Title:  International Expert, Senior Advisor on AI, Digital Economy and Transformation

​​Requisition ID: 5687 
Grade: P4 (Specialist) 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: External Private Posting
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular 
Application Deadline: 1-Jul-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

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 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. The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation

and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The position is located under the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI) promotes digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence as well as associated technologies as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber- physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation is the key, by integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, and by applying technological innovation to smart manufacturing, smart energy, smart agribusiness and others, in developing countries, transition and emerging economies, with emphasis in developing countries to provide the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

GENERIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The International Expert, Senior Advisor on AI and Digital Transformation, shall work under the direct supervision of Chief TCS/DAI  and shall be engaged as follows:

Strategic Thought Leadership on AI and Digital Economy Policy Advisory

• Advise on key initiatives advancing the Global Digital Compact's Objective 2 to foster inclusive digital economy implementation across member states
• Formulate comprehensive policy frameworks and authoritative recommendations on AI governance and digital economy to enhance industrial competitiveness
• Direct high-level policy engagement initiatives to establish UNIDO as the preeminent UN agency for inclusive digital economic transformation
• Guide development of analytical frameworks and tools to assess digital economy and AI readiness among member states, identifying strategic interventions to bridge digital and AI divides

Programme Development on AI and Digital Economy

• Orchestrate the conceptualization and implementation strategy for AI and Digital Economy programme portfolio, ensuring alignment with diverse industrial sector requirements
• Establish robust technical criteria and methodologies to identify and scale high-potential AI use cases from pilot phases to comprehensive Technical Cooperation programmes
• Devise and execute funds mobilization strategies to secure substantial resources from public and private donors for AI and Digital Economy initiatives
• Advise on institution of rigorous impact assessment methodologies to quantify AI contributions to industrial productivity, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth

UNIDO Solutions Platform and AIM Global Alliance Enhancement

• Facilitate the strategic evolution and alignment of the UNIDO Solutions Platform and AIM Global to consolidate UNIDO's position as the foremost authority and convener for AI in sustainable industrial development
• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with global technology partners to expand the alliance's reach, substantive impact and identify lighthouse digital solutions to support member states
• Architect knowledge exchange mechanisms between alliance partners and member states to accelerate technology transfer and capacity building
• Formulate inclusive governance structures ensuring equitable stakeholder representation within the alliance to enhance global cooperation and development outcomes

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in one or more of the following areas: information technology, business administration, digital technologies, or related fields is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in IT, Business Development or Digitalization, out of which 5 years in implementing digital transformation in complex organizational settings, preferably in public sectors and leadership, operations, or strategy developments is required.
• Relevant professional experience in strategic digital partnership development and project management in international or UN organizations, is highly desirable
• Thorough understanding of latest advancements in AI and emerging, digital technological, and their business applications, is highly desirable
• Experience in implementing scalable digital solutions in cloud-based platforms, which foster operational efficiency and data-driven decision making, is desirable

Languages: 

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

Managerial and Leadership competencies (as applicable):

• WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: We are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bounded to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

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