Project Administrator

 ​​Requisition ID: 8287 
Grade: ISA-P2 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 12 months
Application Deadline: 25-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 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 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.

 

The Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence supports Member States in leveraging digital and frontier technologies, promoting innovation ecosystems, and enabling responsible and inclusive industrial digitalisation. The position is located under the Innovation Lab (TCS/DAI/LAB).

 

The UNIDO Innovation Lab (InnoLab) supports innovation and digital transformation across UNIDO’s technical cooperation and policy work, while also developing programmes and partnerships that accelerate the adoption and scaling of transformative industrial solutions.

 

 

UNIDO InnoLab

 

The position is located under the Innovation Lab (TCS/DAI/LAB). InnoLab leads ScaleX, UNIDO’s innovation acceleration programme. ScaleX supports startups, scaleups and SMEs to validate, adapt and scale industrial and urban innovation solutions through real-world testbeds, policy sandboxes, public- and private-sector demand, corporate partnerships and innovation ecosystems.

 

The ScaleX Alliance for Cities is being developed as a global collaboration platform bringing together cities, industry, universities, innovators, investors and development partners to address shared “glocal” challenges. It will support Innovation Scaling Corridors, structured partnerships that enable cities and regions to identify common challenges, mobilise demand and capacity, test solutions, exchange learning and facilitate wider replication.

 

The Alliance is being developed in close partnership with Bridge for Cities, UNIDO’s established platform for international city-to-city cooperation, knowledge exchange and sustainable urban-industrial development. The Western Balkans ScaleX initiative will provide initial experience and practical evidence to inform the Alliance’s development and future implementation model.

 

 

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the UNIDO Innovation Lab, the Project Administrator will provide coordination, administrative, partnership-development, communication and project-implementation support for the establishment and operationalisation of the ScaleX Alliance for Cities.

 

The incumbent will support the preparation of project documents, workplans, stakeholder-engagement activities, fundraising materials, meetings and events. The position will facilitate collaboration with Bridge for Cities and support the implementation and documentation of the Western Balkans ScaleX initiative as an initial reference case.

 

In particular, the incumbent will perform the following key functions:

 

 

Project coordination and implementation

• Support the preparation and execution of annual workplans, activity schedules, implementation trackers, stakeholder-engagement plans and reporting arrangements for the ScaleX Alliance for Cities.
• Assist in developing and updating project materials, including concept notes, implementation roadmaps, presentations, briefing notes, background papers and internal coordination documents.
• Maintain systematic records of planned activities, deliverables, milestones, risks, decisions, partner commitments and follow-up actions.
• Support coordination with relevant UNIDO departments, offices and field networks, as well as external partners.
• Organise and support meetings, consultations, workshops, webinars, missions and events, including invitations, agendas, participant lists, briefing materials, presentations, minutes and follow-up notes.
• Maintain project files, stakeholder databases, contact lists and documentation repositories.

 

Cooperation with Bridge for Cities

• Support regular coordination with the Bridge for Cities team and the preparation of joint workplans, activity updates, meeting materials and follow-up actions.
• Assist in identifying opportunities to connect ScaleX activities with Bridge for Cities events, knowledge products, city networks and partnership activities.
• Support the preparation of communication and visibility materials reflecting the collaboration between ScaleX and Bridge for Cities.
• Maintain documentation relevant to Bridge for Cities’ funding contribution and support the preparation of required updates or reporting inputs.

 

City, industry and university partnerships

• Support mapping and engagement of prospective city, municipal, industry, university, research, startup, innovation-hub, financial and development partners.
• Prepare concise city profiles, stakeholder briefs, partnership overviews and background materials on local challenges, industrial transition priorities and innovation opportunities.
• Assist in the development of city–industry–university collaboration opportunities, including applied research partnerships, innovation challenges, technology-deployment activities, test environments and entrepreneurship-support initiatives.
• Draft partner correspondence, meeting requests, background notes, concept materials and follow-up communication for review by the supervisor.
• Update and maintain a partnership pipeline, including contacts, expressions of interest, potential contributions, agreed actions and next steps.

 

Support Fundraising and project development support

• Conduct desk research on potential donors, foundations, development finance institutions, corporate partners, city networks and relevant funding opportunities.
• Support the preparation of donor concept notes, partnership proposals, presentation decks, draft budgets, briefing materials and other resource-mobilisation inputs.
• Assist in documenting prospective financial and in-kind contributions from partners.
• Support the preparation of materials for meetings with donors, private-sector entities, city representatives and other strategic partners.
• Compile information and inputs needed for project design, results frameworks, activity plans and monitoring arrangements.

 

Western Balkans implementation and knowledge management

• Support implementation and documentation of the Western Balkans ScaleX initiative, including stakeholder coordination, activity preparation, meeting follow-up and communications.
• Help capture and organise lessons, examples, partner feedback and emerging practices from the Western Balkans initiative that can inform future ScaleX Alliance activities.
• Support the preparation of short case studies, learning notes, progress summaries and internal briefs.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of practical knowledge resources on city-led innovation, city–industry–university collaboration and Innovation Scaling Corridors.
• Prepare periodic progress updates and an end-of-assignment report summarising activities, outputs, partnerships, fundraising opportunities, key lessons and recommended next steps.

 

 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, urban development, public administration, economics, innovation management, industrial policy, international relations, business administration, communications or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 3 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

 

Technical and Functional Experience:

 

• At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience in project coordination, project administration, urban development, innovation, industrial development, local economic development, international development or related fields is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with cities, municipal governments, local authorities, city networks or urban-development programmes is required.
• Experience supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives involving public institutions, industry, universities, research organisations, startups, innovation intermediaries, development partners or international organisations is required.
• Experience in organising stakeholder consultations, workshops, events, meetings and pproject activities is required.
• Experience preparing professional correspondence, meeting notes, concept notes, presentations, briefing materials and short reports in English is required.
• Experience in donor research, partnership development, proposal preparation or resource-mobilization support is desirable.
• Familiarity with city–industry–university collaboration, local innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, sustainable urban development, industrial transition or SDG localisation is desirable.
• Previous experience with city-focused SDG programmes, United Nations entities, international organisations or development-cooperation projects is highly desirable.
• Experience in developing- or transition-economy contexts is an asset.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required.

 

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

 

 

 

CORE VALUES AND BEHAVIORS  

 

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