PROJECT ASSISTANT FOR SCIENCES

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Service Contract

Level :  SC4

Hiring Unit : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station : Hanoi

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Ha Noi UTC+7 Time) : 31/08/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized international agency that was founded in 1945. Through its activities within the fields of education, social and natural science, culture and communication and information, UNESCO is actively contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, UNESCO’s Medium Term Strategy 2022-2029 and the 2022-2026 One Strategic Plan of the UN in Viet Nam.

UNESCO Sciences section focuses on implementing major programmes related to freshwater, marine, ecological, earth and basic sciences while also promoting sciences, innovative technology and capacity-building initiatives in these fields. Within the framework of the Natural Sciences sector, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), founded in 1975, is a long-term programme executed in successive eight-year phases. IHP is the only United Nations intergovernmental programme devoted to water research, management, and related education and capacity development. In Vietnam, UNESCO has been implementing the IHP Phase IX: Science for a Water Secure world in a changing environment during 2022-2029, to assist strengthening national capacity in addressing water security and climate change’s challenges in new context.  

Within the framework of IHP phase IX (2022-2029), UNESCO Vietnam has been implementing  projects in water and disaster risk reduction project, including the project “Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia – Mekong river Delta Aquifer”  funded by The Global Environmental Facility  (GEF), to be implemented during 2024-2028 in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Japan funded project “Strengthening capacity of Vietnam for early warnings, disaster preparedness, response, recovery and safer learning environments of those at most risks” during Mar 2026- Mar 2027.

UNESCO Hanoi Office is looking for the position of Project Assistant for Sciences Unit, to support the projects' implementation within the sciences unit including the Japan and GEF funded projects. 

MAIN TASKS AND SERVICES

Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, the direct supervision of the Chief of Science Unit and closely work with National Project Officers, the Project Assistant is expected to provide specialized, comprehensive support to programme implementation in a timely, accurate and pro-active manner in line with relevant HR, Administrative and Financial rules and regulations of the Organization, practices, procedures, guidelines, protocols. The volume and complexity of work requires a high attention to detail and accuracy support for the projects’ implementation, specifically be responsible for the following assignments:

• Provide daily support for the program/project team in planning, preparing and implementing the projects’ activities in Viet Nam.

• Receive, analyse, sort, register, file and distribute correspondence and documents for the projects

• Provide supports in administration of projects, notably in procurement, recruitment, contracting, and logistics related to the project execution, drafting and following up on correspondence/memos, preparing and organizing events/meetings and workshops, taking notes and preparing minutes of meetings and workshops, arranging for missions and making travel arrangements, providing interpretation and translation support, preparing/handling the procurement and contracts, administration of contracts and contract’s tracking, providing inputs for reports, and collect information and literature (including journal articles, newspaper articles, reports etc.) on the topics relevant to the project.
• Track, compile and maintain the filing related to the project (hard copies and soft copies on the office server) and relevant databases for program/projects for the use in the planning, analysis and evaluation of project operations
• Work closely with national/provincial partners for effective implementation of the project activities in compliance with UNESCO standard admin operating procedures;

• Support the program/project team, as needed, in communicating with service providers;
• Coordinate and assist translation of documents, and provide interpretation during the meetings when required;
• Assist the projects’ team in recording and compiling statistics, M&E data and analysis for monitoring the overall implementation of project activities and progress/interim/final narrative reporting of the projects.
• Support project team in tracking expenditure progress of the project on a regular basis for internal monitoring, carbon tax reporting and financial reports etc.
• Coordinate the editing, design, printing, and dissemination of various publications, and participate in relevant advocacy, outreach and communication activities related to the project.
• Perform any other tasks as deemed appropriate.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

• Professionalism (C)

  For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Completed secondary education, technical or vocational education

WORK EXPERIENCE

At least 3 years of relevant work experiences in programme/project support, financial, and/or administrative service acquired at the national level, and/or in natural resources/water/climate change/environment related projects/programmes; or minimum one (1) year (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience mentioned above

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Excellent IT skills with proficiency in MS Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and related programs);
• Demonstrated ability in working with established data management tools (spreadsheet, excel sheet. etc.)
• Good organizational, coordination, planning, communication and filling skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, discretion, good sense of judgement and capacity to deal Capacity for accuracy and attention to detail in preparation of correspondence and documents.
• efficiently and tactfully with people of different cultural backgrounds.
• Highly organized and self-motivated;
• Cooperative behaviour and attitude to work in a team successfully.
• Ability to work under pressure and flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities.

LANGUAGES

Excellent English and Vietnamese

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree or above in environment, natural resources management, public administration, business, management, finance and/or other relevant fields;

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience working in water/natural resources/environment related projects and initiatives, including related and not limited to water resources management, environment pollution, natural resources management;
• Good knowledge of the major development issues with regards to water/natural resources/environment/climate change, environment pollution and conservation in Viet Nam;
• Experience of operational projects implementation.
• Prior UN experiences or international organization, INGOs is a plus.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

The position is for Vietnamese nationality only and will work on fulltime at UNESCO Country Office in Hanoi. The position level is at SC 4 and will possibly be extended upon fund availability and the SC holder's performance.

UNESCO's salaries are paid in local currency (VND)

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.