Job Description
Vacancy Announcement No: VA-2007/038 – recirculation
Post Title and Level: Head of UNIDO Operations, NO-D
Duty Station: * Freetown, Sierra Leone
*Organizational Unit: UNIDO Desk in Sierra Leone
Field Representation: PROGRAMME COORDINATION AND FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION
Expected entry on duty: 2nd quarter 2008
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Remuneration: (at single rate) 75,332,000 SLL
Type of Appointment: fixed-term for one year
Deadline for the receipt of applications: 21 April 2008
Organizational Context
- Within the overall vision of reducing poverty through industrial development, particularly focusing on private sector development as a mechanism to enhance growth, the Head of UNIDO Operations in Sierra Leone will be a Programme Management Specialist working with strategic partners to identify and develop programmes and projects and mobilize resources to such programmes and projects. As part of the strategic alliance with UNDP, the incumbent will work within the operational structure of the UNDP Office in Free Town, Sierra Leone, securing technical inputs within UNIDO areas of competence; collaborating closely with backstopping officers at UNIDO Headquarters and reporting regularly to the designated Country Office responsible for Sierra Leone on progress and performance.
Main Functions
- Under the UNIDO integrated programme approach, identifies, designs, develops, formulates and mobilizes resources for innovative and cost effective programmes and projects in such areas of UNIDO competencies as Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium Enterprises Development, and Trade Capacity Building, in collaboration with strategic partners and in accordance with the Cooperation Agreements with UNDP;
- As a team member, participates in marketing UNIDO’s successes and interacts with the government, traditional as well as new financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations and other strategic partners to mobilize resources for UNIDO-led programmes;
- Reviews available literature including country reports, technical papers and participate in national and international fora to bring back cutting edge approaches to design new interventions/approaches to expand UNIDO reputation on the global arena;
- Follows-up on the implementation of technical cooperation programmes via periodic reviews and monitoring particularly the implementation of those projects in areas that warrant further technical assistance and participates in the briefing and debriefing of UNIDO consultants and/or experts;
- Represents UNIDO in all events related to UNIDO scope of activities, in particular within the context of the Millennium Development Goals, as well as CCA/UNDAF and PRSP processes;
- Liases with other UN organizations and multi-and bilateral development agencies, international/national institutions, and NGOs, to ensure better cooperation mutually reinforcing inputs among all agencies involved in activities related to UNIDO scope of work;
- Provides substantive feedback and regular reporting to the designated Country Office responsible for Sierra Leone on the progress of actions involving UNIDO inputs, including results as well as lessons learned in an effort to evaluate the performance of the desk office operation.
Required Competencies
- Strategic thinking and analysis; excellent written, presentation and oral communication skills; problem solving; team leadership and group membership; inter-personal skills; multi-cultural sensitivity and planning and organizing abilities.
Minimum Requirements
- Education: Advanced university degree in economics, business administration, international relations, public administration or other relevant field.
- Experience: A minimum of 7 years working experience in the field of industry and in technical cooperation with developing countries particularly in project formulation, design, implementation and evaluation, some of which at a senior and/or international level. Experience in UN system desirable.
- Languages: Fluency in English. Proficiency in French or Spanish, an asset.
All applications must be submitted in English on a (PS.5), downloaded from UNIDO’s employment webpage, together with a cover letter and a recent photo (passport size) clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number and addressed to the:
Human Resource Management Branch, room D1670, UNIDO, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria; e-mail: or by fax: +43 121346 3157
Alternatively applications could also be sent to: UNIDO Field Office in Sierra Leone UN House, 38 Macauley Street, Murray Town, P.O. box 1011, Freetown, Sierra Leone; e-mail: or fax: +232 22 233250 and sent by email to: or fax No: 43-1-21346-3157
Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process.
