Apply now »

Title:  Senior Project Assistant

​Requisition ID: 7846 
Grade: ISA -G5 
Country: Syrian Arab Republic 
Duty Station: Damascus 
Category: Local Support Personnel 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 3 months (with possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 01-Sep-2026, 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.
 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 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 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 position is located under the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI) promotes digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence as well as associated technologies as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber- physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation is the key, by integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, and by applying technological innovation to smart manufacturing, smart energy, smart agribusiness and others, in developing countries, transition and emerging economies, with emphasis in developing countries to provide the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

 

PROJECT CONTEXT  

 

Project number: 250063

Project title: Weaving hope: upgrading the Syrian Arab Republic's garment industry and workforce

 

Under the framework of UNIDO's Industrial Recovery Programme for the Syrian Arab Republic (2026-2030), this project addresses the challenges facing Syria's garment and textile sector. A decade of crisis has left its institutional backbone—technical and vocational training centres, laboratories, and business development services—severely outdated, disconnected from modern technologies, and unable to support private enterprises. This breakdown blocks productivity gains, quality improvement, and any prospect of re-entering regional or international markets.

 

Funded by the Government of Italy, UNIDO's "Weaving Hope" intervention strategically focuses on rehabilitating this essential technical ecosystem. The approach will focus on advanced technology and digital transformation to accelerate the efforts and investment needed for the textile sector to rebuild its position regionally and globally and ensure the provision of advanced skills and technologies to make up for the deterioration experienced during the past 15 years.

 

This project is designed in full synergy to complement ILO activities on decent work and functions as the indispensable technical-infrastructure pillar of the broader "Weaving Hope" initiative. By the end of the 24-month implementation, the project will achieve its core output: technical support centres upgraded to serve as national hubs for skills, technology, and advisory services, thereby creating a self-sustaining foundation for the sector's recovery, competitiveness, and job creation.

 

Outputs of the project

Output 1: Technical Support Centres and Institutions strengthened and upgraded.

 

Objective of the project

 Impact: to enhance productivity, skills, and quality of the Syrian textile sector through adoption of advanced manufacturing solutions. 

 Outcome: Textile technical centres and institutions deliver new or enhanced services and market-relevant skills through the adoption of advanced technologies and digital transformation.

 

The project’s intervention shall aim at:     

  • Mapping the existing technical centers to identify capacity gaps and to align with local, regional and international market needs consistent with the sectoral mapping established by the ILO;
  • Selecting 1-2 technical centre(s) based on the mapping results and conducting a diagnosis to upgrade their technical, managerial, and operational capacities;
  • Based on the diagnosis, modernizing the training curricula and building instructor or training capacity to deliver market-relevant programs;
  • Providing modern technology, machinery, and tools needed to enhance the services of the selected technical centre(s);
  • Establishing accredited quality certification programs in alignment with international standards;
  • Implementing continuous on-the-job training, and apprenticeship programs through platforms for collaboration and exchanges of expertise (with similar regional/international institutes);
  • Organizing SME outreach and service-awareness activities, including information sessions, technical clinics, demonstration days and firm-level consultations in coordination with the upgraded centre(s), BDS, Chambers of Industry, sector associations and ILO-supporter enterprise engagement activities.


The Senior Project Assistant is expected to work under the supervision of the Project Manager and the National Coordinator (NC) and in cooperation and coordination with UNIDO team in HQ and the field and to undertake the following tasks:

 

 

Main Duties

Concrete/measurable outputs to be achieved

Expected duration

Location

  • Create and maintain records (structured filing system - hard and soft copies) of all the project documents, reports, workplans, etc. to be available and accessible for the project team.
  • Draft replies for supervisor’s signature, provide relevant background/project information whenever necessary to supervisor, keep track of pending matters, and following up with deadlines.
  • Good relationships with UNIDO and project’s counterparts and stakeholders built and maintained;
  • Data collected; project reports, minutes, etc. and relevant documents prepared,

Continuous

Damascus 

 

  • 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;
  • Assist in collecting and updating data and mailing list of stakeholders, counterparts, and beneficiaries of the project. 
  • Prepare and provide information about the project as necessary and in consultation with the National Coordinator and the team.
  • Identify local suppliers for procurement needs.
  • Monitor and manage supplies and office equipment including vehicles, computer equipment….
  • Ensure proper management and control of assets by recording and updating inventory in a timely manner, performing physical verification checks of project inventory; Prepare inventory reports, timely handover of assets to national stakeholders and follow up on required actions with UNIDO HQ.
  • Draft routine and non-routine correspondence

(both on TC-related and administrative matters); and putting 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;

  • Maintain the NC’s daily schedule of appointments; assist in organizing the logistics for meetings; prepare the necessary background documents and agendas; liaise with counterparts on attendance; assist in the preparation of presentation material; book meeting rooms and take notes at meetings, if required;
  • Support in office arrangement including project’s relevant inventory and assets to ensure appropriate use.
  • Perform general administrative tasks such as arrangements and taking minutes for meetings

(physical and virtual) 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. 
  • 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;
  • 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. 
  • Initiate or monitor exercises related to the implementation of TC projects (e.g.: budget revisions, obligation reviews, re-phasing, extension or completion of projects, issuance of new project allotment documents/due suballotments, 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; recommend and initiate budget revisions; complete justification for budget revisions; provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered. Retrieve substantive information on TC projects from the SAP PPM module that has been designed to support results-based management;
  • Draft 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. 

 

recorded, maintained, and shared; 

  • UNIDO project related team and relevant stakeholders are informed in due time to ensure communications and reactions to project’s information or issues.
  • Proper office

management;

Equipment, inventory and project’s assets maintained;

  • Procurement and logistic transactions and paper works that support purchases and

logistical and administration transactions tracked, and

provided/purchased;

  • Administrative and financial supported to project’s implementation for travels, workshops, meetings, expense reports, etc. delivered;
  • Coordination and monitoring tasks provided as required to ensure smooth

implementation of project activities;

  • Project-related documents and communications materials produced, delivered/published and communicated with target audiences.

 

 

 

Assist in the preparation of papers and presentations by extracting/summarizing statistics; undertake computer-based searches, compile background information to assist in project identification and formulation;

  • Perform any other related duties as assigned.

 

 

 

 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS  

Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.

Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Required competencies

 

Technical and Functional Experience:

  • At least eight (8) years of working 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 is required.
  • Good understanding of office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is required. 
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet. Experience with SAP or similar ERP platform for project management would be an asset.
  • Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.
  • Ability to research and analyze information is desirable.
  • Ability to write in a clear and concise manner is desirable.
  • Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams is desirable. 

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES


CORE VALUES:

  • Excellence – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance
  • Integrity – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly
  • Inclusion – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness
  • Humility – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions
  • Humanity – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development


CORE BEHAVIOURS:

  • Connect & Collaborate - Build trust through communication and teamwork; Share knowledge and embrace diversity
  • Analyse & Plan - Use data and evidence for decision-making; Plan proactively and prioritize effectively
  • Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Take ownership and deliver quality outputs; Align work with UNIDO mission and objectives
  • Learn and Develop - Continuously develop skills; Seek feedback and share knowledge
  • Adapt and Innovate - Respond flexibly to change; Embrace innovation and new approaches


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

Apply now »