Title: Technical Expert for ISO accreditation of Laboratory Services
Requisition ID: 2200
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Philippines
Duty Station: Manila
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal/External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 20 Working days over the period of 2 months
Application deadline: 18-May-2023
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 particularly 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 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 houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).
This position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) which builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating SME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities (i.e. standardization, metrology, and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); and supporting trade facilitation and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating SMEs.
PROJECT CONTEXT
In response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been working with local manufacturers to explore opportunities for these local firms to diversify their production to include essential goods such as PPEs. The discourse has surfaced gaps in terms of quality and safety standards, operational and occupational health and safety standards, production technology, and testing methodologies and equipment.
High-level discussions with DTI, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), industry chambers and associations, and other government representatives forming the UNIDO – convened Multi-stakeholder Working Group on COVID-19 stressed the urgent need for UNIDO to provide the necessary support to address the challenges identified.
The Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) is a strategic cooperation between the Government of Switzerland and UNIDO to promote market access through enhancing compliance capacity of SMEs with Market requirements. The Special Measure mechanism is intended to address urgent needs of an industry in one or more thematic areas of quality infrastructure, value chain compliance and culture for quality.
In the Philippines, the overall purpose of the initiative is to help address the urgent need to provide adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPEs), medical device, and sanitation products in support of the country’s COVID-19 response, meeting the required global quality and safety product and manufacturing standards. This will be done through strengthening the capacity of the national quality infrastructure to promote and verify compliance of the commodities mentioned with relevant quality and safety standards.
The project will also help achieve the country’s aspirations described in its 2040 Vision: “The country is a prosperous middle-class society where no one is poor. People live long and healthy lives and are smart and innovative. The Philippines is a high-trust society where families thrive in vibrant, culturally diverse, and resilient communities.” Under UNIDO’s CPF in the Philippines, 2018 – 2023, the project is well-placed to strongly contribute to the targets on “supporting inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led industrialization”.
Component 1 of the project aims to strengthen the country’s national quality infrastructure (NQI) in order to offer quality services demanded by MSMEs at market price through:
- Improved governance systems to support an effective NQI including quality infrastructure services (e.g. laboratories), accessible by all segments of the value chains of the selected commodities
- Harmonization of Philippine National Standards (PNS) with and/or adoption of relevant international standards as PNS for products and conformity assessment procedures by the national standardization body
To achieve the objective of this component, the project will support the capacity enhancement of the existing Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) Medical Textile Testing Center.
DUTIES AND RESPONSILITIES:
The Technical Expert for ISO Accreditation of Laboratory Services will work with the Chief Technical Advisor under the overall supervision of Project Manager and will have the duties and responsibilities listed below.
|
Main Duties |
Concrete/measurable outputs to be achieved |
Expected Duration |
Location |
|
Prepare work plan and provide technical assistance and administrative support to the project team in attaining the project deliverables and in performing activities accordingly |
Work plan prepared Progress report prepared and updated |
2 w/d |
Manila |
|
Review existing laboratory policies and procedures, draft and recommend amendments, to address the gaps |
Policies and procedures amended |
3 w/d |
Manila |
|
Prepare the required documents for ISO application of the Microbiological Laboratory in coordination with PMTTC, coordinate with the accreditation body to facilitate the accreditation of the laboratory, and establish/consider optimum timeline for accreditation
|
Documentary requirements prepared and poised for submission to Accreditation body; Timeline established |
9 w/d |
Manila |
|
Support the development of a training and capacity building programme for the laboratory through Identification of training needs. |
Training needs analysis and training needs program prepared |
2 w/d |
Manila |
|
Assist in the Identification of potential training providers for the priority training needs and draft terms of agreement between the PMTTC/DOST-PTRI and training providers. |
List of training providers; draft/proposed terms of agreement |
2 w/d |
Manila |
|
Prepare a plan for recommended improvements to optimize the work flow of the laboratory
|
Work Flow improvements accepted and documented for implementation |
2 w/d |
Manila |
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Advanced university degree in a field related to Science and Engineering or other relevant discipline is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
Advance knowledge in Physical, Chemical, Microbiological Testing and Evaluation of Textiles and Related Products (Including Medical Textiles) and practical experience of at least 7 years in Laboratory Management System in accordance with ISO 17025:2017 is required. Experience at the international level involving technical cooperation in developing countries is desirable. Good understating of testing laboratory landscape, institutional stallholders, overall capacity and challenges is required.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and local language is required.
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