Title:  Communications Expert

 ​​Requisition ID: 7629 
Grade: ISA-P3 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 10 months
Application Deadline: 06-Jul-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

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 and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair 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, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission 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 inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. 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-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, 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. 

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” (SWITCH2CE) project which is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland, 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 ICT/electronics. Guidelines for applicants were prepared for the open calls for Expressions of Interest and applications were assessed against specified selection criteria. One pilot in the Plastic Packaging sector in Morocco, one pilot in ICT/electronics in Egypt and two pilots in Textiles & Garments in Bangladesh were selected based on the submitted Expressions of Interest. The pilots started implementation in 2023.

Between January and April 2025, an additional pilot project was identified and selected for implementation under SWITCH2CE in the Textiles & Garments value chain, focusing on circular approaches with manufacturers in Egypt and Morocco.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field locations, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in communication, journalism, public relations, international relations or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in public relations, communication, developing communication/visibility strategy and/or advice for promoting technical cooperation projects at international level, is required.
• Experience in developing and implementing effective media and outreach strategies is required.
• Experience in drafting, editing, writing press release, media assets/excerpts is required.
• Experience in tailoring key messages to different target audiences is required.
• Prior demonstrated familiarity with environmental issues, such as experience with resource efficient and cleaner production, circular economy, global value chains, MSMEs or other related areas of work, is required. 
• Prior demonstrated experience with EU-funded projects, including experience with Communication and Visibility Requirements in EU-financed External Actions, the European Commission English Style Guide and UNIDO’s communication guidelines, is required.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries is desirable.
• Experience in researching and analyzing information independently, making linkages with the strategic vision of the Organization and recommending solutions is desirable.
• Advanced knowledge of and proficiency with multiple creative applications required, including Adobe Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, Final Cut Pro and website editing software is desirable.

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

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.

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