Chief Technical Advisor

​​Requisition ID: 5961 
Grade: P5 (Senior Specialist) 
Country: Sierra Leone 
Duty Station: Freetown 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 24-Jul-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
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), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. 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 and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. 

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) which builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating SME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities (i.e. standardization, metrology, and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); and supporting trade facilitation and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating SMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

As part of the Business Environment and Competitiveness for Salone (BEC4S) funded by the EU, the overall objective of outcome 2 that will be implemented by UNIDO is enhancing the National Quality System of Sierra Leone for trade competitiveness in selected value chains. This second outcome aims to improve the national quality system and infrastructure, particularly with regard to standardization, conformity assessment and certification.

In order for Sierra Leonean companies to have access to regional and international markets, the action aims to support their compliance with the WTO rules, Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The improvement of the capacities and services of Sierra Leone Standard Bureau (SLSB), Produce Monitoring Board (PMB) and other relevant organisations involved in the inspection of exports and imports and compliance with international standards is necessary to overcome non-tariff barriers to trade. The project Enhancing the national quality infrastructure system of Sierra Leone for trade competitiveness (SAP ID 240026) implemented by UNIDO has three outputs:

Output 1: A conducive policy environment is fostered and a culture of quality is promoted.

Output 2: The NQI bodies are institutionally and technically strengthened to provide more and better QI services.

Output 3: The capacities of key economic operators (cooperatives and MSMEs) to comply with standards and regulations are strengthened.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager in HQ, close cooperation with the project team in the field location and HQ, the CTA will be responsible for providing technical advice to the PM and guidance to the project team to implement the project as per the project document. Specifically, the CTA will perform the following duties:

Project coordination

• Prepare, in coordination with the PM and Associate Industrial Development Expert (AIDE) and relevant sector‐specific stakeholders, detailed work plans;
• Prepare and monitor detailed work plans and budgets of the different interventions including a time plan for fielding experts, training, fellowships, sub‐contracts, equipment purchases, etc.;
• Define institutional development objectives, work targets that can be reasonably achieved within the project funding and period. Identify any pre‐conditions that need to be fulfilled by the Government to achieve these objectives;
• Provide technical advice and direction to the project implementing partners and relevant stakeholders on the overall project objective.

Project implementation

• Manages the implementation of the project, assuming full responsibility for the provision of project implementation services ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time at the right level of quality and within the allocated budget;
• Brief counterparts on the objectives, the planned approach, institutional arrangements and respective responsibilities;
• Consult with all contributing parties on objectives, work plans and delegation of responsibilities;
• In consultation with the UNIDO PM and AIDE, identify in detail the nature of international and national expertise required; in consultation with relevant national counterparts prepare draft job descriptions;
• Coordinate the local work of short‐term sector‐specific national and international consultants and sub‐contractors, to ensure smooth project delivery;
• Guide and supervise the work of national and international consultants to ensure smooth project delivery;
• Be responsible for the day‐to‐day operations of the Project and the disbursement of local expenditures based on standard UNIDO disbursement procedures;
• Take full responsibility and accountability for daily management of the project office.

Monitoring, reporting, evaluation

• Ensure the administrative and financial monitoring of the project and its activities;
• Prepare documentation of the tripartite Project Steering Committee meetings and act as Secretary, responsible for follow-up actions;

• Prepare regular progress reports, ad hoc reports and assist in the development of visibility and information dissemination material upon request of the Donor and the counterparts; prepare quarterly progress reports and pro-actively update implementation monitoring tool (spreadsheet);

• Support the PM and AIDE in coordinating mid-term and final evaluation;
• Ensure comprehensive oversight of inventory assets and enforce accountability among field teams for the assets under their responsibility.

Resource mobilisation

• Provide technical input in the formulation of new projects in collaboration with UNIDO HQ colleagues and ensure timely approval within UNIDO prior to submission to the target Donor/Partners;
• Actively seek new opportunities for funding and/or collaboration among development partners to support the sector(s);

External relations

• Establish and maintain relations and exchange of information with the local authorities, private sector institutions, enterprises, support institutions and other development partners;
• Participates in key sector coordination meetings convened by the Government or development partners relevant to the action;
• Presents the project, project progress and results to the Donors and partners to keep them updated at regular intervals; presents the project at bi-annual steering committee meetings, liaise project activities with the Donor and partners and manages regular reporting including budget related aspects of the financing agreement.

Final phase

• Prepare a consolidated final report of the project in close consultation with all the stakeholders and submit to UNIDO by the end of the project.

Ad-hoc requests

• Any other assignment as requested by the PM TCS/SME/CQC.

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.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies

WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.

WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agri-business, environment, energy, business administration, or other relevant discipline is required, with specialization in value chain development and/or quality infrastructure is desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of progressive professional experience in coordinating and implementing large scale and complex development programmes and/or projects within either private sector or public sector organizations at international level, including a minimum of 5 years at a senior level is required.
• Experience in the field of Standardization, Quality, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) through implementation of technical cooperation or development programmes/projects in Sub-Saharan Africa is required.
• Knowledge and experience in the implementation of management systems (i.e. ISO 9001, ISO 14000, ISO 17020, ISO 17021, ISO 17025, ISO 17065, ISO 17067, ISO 22000,) in least developed countries is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience in ISO 53800 will be considered an asset.
• Experience in working with the UN system, international organizations or non-governmental organizations and with the donors community, especially with the European Union, is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of developing countries is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, particularly French is desirable.

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