Leather and Footwear Technical Expert

 ​​Requisition ID: 8283 
Grade: ISA-P3 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Application Deadline: 12-Nov-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

 

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNIDO is fully committed to achieving and maintaining workforce gender parity and to fostering an open, accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace that values diversity, equal opportunity and a healthy work-life balance. UNIDO, therefore, welcomes and encourages applications from qualified candidates of underrepresented genders, candidates from less-represented regions or nationalities, and candidates with disabilities, for whom reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable policies.

 

 

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 position is located under the Energy Systems and Industrial Decarbonization Unit (TCS/ECA/ESD) promotes the emergence, deployment and large-scale adoption of sustainable energy technologies to drive the decarbonization of energy systems and industrial processes. It supports Member States to charter pathways for net zero industrial development through the development of conducive policies. It also promotes the deployment of crosscutting energy efficiency solutions, electrification and carbon management of industrial processes in large and small-scale industries. It charters norms and standards for reporting embodied carbon in products and supports member states in developing the reporting and verification structures to support compliance with global standards.

 

The position is located under the Sustainable and Just Energy Transitions Unit (TCS/ECA/JET) focuses on promoting energy for development and leveraging technology innovation and social inclusion to lead a just energy transition. It promotes the modernization of energy infrastructure to drive decoupling growth from emissions and deploys de-risking approaches to channel public and private investments to accelerate energy access and industrial development. It supports Members States in building and diversifying renewable energy supply chains and fostering manufacturing capabilities to achieve a just energy 47 transition for all. The unit also supports the integration of energy system design into the wider development objectives and helps countries navigate the trade-offs for energy development while ensure compliance with social and environmental norms. Finally, the Unit coordinates the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres and related partnerships and uses regional policies and approaches to achieve economies of scale.

 

PROJECT CONTEXT

 

The Ministry of Industry of the State of Palestine, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and the technical support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is leading the project titled “Developing an energy-sustainable shoe village in Hebron for the decarbonization and sustainable development of the footwear value chain in the State of Palestine” (ID220173).

 

The project aims to restore the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the Palestinian leather and footwear sector which is predominantly concentrated in Hebron and has historically been one of the country's most significant industrial activities and a major source of employment. Through the establishment of a Sustainable Shoe Village (SSV) in Hebron, the initiative seeks to create an integrated industrial ecosystem that supports enterprise development, innovation, productivity enhancement, skills upgrading, and sustainable industrial practices while facilitating the sector's transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient future. A central component of the envisioned Sustainable Shoe Village is the establishment of a Common Facility Centre (CFC) that will provide shared technical, technological, and business support services to enterprises operating within the footwear value chain. The CFC is expected to improve access to specialized services, modern equipment, technical expertise, product development support, testing and certification facilities, training opportunities, and innovation services that would otherwise be difficult for individual enterprises, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to access independently.

 

In advancing the concept and service framework of the Common Facility Centre, project stakeholders identified the existing Leather and Footwear Product Development Center (LFPDC) as an important sector asset whose infrastructure, equipment, experience, and existing services should be considered in determining the future support-service ecosystem for the Palestinian leather and footwear sector and the Sustainable Shoe village. The LFPDC was established through a partnership involving the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy, the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Palestinian Federation of Leather Industries, and Palestine Polytechnic University. The Ministry of Industry subsequently joined the initiative, further strengthening the institutional support for the Center. The LFPDC was originally envisaged as a sector-support institution providing physical and chemical testing services, product design and development support, training, and sectoral information services. Investments were made in laboratory infrastructure and specialized equipment, including testing facilities operated in cooperation with the Palestinian Standards Institution through a dedicated Memorandum of Understanding, as well as design, product-development capabilities supported by CAD/CAM technologies, and provision of training services. Despite these investments, utilization of the Center’s services has remained below expectations. Demand for testing services has been constrained by weak enforcement of applicable technical regulations, while the uptake of design, product development, and training services has also remained limited. Earlier consultations identified several possible contributing factors, including limited human-resource capacities, market-positioning challenges, service-delivery constraints, and a business model that may no longer adequately reflect current market conditions, regulatory realities, and the evolving needs of the sector.

