​​Requisition ID: 7105 
Grade: ISA-P2 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months
Application Deadline: 30-Mar-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.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, 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 Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit, (TCS/CEG/RMC) which is responsible for supporting Member States to implement the chemicals and wastes obligations and requirements under the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions and other emerging relevant agreements, in particular where it relates to larger and formalized industries and sectors, and to leverage its experience to address industrial pollution mitigation in general as well as other emerging compliance mechanisms. With multi-stakeholder and novel approaches to materials and chemicals management and innovation, with capacity building and awareness raising, and by implementing circular economy approaches, process redesign of products, services and solutions, the Unit further leverages its experience to facilitate responsible materials sourcing and to support smaller enterprises and entrepreneurs in greening their businesses. 

PROJECT CONTEXT 

Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous metals Initiative – GEMINI Global Child project SAP ID 250101

Mercury is a toxic pollutant that poses serious health risks, especially to children and pregnant women. It damages air, soil, and water, impacting ecosystems. In nonferrous metal production, mercury is released during smelting, accounting for about 15% of global emissions, with over 300 tons produced in 2015. While some pollution controls exist, they are less effective against elemental mercury, which constitutes over 90% of atmospheric mercury and can convert into a highly toxic methylmercury.

The GEMINI Program aims to promote a mercury-free production and supply of nonferrous metals while disseminating knowledge to facilitate the transition to mercury-free, safe alternatives and responsible practices in the nonferrous metal production industry. With the rising demand for nonferrous metals driven by electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy, the global market increasingly relies on aluminum and copper for EV batteries and wiring. Addressing this demand requires advancing processing methods and implementing pollution abatement technologies to minimize mercury emissions. Key efforts should focus on fostering cross-sector collaboration and developing strong regulations. By aligning with the Minamata Convention, GEMINI advocates for clear legislation, global standards, innovative technologies, best practices, and improved public awareness to drive sustainable and mercury-free solutions in the industry.

In this context, the nonferrous metals industry faces several challenges regarding uneven global standards, variable mercury levels and inventories, insufficient by-product storage solutions, weak monitoring mechanisms, limited investment, lack of research, knowledge, and expertise. To overcome these challenges and embrace opportunities to reduce mercury emissions, the GEMINI program aims to support countries and the nonferrous metal production sectors to accelerate their transition to mercury-free supply by:

• • Ensuring coherence in national policies and regulations to sustain mercury-free nonferrous metal production and supply through an enabling regulatory framework supporting the nonferrous metal sector transition towards mercury reduction technologies and approaches.
  • Increasing finance access and enhancing financial instruments for sustainable nonferrous metal supply and technology transfer.
  • Enhancing the uptake of mercury-free technologies and practices in nonferrous metal production through demonstrating sustainable business models, capacity building, and technical assistance, including Hg emissions control, monitoring, reduction, and storage.
  • Establishing a gender-inclusive knowledge management platform and building transformative partnerships by providing global access to knowledge, best practices, and benefit-sharing interactions that are scaled up and implement awareness-raising.

The main GEB of the GEMINI Program corresponds to Chemicals of global concern and their waste reduction while benefiting people from GEF-financed investments.

Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous metals Initiative – GEMINI Chile Child project SAP ID 250098

The GEMINI Child Project in Chile, part of the Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative, implemented by UNIDO, has a duration of 72 months.

Chile, which holds 21% of the world’s copper reserves, depends heavily on copper mining, contributing nearly 12% of GDP. However, the sector faces serious challenges: outdated smelters, rising international competition, high water and energy consumption, and significant mercury emissions from pyrometallurgical processing. Despite existing policies and adherence to the Minamata and Stockholm Conventions, further action is needed to ensure sustainable, mercury-free production.

The project will pursue four main components. First, it will strengthen policy and regulations, identifying gaps and updating frameworks to support mercury-free smelting. Second, it will improve finance and investment mechanisms, creating a sustainable financing strategy and innovative instruments to attract public and private capital for cleaner technologies. Third, it will deliver technical assistance and capacity building, conducting inventories, preparing management plans, and piloting best available technologies to reduce mercury, POPs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fourth, it will enhance knowledge management and coordination, sharing best practices, organizing awareness campaigns, and promoting transparency, while also training stakeholders on energy and water efficiency.

The project is expected to cut mercury emissions by 4.25 tons, reduce POPs by 0.75 gTEQ, and directly benefit more than 277,000 workers, including around 41,000 women. By modernizing smelting practices and aligning with Chile’s National Strategy for Smelting and Refining Capacity, GEMINI Chile will strengthen competitiveness, foster inclusive participation in mining, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable, mercury-free copper production that supports climate goals and the renewable energy transition.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and working with the project team, the Project Administrator administers elements of the technical cooperation program or specific project/s of limited complexity and execution of technical cooperation programs and activities. The incumbent shall carry out the following main duties related to the GEMINI Global Child Project, and the GEMINI Chile Child Project:

• • Select, organize, and summarize background information to describe the overall context and background relevant to a project or a sector of technical cooperation activities in a country, and assess the local context for the planning and administration of individual technical cooperation projects.

• • Analyze and interpret project background history and documentation; identify, reconstruct, and document significant project events, decisions, and deviations.

• • Draft sections of program/project documents, such as project background and justification, and development of international scenarios on trade of non-ferrous metals.

• • Inform experts, consultants, and other project participants about logistical arrangements and internal procedures for monitoring and reporting in terms of the immediate objectives of specific projects.

• • Monitor specific aspects of project execution and identify problems and propose that actions be taken to expedite the delivery of inputs.

• • Draft comments on designated aspects of program/project preparation phase progress as an input to further program monitoring planning.

• • Draft project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, based on changed work plans.

• • Others, as requested by the Project Manager, for enhancing the unit and UNIDO’s portfolio.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Education: An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations, or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least three (3) years of work experience in project development in an area relevant to the recruiting office is required. Ability to research and analyse information is required.

Exposure to the needs, conditions, and problems in developing countries is desirable. Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions, and problems in developing countries is desirable.

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

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