SeniorFull TimeEN
Requisition ID: 7513
Grade: ISA-P5
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 36 days until end of 2026
Application Deadline: 08-Jun-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission 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 inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.
The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. 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-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.
The Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy (SPP), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible and accountable for UNIDO’s strategic planning and programming through the provision of coordinated and cohesive frameworks and policy advice. It plays the central role for UNIDO regarding the engagement in South-South and Triangular Cooperation matters, the strategic positioning of UNIDO within the United Nation system, strategic engagement in multilateral fora including BRICS, G20 and G7. It also leads the promotion of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women through mainstreaming gender considerations at the institutional and programmatic level. In addition, the Directorate oversees the Organization’s industrial policy research, statistics and SDG9 reporting activities, and normative function, and ensures a cohesive and consistent approach to Knowledge Management (KM) in UNIDO. The Directorate is responsible for the Divisions of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation (SPP/SSC), Strategic Engagement and Coordination (SPP/SEC), Strategic Programming, Results Monitoring and Quality Assurance (SPP/SPM), Industrial Policy Research and Statistics (SPP/IPS), Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (SPP/GEW) and Knowledge Management (SPP/KMG).
The position is located under the Quality Assurance and Safeguards Unit (SPP/SPM/QAS), which acts as the Secretariat of the Operations Committee, which is the cornerstone of the project formulation, appraisal and approval processes and guides the integration of different UNIDO interventions into a portfolio of higher quality and impact.
PROJECT CONTEXT
UNIDO is currently undertaking a comprehensive strategic review to modernize its Identification, Formulation, Appraisal, and Approval (IFAA) process. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, agility, and quality of programme/project design and approval workflows in response to evolving donor expectations and the need for greater operational effectiveness.
The objective is to shift from a traditional compliance-focused model to a more upstream, advisory-oriented approach that embeds quality assurance earlier in the project cycle. This transformation involves:
Process Optimization: Streamlining workflows to reduce administrative burden while maintaining fiduciary and quality standards.
Differentiated Pathways: Designing risk-proportionate processes tailored to project complexity and size.
Digital Integration: Exploring the strategic application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools to support decision-making, automate routine checks, and enhance data quality.
Capacity & Culture: Fostering a culture of shared accountability for project quality across all directorates.
The selected expert will lead the diagnostic, design, and pilot phases of this transformation, working closely with a cross-directorate Task Force to co-create solutions that are practical, scalable, and aligned with UNIDO's strategic goals.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Quality Assurance and Safeguards Unit (SPP/SPM/QAS), the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:
Concrete/measurable
Outputs to be achieved
Expected duration
Location
1. IFAA Process Redesign & Optimization
• Process Diagnostic Report: A comprehensive analysis of the current IFAA workflow, identifying bottlenecks, redundancies, and opportunities for streamlining.
• Stakeholder Analysis: Mapping of key influencers, decision-makers, and potential change agents to inform the co-design strategy.
• Benchmarking Study: Comparative analysis of IFAA-equivalent processes in at least three peer international organizations, with a specific focus on transferability to the UNIDO context.
• Differentiated Pathway Design: Development of risk-proportionate workflow options (e.g., standard, fast-track, programmatic) that balance efficiency with rigor.
• TC Manual Contributions: Drafting of revised IFAA chapters for the Technical Cooperation Manual, incorporating new workflow concepts and quality standards.
18 w/d
Home-based
2. AI Logic Definition & Integration Strategy
• AI Functional Specification: Definition of the business logic for potential AI applications in the project cycle (e.g., automated consistency checks, data validation, drafting support).
• Human-in-the-Loop Protocols: Design of workflows where AI augments human judgment, ensuring clear handover points and accountability.
• Early Advisory Model: Conceptualization of a model where routine advisory functions are potentially decentralized, supported by digital tools.
• Feasibility Assessment: Collaboration with COR/DIT to ensure proposed AI logic aligns with current and future IT architecture.
• Business-to-System Translation Package: Translation of the agreed redesigned IFAA process, business rules, and decision points into implementation-ready functional requirements for UNIDO’s IT environment (incl. workflow logic, user roles, data requirements, validation rules, exception handling, and key system dependencies).
12 w/d
Home-based
3. Modeling of Resource Reallocation & Efficiency
• Efficiency Impact Analysis: A quantitative assessment demonstrating how process redesign and digital tools can optimize resource utilization and reduce cycle times.
• Workload Balancing: Analysis of the impact of new workflows on existing staff capacities, ensuring sustainable operational models.
3 w/d
Home-based
4. Pilot Implementation & Change Management
• Pilot Execution: Selection and management model of a pilot cohort to test the redesigned workflow and AI-assisted tools.
• Monitoring: Establishment of key performance indicators to track efficiency gains, quality improvements, and user adoption.
• Training of Trainers: Development of training materials and sessions for staff on new processes and the interpretation of AI outputs.
• Communication Strategy: Design of a communication plan to build awareness, address concerns, and promote the new approach.
3 w/d
Home-based
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Public Administration, International Development, Business Administration, Computer Science (with a focus on AI/Systems) or a related field is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
Minimum 10 years of progressive professional experience in international development, project cycle management, or organizational process transformation is required.
Minimum 5 years of specific experience in redesigning approval/governance processes within complex organizations (UN, multilateral banks, or large INGOs) is required.
Deep knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM), Quality Assurance, and project design (Theory of Change, logframes) is required.
Experience in process architecture and governance design, including systems thinking, stakeholder facilitation, and political economy analysis is required.
Experience in AI strategy and digital integration, including defining AI/automation requirements for business processes is desirable.
Experience in change management and implementation, including diagnostics, pilot-to-scale methodology, data literacy is desirable.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
REQUIRED 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.
This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
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 website 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
