Title: Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing Project Coordinator
Requisition ID: 6775
Grade: ISA-NOC
Country: Sri Lanka
Duty Station: Colombo
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 60 Workdays
Application deadline: 16-Nov-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive 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 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, 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. 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.
The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. 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 and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, 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 Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.
The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development(TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
The Division of Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS),and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) assists Member States in the transition to low-carbon and climate resilient economies through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency solutions and breakthrough technologies in industry and other key sectors, diversifying supply chains for renewable energy manufacturing and stimulating innovation to address critical climate and energy related challenges.
The Division assists governments in fulfilling national commitments under the Paris Agreement and progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, thereby facilitating a just transition towards sustainable industrialization. In transitioning to a low-carbon and climate resilient economies, the challenges of addressing energy poverty and climate change are an integral part of the Division's activities, as is the dissemination of policies, knowledge and technologies and pathway sto plan, manage and finance the energy transitions and climate action for industrial transformation. It collaborates closely on converging issues with IET/CTP and TCS/CMP.
The position is located under the Energy Systems and Industrial Decarbonization Unit(TCS/ECA/ESD) promotes the emergence, deployment and large-scale adoption of sustainable energy technologies to drive the decarbonization of energy systems and industrial processes. It supports Member States to charter pathways for net zero industrial development through the development of conducive policies. It also promotes the deployment of crosscutting energy efficiency solutions, electrification and carbon management of industrial processes in large and small-scale industries. It charters norms and standards for reporting embodied carbon in products and supports member states in developing the reporting and verification structures to support compliance with global standards.
PROJECT CONTEXT (Project ID 190274)
“Accelerating Industries’ Climate Response in Sri Lanka” is a 5-year project funded by the European Union under GCCA+ initiative. The main government counterparts are the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the Ministry of Energy.
The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to climate change mitigation through supporting the implementation of Sri Lanka's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) for the industrial sector. The specific Project objective is to scale-up the climate change response of Sri Lanka’s industrial sector through the design and implementation of technical, policy, regulatory and financial tools and mechanisms to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, energy and resource efficiency technologies and best practices.
The Project aims to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions through accelerating the uptake of innovative technologies, established best practices and methods for reducing carbon intensity and improving energy and resource efficiency performance of Sri Lanka’s industrial sector. Furthermore, this project is envisioned to contribute to long-term development gains such as capacity building of the government counterparts and empowerment of the project beneficiaries.
Expected Outcomes:
- EO1: A Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system for the industry sector is developed and implemented and baseline for the industrial sector established
- EO2: An industrial sector plan for implementing NDCs has been validated and activities prioritized according to agreed criteria
- EO3: Policy and regulatory frameworks are improved and related awareness and capacity building of stakeholders to implement these frameworks have been built
- EO4: Capacity related to climate change mitigation practices in the area of industry is built
- EO5: Pilot technologies and methodologies leading to improved energy efficiency and reduction in GHG emissions are tested to be then replicated
The Project is implemented with the support of EU GCCA+ initiative, which aims to assist the world’s most vulnerable countries to respond to climate change. The project corresponds with the following priorities: to contribute to enhancing Sri Lanka's resilience to climate change while enabling the engagement in low-carbon development processes via the implementation of the NDCs.
Under EO5, the Project funds 10 decarbonization pilot projects. By demonstrating the impact of implementation, the project aims to leverage the commercial banking sector’s participation in promoting a financial mechanism that will promote the implementation of energy saving measures in Sri Lankan industries and in so doing facilitate institutional partnership building and peer learning between commercial banks and related industries.
As a part of this initiative, first, the project will implement six (6) decarbonizing pilot projects which fall under the category of Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) installations. The 6 projects are:
- Steam distribution system and condensate recovery system retrofit in an apparel washing plant located in Biyagama Export Processing Zone (EPZ). Estimated project duration: 4 to 6 weeks
- Installation and commissioning of a space cooling water supply system incorporating a cooling tower, pumps and control system in an electronic manufacturing plant in Katunayake EPZ. Estimated project duration: 3 to 5 weeks
- Installation and commissioning of end suction vertical delivery horizontal multistage centrifugal pumps with accessories in a water pump station located in Makumbura. Estimated project duration: 3 to 5 weeks
- Installation and commissioning of a data management and control system for a steam boiler in an apparel production plant located in Biyagama EPZ. Estimated project duration: 1 week
- Installation and commissioning of a lubricated rotary screw air compressor package in an apparel production plant located in Biyagama EPZ. Estimated project duration: 1 week
- Installation and commissioning of an air compressor in a plastics recycling plant in Horana EPZ. Estimated project duration: 1 week
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibility of the MEP Project Coordinator is to coordinate all MEP installation activities on-site, ensuring quality, safety, and timely execution in alignment with project requirements and industry standards, to ensure timely completion of the 6 decarbonization pilot projects.
Under the supervision of the UNIDO Project Manager, in coordination with the Chief Technical Specialist and other technical consultants the MEP Project Coordinator is required to perform the following duties under the EO5 of the Project: EO4: “Pilot technologies and methodologies leading to improved energy efficiency and reduction in GHG emissions are tested to be then replicated”.
Specifically, the MEP Project Coordinator will be expected to carry out the following tasks/duties:
|
Main Duties |
Expected Results |
Expected Duration |
Location |
|
1: Technical support and overseeing MEP installation activities on-site. The MEP Project Coordinator, in collaboration with the beneficiary company representative shall oversee the installation work of the 6 pilot decarbonization projects. This includes the following duties:
|
|
28 |
Home based |
|
2: Verifying and approving MEP installation progress The MEP Project Coordinator, in collaboration with the beneficiary company representative shall provide technical support to verify and approve MEP installation progress. This includes:
|
|
12 |
Home based |
|
3: Support testing, commissioning, and handover processes. The MEP Project Coordinator, in collaboration with the beneficiary company representative, shall support testing, commissioning and handing over process. This includes:
|
|
12 |
Home based |
|
4: UNIDO Reporting (Progress and Final Contract Report) The MEP Project Coordinator should supply the following report to UNIDO:
|
|
8 |
Home based |
|
Total number of working days |
60 Days |
||
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL/QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agro-industries, environment, business administration, or other relevant discipline is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.
Technical and Functional Experience:
- At least five (5) years of site supervision and coordination experience in MEP projects is required;
- Strong knowledge of MEP systems, codes, and standards is required;
- Familiarity with Auto CAD and MS Office is required;
- Experience in installation projects of steam systems, compressed-air systems and water supply systems is desirable;
- Strong communication skills are required.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil is desirable.
REPORTING
In addition to the deliverables and outputs listed in the table above, the MEP Project Coordinator will have to submit a final report summarising all activities performed. Deliverables produced during the assignment will have to be enclosed as annexes to the final report. All reports shall be in English and submitted in electronic format.
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