Young Professional - Focus on Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy and/or Environmental Science

Requisition ID: 1957 
Grade : P1 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station : Vienna 
Category: Professional and Higher 
Type of job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Minimum Annual salary: 57,880 USD USD 
Application deadline: 30-Apr-2023  

Vacancy Announcement
 

I.    Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is looking for young, dynamic and highly motivated individuals who have a dream to be of service to others through an international organization with such a mandate. Applicants shall not be more than 30 years of age at the time of their application. While technical qualifications remain the priority, UNIDO would also like to improve the diversity of our workforce and therefore welcomes for this position, female candidates from the following countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iraq, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Yemen.

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 Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. 

The Division of Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. It also promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for SMEs. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.

This position is located under the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEP/CER) which is responsible for supporting Member States with capacity development to scale up and mainstream the production of sustainable products and adoption of circular and resource-efficient, cleaner patterns of consumption and production along value chains, circular economy policies, programmes and practices, including circular business models; it is also coordinating the organization of global fora to facilitate just transitions to a circular economy, acts as an advocate and engages in relevant global forum activities for resource efficiency and circular economy. 

The Young Professional assignment will be task driven. He/she will work under the overall guidance of the Chief in the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEP/CER). The work plan will be prepared jointly by the direct supervisor, the Director and the Assistant Industrial Development Officer and will be updated periodically. Guidance will be provided on daily work outputs which are monitored against tasks assigned and actually achieved.

The Young Professional is expected to: (a) deliver work requiring basic conceptual comprehension; (b) assist in creating an enabling environment for supportive exposure and growth;  (c) assist in building relationships which contribute to information acquisition and (d) achieve results starting from basic substantive baselines.

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.

II.    Main Responsibilities

Programme Development: Makes proposals and contributes by gathering information and analysing data for the development and formulation of technical cooperation projects/programmes in the area of circular economy, resource efficiency, as well as topics related to reducing pollution and biodiversity loss, in line with the guidelines and procedures governing the delivery of UNIDO services, and obtains internal approval.

Programme Implementation: Participates in projects/programme implementation 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 (consultant job descriptions, terms of reference, training arrangements, equipment specifications, etc.), following up their implementation, including missions to the project sites, as well as support of oversight meetings in the field and at headquarters, contribution to projects/programmes reviews, and assisting the Evaluation Group in its evaluations of projects/programmes. 

Funds Mobilization: Cooperates with other divisions in-house in mobilizing the funds necessary for project and programme implementation.

Global Forum Function: Assists in the preparation for UNIDO’s global forum activities (conferences, seminars, expert group meetings, etc.) and in their running and prepares technical papers or other inputs for these Prepares UNIDO publications and other information dissemination aids and tools. Keeps abreast of technical and economic developments in the areas of the Division’s mandate, in particular with regard to investment promotion services, through close contacts with specialized institutions and industry representatives, following the technical press, market developments and trends.

Other Speical Projects: Performs other related duties and assignments as required by the Chief of the Unit or Director of the Division.

 
III.    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.

IV.       Minimum Organizational Requirements 

Education: 
An advanced university degree in Resource Efficiency, Engineering, Environmental Science, Finance, Economics or other field relevant to UNIDO’s mandate is required. Specific specialization in Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency or SME development is desirable.

Experience:

• A minimum of one (1) year of relevant professional work experience is required. Work experience including practical application in the context of technical cooperation activities is desirable;
• Knowledge of intergovernmental affairs and interagency cooperation on sustainable development and either circular economy or economic development issues gained through studies or through work in the public or private sector is required; 
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries is desirable.

Language Skills: 
Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent drafting skills are required. Fluency in or working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations is desirable.

NOTE: UNIDO professional level applicants are required to have served at least one year in their current position, if applying for a higher-level position. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRMF, have been waived.

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.

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 web site for details on how to apply: www.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