 

Recognizing the strategic importance of maximizing existing investments and avoiding duplication of resources, discussions among project stakeholders and the LFPDC Board of Directors have highlighted opportunities to reposition and reactivate the Center within the broader framework of the Sustainable Shoe Village. However, To ensure that future support services are relevant, demand-driven, and capable of strengthening the competitiveness of footwear enterprises, project stakeholders have identified the need to begin with a comprehensive assessment of the technical and non-technical services required by the sector and that could be integrated within the envisaged Common Facility Center of the sustainable Shoe Village.

 

Accordingly this assignment aims to determine the services needed by footwear manufacturers to improve productivity, product quality and development, design, innovation, skills, operational performance, and compliance with the technical and commercial requirements of local and international markets. The identified needs should subsequently be assessed against the LFPDC’s existing service portfolio, technical capacities, infrastructure, equipment, human resources, and service-delivery arrangements. This demand-driven approach is expected to generate evidence-based recommendations on which existing LFPDC services should be reactivated, strengthened, redesigned, or otherwise developed, as well as which additional services may be required to respond effectively to sector needs. The assessment should also identify the technical, operational, staffing, investment, partnership, and business-model requirements necessary to establish a relevant and sustainable package of industrial support services for the leather and footwear sector.

 

Within this context, UNIDO seeks to engage Leather and Footwear Technical Expert to assess the technical and market-related service requirements of Palestinian footwear manufacturers; evaluate the capacity of the LFPDC to respond to those requirements; and develop a practical, evidence-based service development and reactivation plan. The resulting recommendations will support the development of relevant industrial services that strengthen enterprise competitiveness, improve compliance with international market requirements, optimize the use of existing sector assets, and inform the future service framework of the Sustainable Shoe Village and its proposed Common Facility Centre.

 

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (i.e., a UNIDO staff member responsible for the overall implementation of the project) and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, engage Leather and Footwear Technical Expert will be responsible for the following main duties:

 

 

