Title:  Associate Programme Officer

Requisition ID: 6116 
Grade: P2 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: Professional and Higher 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term - 100 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 85,999 USD 
Application Deadline: 19-Aug-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
Female candidates from all Member States 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 Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET) is responsible for developing, innovative services aimed at strengthening the existing technical cooperation portfolio to meet the current global challenges and attract more funding and new donors, as well as engaging in more and new partnerships with Member States, development partners and the private sector. The Directorate will also ensure internal coordination and integration of technical cooperation services at UNIDO and monitoring of the quality and impact.

The Directorate works closely with all offices, services and divisions in the organization to further cross-organizational collaboration, technical cooperation-related processes, and procedures related the official engagement with external stakeholders. It also Supports the development of impact-oriented technical cooperation programmes and projects covering the mandate of the Directorate and manage the risks related to the coherent implementation of the Directorate's portfolio.

The Managing Director, as a member of the UNIDO Leadership, contributes to achieving the organization's strategic goals by reporting on activities undertaken, new developments in its work and trends to urgently respond to by making innovative proposals and advancing new initiatives in cooperation with other Directorates.

The Associate Programme Officer works under the overall guidance of the Managing Director of IET and in close collaboration with the colleagues to support the mandate of the Directorate.

At the P2 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver: (a) work that is analytical in contributing to results achieved by the Directorate; (b) in creating an enabling environment for collaborative work which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building relationships which contributes to counterparts’ engagement and (d) in achieving results that provide baselines for a service. The measure of success is timely, consistent and appropriate delivery of results.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

I. Main Responsibilities

As a team-leader or member, whether on a divisional, cross-functional or cross sectoral level, the incumbent shall carry out the following generic activities to achieve the results of the Division and the outcomes of Directorate:

• Act as focal point for the initialization and monitoring of exercises related to the implementation of TC projects and programmes within the Directorate (e.g.: TC allocations of RB/DO-, GEF/DO- funds and RPTC funds, P&B budget preparation, TC forecast, and monitoring of TC implementation, overview-, administrative- and budget-related functions, project allotment documents/due sub-allotments, among others); provide relevant background/project information whenever necessary to the supervisor; keep track of pending matters, follow-up with other offices on deadlines; assist in achieving TC optimization and meeting the TC targets.
• Based on incoming requests, draft routine and non-routine correspondence and assist with the preparation of inputs needed for various reporting exercises, including the preparation of papers, statistics, reports and data for presentations by extracting/summarizing statistics; undertake computer-based searches, compile background information to assist in relevant TC-related functions benefiting the Directorate.
• Support with follow-up activities related to the general coordination processes with relevant stakeholders benefitting in building relationships contributing to counterparts’ engagements in relevant technical cooperation project and programme implementation, as and when needed.
• Consult and provide advice, solutions and answers to inquiries received from the Directorate’s teams regarding budget-related functions, funds distributions, requisitions, authorizations, as and when received from clients in relevant organizational units and in close consultation with Financial Services.
• Using ERP/SAP, retrieve substantive information on administrative matters and TC project/programme data from the SAP modules which have been designed to support results-based management, TC monitoring, or TC forecasting, among others. Make sure that data in SAP/PPM is accurate and correct it if need be. Further assist with the reviewing of financial and checklists considerations of relevant SAP/workflow processes.
• Contribute, inform and deliver regular progress reports and observation papers, based on statistical and research data related to TC project/programme trends; maintain a transparent and up-to-date filing system and databases related to work.
• Assist the Directorate’s efforts with information dissemination aids and tools for promoting the TC work of the Directorate to relevant counterparts; liaise with the Directorate’s communication focal points network for the preparation of relevant publications, newsletters, Website articles, and social media activities supporting knowledge sharing functions.
• Provide quality assurance of concepts and projects stemming from and outside the Directorate and consolidate inputs on the compliance with the UNIDO Monitoring and Reporting Policy; assist the Directorate’s efforts to achieve predefined results and targets.
• Assist the Directorate’s efforts in the coordination of various inputs from the Divisions, as well as in the preparation of and follow-up to global forum events, publications, newsletters, website articles, social media posts and other knowledge products.
• Perform any other related duties, as assigned.

II. Core 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.

III. Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education: Advanced university level degree (master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, Development studies, Environment, Engineering or another field relevant to UNIDO’s mandate, is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience, including some at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries, is required. 
• Proven experience in budget monitoring and financial oversight of technical cooperation projects or programmes, preferably within an international organization or development cooperation context, is required.
• Demonstrated experience in using ERP systems (e.g., SAP) or similar platforms to retrieve, validate, analyse, and manage data related to technical cooperation monitoring and reporting is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with all phases of the project cycle, including needs assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation, particularly in the context of developing countries is desirable.

Languages:  Fluency in written and spoken English is required.  Fluency in or working knowledge of other United Nations language(s), is desirable.

NOTE: 

For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/

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 careers site for details on how to apply: https://careers.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