interventions to improve competitiveness and productivity. The Department drives the Organization’s mandate of creating shared prosperity. To this end, it supports initiatives to build human capital and raise total factor productivity through focused vocational training and industrial skills development activities. Based on its experience in post-crisis and human security programmes and projects, the Department responds to complex emergencies through activities that contribute to socio-economic security both at national and local level, such as restoring and upgrading local productive capacities; building and strengthening institutions; and honing the resilience of the most vulnerable, including youth and women. The Department cooperates closely with other organizational entities of UNIDO, and in particular with the Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation (PTC/TII) in the provision of its services. With its programmes the Department addresses the root causes of migration and helps alleviate migration pressures at the origin. The Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division (PTC/AGR/RJH) provides technical cooperation services to improve livelihoods in rural communities through productive activities. The focus is on business activities among socially and economically marginalized people, including in particular women and youth, in the farm and non-farm sectors including creative industries. Both entrepreneurial and technical human capacities are strengthened and matched with opportunities to produce new and improved marketable products. Knowledge and technology introduced in the rural communities match the absorptive and innovative capabilities of the poor and vulnerable segments of rural society. The Division fosters the development of an entrepreneurship culture from the grass-root level. It supports local and national institutions set up to provide rural communities with technical and entrepreneurial capacities and contributes to the incubation and development of self-reliant economic activities in rural areas. It strives to integrate vulnerable people in rural areas in local and global value chains. Finally, the Division contributes to human security in countries affected by man-made and natural disasters by helping restore livelihoods and build resilience amongst vulnerable communities. In doing so, it helps stabilize populations and curb rural-to-urban as well as cross-border migrations. Duty station: UNIDO Headquarters, Vienna, Austria.

Main Functions

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Assistant provides support in the development and administration of technical cooperation programmes and projects as well as secretarial and administrative support and is responsible for the following key functions: - Screen incoming mail and draft reply for supervisor’s signature on non-technical aspects; provide relevant background/project information whenever necessary to supervisor(s); keeps track of pending matters, follow up with other offices on deadlines. - Screen phone calls and visitors. Respond to moderately complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, as well as to refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling. - Draft routine correspondence (both on TC-related and administrative matters); and put them into adequate style, language and format; proofread documents and edit texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style in accordance with standard practices and in compliance with the UNIDO Correspondence Manual. - Assist or monitor exercises related TC projects (e.g.: budget revisions, obligation reviews, re-phasing, extension or completion of projects, issuance of new project allotment documents/due sub-allotments, TC allocations and monitoring related exercises). Interpret or consult to clarify the application of new financial procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions. Keep track of project budget expenditures; assist in budget revisions; complete justification for budget revisions; provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered. Retrieve information on TC projects from the SAP PPM module that has been designed to support results-based management. - Using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to recruitment of experts, training and study tours, purchase of equipment, travel authorizations requests/claims and deal with all related inquiries. - Perform general administrative tasks like arrangements for meetings and other events, reservations, budget follow-up, research for information and reference material. Prepare requests/documents, e.g. requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests/authorizations, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc. - Assist in the preparation of papers and presentations by extracting/summarizing statistics and other related information; compile and organize information and reference materials from various sources for reports, meetings, etc. - Maintain files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work. - Perform any other related duties as assigned.

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

Completed secondary education. Formal secretarial/clerical training or equivalent desirable. University studies in the field relevant to the post may be counted towards experience credit (not exceeding a maximum of four years of the actual period of studies whichever is smaller).

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, particularly Spanish is required.

Computer Skills

Field of Expertise

A minimum of six years of working experience in the related fields of the post, thorough understanding of office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, including experience in project administration, accounting and finance, providing support to managerial/professional staff and using secretarial/administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work. Proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet. Experience with SAP or similar ERP software an asset. Note: Qualified individuals who are nationals or lawful residents of the country of the duty station are eligible to apply.

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