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

VACANCY  ANNOUNCEMENT

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. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business (DTA), coordinates and mainstreams the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in its technical cooperation, strategic, normative activities aiming at fostering the inclusive and sustainable development in the era of 4IR. The Directorate creates new and innovative technical cooperation deliverables in the areas of trade, investment, technology innovation and agro-industry and agri-business. The Directorate comprises the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and the Department of Agri-Business (AGR). Responding to the growing demand for supporting inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in the era of the new industrial revolution, the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTA/DTI) leads the way in addressing opportunities, challenges and risks stemming from the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and its contribution to sustainable socio-economic progress. The Department is responsible for the strategic coordination of 4IR-related matters with designated focal points in other technical Departments and organizational entities of UNIDO, as appropriate. In consultation with public and private partners, DTI designs and implements holistic interventions that are tailored to specific country needs. The position is located in the Innovation & Digitalization Division (DTA/DTI/IDD) under the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTA/DTI). The division promotes digital transformation and innovation ecosystems building, to advance the economic competitiveness of developing countries by helping them to benefit from the rapid progress of digital and convergent technologies associated to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and ensuring a smooth transition towards cyber-physical industrial systems and a smart society.

The Chief works under the overall guidance of the Managing Director for DTA, the Director of DTA/DTI and in close collaboration with the colleagues to achieve the mandate of the Division. The Chief supervises the staff under his/her supervision (a) in work that is integral to results achieved by the Department; (b) in creating an enabling environment which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building partnerships which result in strategic collaborations and (d) in achieving results which are cross-programme and inter-service oriented. 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, in the country as well as in the region and in headquarters. 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.

Main Functions

Technical Responsibilities: Leads the teams in the Division to: - Support the development of digital transformation and 4IR transition strategies, business infrastructure and environment reforms including on legal, policy and regulatory frameworks for digital economy uptake by adopting digital technologies, boosting competitive, inclusive and sustainable industrial activities; - Assist governments, institutions and industry with the development of advanced technology foresight analysis, benchmarking and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), to support policy formulation and long-term industrial development strategies involving the diffusion and adoption of new technologies and innovation, and the smart specialization in sectors and value chains; - Support the undertaking of 4IR readiness analysis for the preparation of strategic roadmaps and to monitor the uptake of new technology at the industry level, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, industrial internet of things and others; - Assist in the development of innovation ecosystems for enabling product, process, functional and value chain industrial innovation by adopting 4IR technologies and innovative business models, establish collaborative knowledge sharing platforms and innovation financial support mechanisms and schemes; - Undertake regular investor, innovation and National Systems of Innovation (NSI) surveys and analysis to derive actionable recommendations and policy advice for governments and institutions; - Provide assistance to governments and industry in leveraging the potential and establishment of science and technology parks, innovation hubs, learning and lab factories, start-ups incubators programmes, with the aim of promoting technological learning, innovation and the development and application of new technologies, such as industrial internet of things, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and etc.; - Support national and sectoral industrial modernization and innovation, restructuring and competitiveness through transfer of technologies, know-how and introduction of innovative processes, including digitalization and automation of industrial design and production processes, e-commerce tools and enterprise management practices, considering industrial safety, cybersecurity and other related challenges; - Play a coordinating and facilitating role in the overall formulation, monitoring, implementation and reporting of the UNIDO 4IR Strategic Programme; including coordination and support to the UNIDO interdepartmental Focal Points Network of the 4IR Strategic Programme; - Provide strategic advice and mainstreaming support on UNIDO Strategic Programme for embracing the 4IR, including organizing and developing capacity- building and awareness-raising activities and events that strengthen the capacity of UNIDO staff to effectively mainstream smart industrialization thematic interventions in their area of work; - Facilitate the exchange of ideas, acquire and disseminate knowledge and expertise and develop effective communication channels between experts, government officials, senior policy-makers, academia and other stakeholders to ease the flow of research findings and solutions to 4IR challenges. In particular, through the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS), provide a platform for dialogue between governments, private sector, and civil society on harnessing the potential of new technologies to achieve the SDGs, in particular SDG-9; - Support the development of UNIDO approaches, thematic strategies, policy briefs, publications and global forum activities on key ISID issues related to smart industrialization, smart production, and smart society; - Systematically review UNIDO TC proposals in ERP from the smart industrialization perspective; - Ensure alignment with, contribute and report to relevant inter-agency and United Nations system wide processes and activities associated to smart industrialization; - Act as the focal point for the UNIDO Programme on Enterprise Modernization and Innovation Programme, for the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS), the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Establishment of a Technology Bank and Science, Technology and Innovation Supporting Mechanism dedicated to LDCs, and the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities: 1. Collaborate with senior managers in UNIDO, to form a community of interest, serving as active public relations ambassadors, utilizing all means, both traditional and new approaches to continuously improve the resource mobilization capacity, partnerships and commitment to increasing the visibility and relevance of UNIDO. 2. Align the work programme of the Division with the organizational priorities cascaded from the Director and in this context, formulate, cascade, implement and report on the priorities of the Division. 3. Assign responsibilities to staff under his/her supervision, having a clear overview and monitoring mechanism; ensure that expectations of results and performance are clear; motivate staff under their supervision and hold them accountable. 4. Ensure appropriate monitoring of results, performance and completion of related reporting and feedback mechanisms. 5. Support the Director on other special projects and assignments.

Core Competencies

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. Managerial and Leadership Competencies WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach. WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond. WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development. WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, environmental management, business management, engineering or another field relevant to UNIDO’s mandate.

Languages

Fluency in written and oral English is required. Fluency or working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations desirable.

Computer Skills

Field of Expertise

A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience, including some at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries is required. Experience in all phases of the Project Cycle is required. Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries is desirable. NOTE: Eligible internal UNIDO applicants are required to have served at least one year in his or her current post. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRM Framework, have been waived.

<strong> </strong>