Communication Officer

​Requisition ID: 5004 
Grade: SB4 - Local Professional (Junior & Mid Level) 
Country: Viet Nam 
Duty Station: Hanoi 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 90 working days over the period of 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 02-Jan-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 

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 Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organisation’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 toward 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 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 Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) assists Member States in the transition to low-carbon and climate resilient economies through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency solutions and breakthrough technologies in industry and other key sectors, diversifying supply chains for renewable energy manufacturing and stimulating innovation to address critical climate and energy related challenges.

The Division assists governments in fulfilling national commitments under the Paris Agreement and progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, thereby facilitating a just transition towards sustainable industrialization. In transitioning to a low-carbon and climate resilient economies, the challenges of addressing energy poverty and climate change are an integral part of the Division's activities, as is the dissemination of policies, knowledge and technologies and pathways to plan, manage and finance the energy transitions and climate action for industrial transformation. It collaborates closely on converging issues with IET/CTP and TCS/CMP.

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. 

PROJECT CONTEXT

Accelerating energy efficiency in lager industries through energy management systems, systems optimization and the promotion and adoption of energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises (IEEP) – SAP ID 190311

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is implementing the project entitled “Accelerating energy efficiency in larger industries through energy management systems, system optimization and the promotion and adoption of energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises” (hereafter IEEP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam. The IEEP is funded under Financing Agreement no. ACA/2021/040-898 “EU-Viet Nam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme” (SETP) as a complementary support measure.  The IEEP duration is five (5) years from 2023 to 2027. The IEEP is designed with three substantive components that address the current market barriers to the promotion and stimulation of market demand and increase the adoption of energy efficiency practices by industry for greater energy performance, reduced carbon footprint, and enhanced productivity and competitiveness.

The Project will support the MOIT and relevant government agencies in developing and issuing regulations and guidelines on energy audits and on energy efficiency (EE) and low/no carbon technologies for industries as well as developing an incentive scheme on EE promotion among SMEs and converting some ISOs related to ISO 50001 into national standards. It also aims at enhancing the awareness and technical capacity of key stakeholders on management system (EnMS) and energy system optimization (ESO) and providing technical assistance in the implementation of EnMS and SO solutions.

Capacity building and implementation support is provided to improve EnMS and EE. Seven industrial energy systems (steam, compressed air, chillers, refrigeration, pumping, process heat, and motor systems) and associated energy efficient technologies/equipment will be targeted by IEEP. These represent the highest energy consumption and operational costs within industrial energy systems, and therefore present the largest potential for energy savings. IEEP will target a broad base of 10 industrial sectors (seafood, food-processing, textiles and garment, rubber, pulp and paper, cement, metallurgy and steel, chemicals and fertilizers, plastics and beverages).

The primary target beneficiaries are large enterprises; more specifically the Designated Industrial Enterprises (DEUs) that are the key energy consuming enterprises as well as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the 10 sectors targeted by the project. IEEP focuses on awareness raising and building the capacity of the following key stakeholders: Local/central government agencies, equipment manufacturers/suppliers, engineers, relevant industrial associations, Energy Conservation Centres (ECCs), Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), national experts/consultants including energy audit experts, and financial institutions with special attention to participation of women and women-led enterprises.

Furthermore, the project will stimulate a market for EE products and services by working with industry to build awareness and implement EE practices to increase demand. Trained energy managers and other local experts will form a critical mass of expertise and networks to support the replication and scale up of these activities in other DEUs and SMEs and industrial enterprises across the country. The increased availability of national experts will create new opportunities for companies such as ECCs or ESCOs to provide EE services. This will have a multiplier effect on the offer of economical and efficient energy use solutions to industries.

The project is therefore envisioned to provide long-term development gains and benefits for Viet Nam including significant energy savings, reduced environmental and climate change impacts, enhanced energy security, capacity building of the government counterparts and empowerment of the project beneficiaries. The project will thereby directly contribute to the achievement of the targets and overarching objective outlined in VNEEP 3.

To learn more about UNIDO, please visit UNIDO website. 

To learn more about the project “Accelerating energy efficiency in larger industries through energy management systems, system optimization and the promotion and adoption of energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises” (SAP: 190311), please read here.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The major role of the Communication Officer is to assist National Project Manager (NPM) to effectively formulate and implement all project activities related to information, communication and awareness specified under different components of the Project.

S/he is accountable to NPM for the completion of assigned project activities to an appropriate quality, in a timescale and budget specified in the approved workplan of the project. The Communication Officer reports to and takes direction from the NPM. Specifically, he/she will be responsible for the following tasks:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in social sciences, public administration, communications or engineering is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least three (3) years of work experience in information, awareness and communication programs, preferably in the energy sector and energy efficiency is required.
• Proven track record in project management such as in meeting deadlines, timely submission of acceptable deliverables, etc. is required.
• Good appreciation of and strong links with government agencies, local government agencies, NGOs, mass organizations, academic and professional organizations involved in the energy efficiency area is required.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet is required.
• Good interpersonal skills are required.

Languages: Fully proficiency in Vietnamese and fluency in written and spoken English is required. 

REQUIRED 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.

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.

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