MAIN DUTIES	Concrete/measurable Outputs to be achieved	Expected duration	Location
Conduct the assignment initiation and Stakeholder Engagement Planning, including: Hold a kick-off meeting with UNIDO, key stakeholders of the SSV and the LFPDC) to confirm objectives, expectations, deliverables, methodology, and reporting arrangements Review relevant documentation related to the SSV, the proposed CFC, the current LFPDC, and previous interventions supporting the leather and footwear sector Develop an assessment framework covering technical, operational, institutional, governance, and business development dimensions. Identify and map key stakeholders relevant to the assignment and develop consultation and engagement plan Prepare a detailed workplan and methodology for conducting the assignment	Assignment methodology and workplan including detailed workplan, assessment framework, stakeholder mapping and consultation plan, and documentation review summary.	3 days	Home-based with online meetings
Assess the technical and non-technical service requirements of Palestinian leather and footwear manufacturers, including: Assess the current structure and operating characteristics of footwear manufacturers, including differences in enterprise size, product categories, production systems, technology levels, workforce capabilities, target customers, and market orientation. Examine the technical and operational challenges affecting manufacturers across the main stages of footwear production, including product conception, design, prototyping, pattern engineering, material selection, cutting, stitching, lasting, assembly, finishing, quality control, packaging, and production planning Determine the services required to improve productivity, production efficiency, product consistency, quality, design, innovation, product diversification, cost management, and compliance with customer and market requirements. Assess sector needs relating to physical and chemical testing, quality assurance, standards compliance, certification support, product testing, material testing, troubleshooting, and technical advisory services. Assess manufacturers’ requirements for design and product-development services, including CAD/CAM support, pattern development and grading, prototyping, sample development, collection development, trend interpretation, product adaptation, and related technical support. Assess skills-development and training requirements across technical, supervisory, managerial, and production functions, taking into account existing workforce capacities, technology gaps, occupational requirements, and anticipated upgrading pathways Assess non-technical service needs that directly support enterprise upgrading, including production management, costing and pricing, quality-management systems, market compliance information, sourcing and materials information, digitalization, sustainability practices, technical information, and access to specialized advisory services Examine the requirements of firms serving, or seeking to serve, different market segments, including local markets, institutional procurement, safety and work footwear, private-label production, subcontracting, regional markets, and international buyers Identify the regulatory, quality, technical, commercial, sustainability, traceability, and product-performance requirements that manufacturers should be able to meet to access and retain local and international markets Conduct structured consultations, interviews, and, where appropriate, focus-group discussions with representative footwear manufacturers, including users, former users, and non-users of LFPDC services, to assess past experiences, unmet needs, willingness to use shared services, factors affecting service uptake, and expectations regarding service quality, accessibility, responsiveness, and pricing Consult relevant sector institutions, standards and quality bodies, academic and technical institutions, training providers, and other stakeholders to validate enterprise needs and identify gaps in the wider sector-support ecosystem Prioritize identified service needs based on their relevance to sector competitiveness, level of demand, urgency, potential number of beneficiaries, market requirements, availability of alternative providers, and feasibility of shared delivery.	Leather and Footwear Sector Services Needs Assessment, presenting: Enterprise and sector service requirements; Technical and non-technical service gaps; Demand and utilization considerations; Priority beneficiary groups; Requirements associated with different product and market segments; Prioritized matrix of services required by the sector.	10 days	Home based and Hebron / Palestine as agreed with UNIDO*
Assess the existing technical, operational, and service-delivery capacities of LFPDC against identified sector requirements, including: Review the LFPDC’s existing and previously planned service portfolio, and any other services offered or envisaged by the Center Undertake an on-site technical review of the Center’s premises, laboratories, machinery, equipment, software, workstations, tools, utilities, storage arrangements, and supporting infrastructure relevant to service delivery. Assess the current condition, functionality, utilization, calibration status, maintenance history, technological relevance, and operational readiness of available equipment and facilities. Determine whether existing equipment and infrastructure remain appropriate for current production technologies, sector needs, applicable standards, buyer requirements, and the prioritized service portfolio identified through the needs assessment. Identify equipment that can be immediately utilized, equipment requiring calibration, maintenance, repair, upgrading, relocation, or replacement, and equipment that is no longer technically or commercially relevant Review available service and utilization records to assess historical demand, service frequency, customer profiles, repeat usage, turnaround times, revenue generation, and reasons for limited uptake, to the extent that relevant data are available Assess the effectiveness and practical implications of existing cooperation arrangements technical partners relevant to services delivery like testing, design and training…etc. Assess the Center’s capacity to provide services independently or through partnerships, outsourcing, referral arrangements, or collaboration with specialized local, regional, or international institutions. Benchmark the LFPDC’s service portfolio and delivery arrangements against relevant leather and footwear technical centers. The benchmarking shall focus on relevant services, delivery modalities, staffing, equipment utilization, partnership arrangements, cost recovery, sector engagement, and sustainability practices. Compare the prioritized sector requirements with the LFPDC’s existing portfolio and capacities and classify services according to whether they can be: maintained in their current form; reactivated with limited intervention; strengthened or redesigned; delivered through partnerships; incorporated as new services; or excluded due to low relevance or limited feasibility	LFPDC Technical Capacity and Services Gap Assessment, including: Assessment of existing services and service-delivery capacity Infrastructure and equipment assessment Human-resource and competency requirements Analysis of service utilization and delivery constraints Benchmarking findings Comparison of sector needs against existing capacities Service-level gap and opportunity matrix.	6 days	Home based and Hebron / Palestine as agreed with UNIDO*
Develop a practical Service Development and Reactivation Plan, including: Define a proposed demand-driven service portfolio based on the prioritized requirements of manufacturers and the findings of the LFPDC assessment. Recommend which existing services should be maintained, reactivated, strengthened, redesigned, delivered through partnerships, or discontinued, and identify additional services that should be introduced to respond to current and emerging sector needs. Define the purpose, target beneficiaries, service content, delivery modality, minimum technical requirements, expected service standards, and anticipated value to enterprises for each recommended service Recommend improvements to service-delivery processes to ensure that services are accessible, responsive, reliable, technically credible, customer-oriented, and aligned with the operational realities of footwear manufacturers Identify the infrastructure, machinery, equipment, software, calibration, maintenance, technology, workspace, and utility requirements associated with the recommended service portfolio Define the required staffing structure and technical competencies for service delivery, including priority positions, qualifications, experience, training needs, opportunities for staff development, and services that may be supported through external or visiting expertise Recommend appropriate partnership and service-delivery arrangements with standards bodies, universities, technical institutions, training providers, equipment and technology suppliers, specialized laboratories, industry associations, and other relevant partners Develop a practical market and sector engagement approach for promoting the services, raising awareness, building trust with manufacturers Review the assumptions underlying the current service business model and recommend service-level modifications Develop a phased reactivation and service development roadmap distinguishing immediate, short-term, and medium-term actions and setting out the sequence for preparing, piloting, launching, and scaling the recommended services Define responsibilities, indicative resource requirements, investment priorities, potential implementation partners, dependencies, risks, mitigation measures, and performance indicators for each phase.	Draft Service Development and Reactivation Plan, including: Prioritized future service portfolio. Service development and delivery model. Technical and operational requirements. Equipment and investment priorities. Staffing and capacity-development requirements. Partnership options. Revised service business-model recommendations Recommendations for sector engagement approach. Phased implementation roadmap and performance indicators	8 days	Home based
Present findings and recommendations and finalize the consultancy outputs, including: Prepare a deliver concise presentation summarizing the findings and recommendations to UNIDO and relevant technical stakeholders for review and technical discussion. Submit the final consultancy report incorporating comments and feedback received.	Final Consultancy Report incorporating comments received and providing actionable recommendations for developing relevant and sustainable services for the Palestinian leather and footwear sector.	2 days	In person or online as will be agreed

