Title: Project Officer

​Requisition ID: 4042
Grade: L3
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: Project-funded Professional and higher
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term – 200 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 101,247 USD
Application Deadline: 13-Jun-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
THE APPOINTMENT IS LIMITED TO THE SPECIFIED PROJECT(S) ONLY AND DOES NOT CARRY ANY EXPECTATION OF RENEWAL.
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Detailed information on the project can be found at UNIDO’s Open Data Platform: https://open.unido.org/

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 Corporate Services and Operations (COR), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible and accountable for the management of UNIDO’s human, financial and material resources, ensuring the capacity of the Organization to fulfil its mandate. The Directorate oversees a full range of financial, human resources, learning and staff development, procurement, information technology and general services to meet the service support needs of the Organization as a whole.

Additionally, the Directorate houses the Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Unit and the Ethics and Accountability Unit as well as oversees their operations. Furthermore, the Directorate provides guidance on personnel security and safety matters and ensures the overall coordination of UNIDO’s response in this regard.

Financial Services (COR/FIN) enables the Organization to achieve its business and strategic goals through the provision of financial services, including financial control functions at UNIDO Headquarters and in the Field. Aiming to ensure and maintain the financial integrity of the Organization, it develops, maintains and operates policies, systems and tools to facilitate the effective management of the financial resources at the disposal of the Organization.

The services provided include budgeting, financial control, financial planning, management of both budgetary and extra-budgetary financial resources; cash management and treasury operations; determination, management and reporting of assessed contributions; receipts and disbursements of funds, including payroll operation for Headquarters and Field staff; financial management of technical cooperation services; and accounting and reporting for both budgetary and extra-budgetary activities of the Organization.

Overall, Financial Services collaborates closely with the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement (ODG/SPU) and the Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA) Divisions in ensuring the solid Result Based Management and Result Based Budgeting approach of the Organization.

Furthermore, in close cooperation with the other organizational units, it reviews and implements improvements to the ERP processes and system operations to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided.

In addition, it acts as the focal point for interaction with the external auditors and operates the audit support system.

It also liaises with Member States, policymaking organs and other strategic partners on financial matters.

Project Context

At the L-3 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver work that is directly related to provision of financial management services to the project funded by the Government of Japan, namely Project 240001: “Industrial cooperation programme in the Global South through technology transfer from Japan”.

The main objective of the project is to support the development of new businesses in countries of the Global South, in the form of feasibility studies and pilot demonstrations, through cooperation and co-creation between Japanese companies and partners of the Global South by providing effective and innovative technological solutions possessed by Japanese companies to address challenges currently faced by the Global South countries.

The expected outcomes are to generate new businesses and employment opportunities in Global South countries through technology transfer and skills development from Japan, which include (but not limited to) fostering of innovation, strengthening of resilient value chains, and establishment of networks of industrial infrastructure in the implementation countries.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Appraisal and 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.

1. Main Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director, Financial Services and direct supervision of the Senior Finance Officer the incumbent is responsible for specific tasks related to grants management; payments and travel; treasury; and procurement committee.

More specifically, the incumbent will carry out (manage or implement, as applicable) the following main duties in the context of the relevant projects:

Grants Management

• Establishment and maintenance of master data for the projects in ERP grants management module
• Overall management of released and un-released budget of the projects
• Compliance control of budgets and subsequent budget revisions
• Regular financial reporting on budget implementation
• Financial reporting to the donor

Treasury

• Supplement the capacity of Treasury to manage the significant Japan contribution as per the UNIDO Investment policy, including direct support for the Treasurer (incl. analysis of deposit limits, research on new partner institutions, etc.); secretariat support for Investment Committee meetings; coordination of expedited solutions for IT related items; and other support as required.

Payments and travel

• Vendor master data verification for the projects
• Review of compliance of payment requests
• Support financial reporting related to the projects (statement of account)
• Oversight of travel requests related to the project
• Focal point for advice on payments, payroll, and travel management related to the projects

Procurement Committee

• Support to the Director, Financial Services on preparation for selected Procurement Committee meetings.

• Other project related assignments, as per instructions from the Director, Financial Services.

2. 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.

3. Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, finance, accounting, business administration or other related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in project and financial management, including at least 3 years at the international level is required.
• Experience in broad range of project and financial performance management areas is required.
• Experience in production of financial and analytical reports to donors is required.
• Expertise in broad range of information and IT systems is required.
• Experience in field-based organizations is desirable.

Languages:

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

NOTE: UNIDO professional level applicants are required to have served at least one year in their current post if applying for a higher-level position. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher-level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRMF, have been waived.

UNIDO General Service applicants are required to be at least at the GS-5 level; to have served in their current position for at least two years; and to have served in UNIDO for at least five years.

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