Date:  International Expert on food testing laboratory management

​​Requisition ID: 5382 
Grade: ISA-Senior Specialist 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: External Private Posting
Employment Type: NonStaff-WAE
Contract Duration: 25 days over 2 months
Application Deadline: 24-Mar-2025  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

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 of 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 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 SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET) houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS). 

The Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agroindustry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.

The Rural Development, Agroindustries and Industrial Parks Unit (IET/AGR/RAP) aims to improve rural livelihoods by extending and professionalizing agro-industrial production, infrastructure supply and employment. It provides technical cooperation services to develop formal and informal enterprises and entrepreneurs that produce and source agricultural products– directly or through business-development service agents – with support for business planning, technology adoption, investment planning, product improvement, quality compliance and marketing. The Unit also promotes the planning for developing the necessary infrastructure for the transportation of intermediary and final products and related basic infrastructure (land, electricity, water, communication, waste treatment, etc.) required for agro-processing and value addition, making use, among others, of sustainable agro-industrial park development schemes.

PROJECT CONTEXT

CAPFISH Capture - Post Harvest Fisheries Development project is part of the “Cambodia Programme for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Fisheries Sector” (ACA/2019/408-424) and is co-funded by the European Union. The overall objective is to contribute to the achievement of the Royal Government of Cambodia's long-term vision of social and economic development, food security and poverty reduction. It is in this framework that the CAPFISH Capture - Post Harvest Fisheries Development project is designed with the specific objective to contribute to the development of post-harvest fisheries through upgrading of the regulatory and institutional system, as well as the adoption of better practices and innovation by the private sector. This project will aim at inclusive post-harvest fisheries value chain development focusing on strengthening the institutional capacity of Competent Authority for establishing official control systems and subsequently supporting the development of post-harvest fisheries, through capacity building in terms of skills development, food safety system implementation, matching investment support and building business support mechanisms. 

UNIDO is delegated by the EU and the Fisheries Administration to implement CAPFISH Capture - Post Harvest Fisheries Development project with respect to the following outputs:

Output 1:    Output 1: Enhanced technical competence and sustainability of the Competent Authority and official control services supporting the post-harvest fisheries.

Output 2:    Output 2:Enhanced private sector capacity to comply with international standards and market requirements relevant to the post-harvest fisheries.

Output 3:    Output 3:Enhanced business competitiveness of post-harvest fisheries through innovation and R&D.
Output 4: Project management, monitoring and evaluation.

Under output 1, project focuses on strengthening the Competent Authority (CA) to support the postharvest fisheries processing operators to harmonize Cambodian fish and fishery products with regional and global market requirements, including the EU markets. One of the key activities is to strengthen the capacity of national laboratories and services to serve the food and fisheries value chains.

UNIDO was delegated to provide technical support for the establishment of the National Agricultural Laboratory (NAL) in Setbo. In this regard, the UNIDO has initiated institutional capacity needs assessment (chemistry, microbiology, animal and plant pathology, biotechnology, etc), market demand studies, and the development of a business plan for the laboratory.  

In this context, UNIDO is looking for a qualified International Laboratory Expert to provide overall input for establishing a new MAFF’s National Agricultural Laboratory in Setbo. The expert will work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)/Project Manager, in close cooperation with the project counterparts, the UNIDO Country Representative and project team.

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.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Food Science, Biochemistry or Animal Pathology, Agronomy, Microbiology, or another relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in laboratory design and management, and diagnostics with proven experience in designing or managing food testing laboratories, with an understanding of international standards (e.g., OIE, FAO, ISO/IEC 17025) required.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.    

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