 

* one to two missions will be organised.

 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Leather Technology/Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Management, Product Development, Business Administration, Economics, or another relevant discipline is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

 

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in the leather and footwear sector, including experience in manufacturing, product development, industrial support services, sector development, or closely related technical areas is required.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of footwear manufacturing processes and production technologies, including product development, design and innovation, quality assurance, applicable standards and testing requirements, and technical skills-development needs is required.
• Experience in establishing, managing, strengthening, or providing technical assistance to leather and footwear sector-support institutions, including technology centres, product development centres, testing laboratories, training centres, innovation centres, or similar facilities is desirable.
• Experience in conducting institutional assessments, technical diagnostics, operational reviews, needs assessments, feasibility studies, or similar analytical assignments relevant to the manufacturing sector is desirable.
• Experience in developing service-development plans, business sustainability models, operational improvement plans, service portfolios, cost-recovery approaches, or institutional sustainability strategies is desirable.
• Experience working with governments, industry associations, chambers of commerce, industrial clusters, academic institutions, standards organizations, development programmes, or donor-funded industrial development projects is desirable.
• Previous experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly within the leather, footwear, textiles, apparel, or manufacturing sectors is desirable.

 

Languages: Working knowledge of English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

 

Core Values

EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.

INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.

INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.

HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions.

HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

 

Core Behaviors

CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.

ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.

DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives.

LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.

ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.

 

 

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.

 

Integrity, Respect and Inclusion

UNIDO is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, diversity, inclusion and mutual respect. Employees of UNIDO are required at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity. UNIDO prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

 

Through people-centred policies, UNIDO supports its personnel in balancing professional and personal responsibilities through flexible working arrangements while maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations worldwide.

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