Title:  National Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination Expert- Circular Economy

​Requisition ID: 6371 
Grade: ISA-NOD 
Country: Mexico 
Duty Station: Mexico City 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 30 workdays
Application deadline: 29-Sep-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 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 Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs 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. 

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 Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment.

The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It promotes circular economy policies, programmes and practices including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.

This position is located under the Circular Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEG/CRE) which is responsible for supporting capacity development to promote the adoption of circular and resource-efficient consumption and production patterns across value chains. It fosters circular economy solutions including policies, programmes, practices, and business models that enhance industry profitability while generating social and environmental benefits. Furthermore, it facilitates design for circularity emphasizing reduced or alternative materials inputs, greater durability, reusability, reparability, and ultimately recyclability. The Unit promotes nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches that support the coexistence of industries and nature.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The global “SWITCH to circular economy value chains” project aims to support enterprises within selected value chains to adopt circular economy practices. The project recognizes that the application of circular economy practices requires coherent practices by all actors of the value chains, from SMEs to leading companies in the Global Value Chains. Close cooperation is required for multinational companies and SME suppliers in developing countries to meet their circularity goals. 

This “last mile” of working with their suppliers in the developing economies is difficult for multinationals in global value and supply-chains.  However, at the same time, a multinational company has sufficient influence and resources to encourage, assist and/or convince the private sector in a developing country to make the necessary changes to their practices to become more circular in order to keep acting as their supplier.

The project will assist tier 1, 2 and, when feasible, tier 3 suppliers of EU Multinational Companies (MNCs) to make the switch towards circularity: such suppliers face significant challenges (technical and financial) in adopting new circular economy practices and the project is aimed at supporting them in this process.

The overall objective of the project is to support the “Transformation towards a circular economy”, including to contribute to sustainable growth, low carbon and climate resilient development, decent jobs creation, and safer, healthier and pollution-free environment.

Following an extensive process, three value chains were selected to form the focus of the project. These value chains are Plastic Packaging, Textiles & Garments and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sectors. Guidelines for applicants were prepared for three open calls for Expressions of Interest and applications were assessed against specified selection criteria.

The following four pilot projects are implemented in Morocco, Bangladesh and Egypt:

Pilot Project: Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) (Spain / Morocco)

Pilot Project: BESTSELLER A/S (Denmark / Bangladesh)

Pilot Project: H&M Hennes & Mauritz GBC AB (Sweden / Bangladesh)

Pilot Project: ORANGE S.A. (France / Egypt)

The project team has been tasked to identify additional targeted pilots with a large scaling potential, focusing on learnings from the project activities in the target value chains and in the countries of operation (Bangladesh, Egypt, and Morocco). In that sense, this assignment aims to scope a targeted intervention to support the development of the first circular economy park in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico.  

The objective of the UNIDO intervention is to support the Government of Mexico, through its Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), indicatively along two main workstreams:

• Workstream 1: Support Tula Master Plan development using the EIP toolbox, including an initial identification of the Industrial Symbiosis Opportunities to inform the private sector engagement required in workstream 2.[1]

• Workstream 2: Private sector engagement to attract EU corporate investment; possible actions could include:

• Setting up a dedicated team capacitated with necessary tools/technical knowledge to support development of concepts
• Support a (planned) international call for EU enterprises to invest targeted engagement of EU companies / brands and supplier partners active in Mexico and Latin America to identify potential investment opportunities and to create an investment pipeline in priority value chains linked to Tula based on the learnings and methodology of SWITCH2CE

An initial concept of the UNIDO support as well as the context and background on the Tula Park, will be provided during onboarding.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The National Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination Expert– Circular Economy will put together the baseline situation based on available information and exchanges with key stakeholders, with a view to scope a realistic and ambitious set of activities under the SWITCH2CE project.

The National Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination Expert– Circular Economy will report to the Project Manager and the Chief Technical Advisor, in close coordination with the UNIDO Mexico office. A small working group of UNIDO SWITCH2CE and Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) experts will guide and advise the National Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination Expert– Circular Economy, who will be responsible for the following main duties:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in development/industrial economics, business administration, industrial engineering or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in green industry is required.

At least five (5) years of experience in coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders is required.

Experience in the application of circular economy principles is desirable.

Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in complex development challenges, is desirable.

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

REQUIRED VALUES AND 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