National Project Administrator

Requisition ID : 6461

Grade : ISA-NOB

Country : Malaysia

Duty Station : Kuala Lumpur

Category : National Consultant

Type of Job Posting : Internal and External

Employment Type : NonStaff-When Act. Employed

Contract Duration : 72 workdays

Application deadline : 20-Oct-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.

Division and Directorate Context

DIRECTORATE OF SDG INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION (IET)

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with relevant organizational entities, the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of innovative finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

The Directorate is responsible for the Divisions of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET / AGR), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET / PST), Climate and Technology Partnerships (IET / CTP), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET / IFI), and Public-Private Partnerships (IET / PPP). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, IET collaborates closely with TCS 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.

Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET / PST)

Under the supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities, the Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET / PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO's mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade, with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities, and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are inclusive, promoting – among others – the just adoption of sustainability standards and mandatory due diligence legislation as well as the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development.

Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Fair Production Unit (IET / PST / SEF)

The Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Fair Production Unit supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade and supply chains. It aims to increase employability, strengthen access to decent employment, augment job retention, and increase access to qualified workforce by the industry, through modern technical and vocational education and training (TVET), professional education and entrepreneurship systems essential for driving sustainable transition. Central to its mandate is the commitment to provide the skills required to enabling sustainable supply chain practices, ensuring resilience, particularly at the firm level, and addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from new due diligence regulations.

To this end, it provides specialized and country-tailored assistance to Member States to skill, upskill, and / or reskill their labour force and enhance their entrepreneurship capacity, it implements demand-driven educational approaches, leverages partnerships with the private sector and strengthens institutional and firm-level capacities that fortify sustainable supply chains, with emphasis on the most vulnerable. It places importance on mitigating unintended consequences stemming from due diligence regulations, ensuring that all actors, especially at firm-level, are equipped to navigate through these changes. The Unit promotes innovation in learning, concepts and norms to augment the quality, relevance, attractiveness and accessibility of TVET for sustainable industrial employment and self-employment for the most vulnerable. The Unit also deploys foresight and planning instruments to guide Member States in developing industrial skills of future employees and respond to re-skilling and up-skilling requirements tailored for sustainable supply chains.

Project Context

Enhancing Access of Refugees to Labour Mobility Pathways through Skills Development )

The project aims to empower refugees in Malaysia by addressing critical barriers to legal labour migration, including lack of documentation, unrecognized qualifications, and limited access to demand-driven training. Led by IOM in partnership with UNIDO, the initiative supports skills development and mobility for refugees, with Australia identified as a pilot destination country. Through demand-driven technical and soft skills training, aligned with industrial labour market needs in Australia, the project will prepare a select group of refugees currently residing in the Klang Valley for employment opportunities in the Australian industrial sector. Additionally, participating refugees will receive job counselling and tailored migration guidance to support their transition into skilled employment opportunities abroad.

As the lead agency, IOM coordinates project implementation and engagement with refugee communities, government stakeholders, and international partners. UNIDO leads the delivery of skills training through a local pilot centre, ensuring alignment with labour market needs in target countries.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNIDO Project Manager at UNIDO HQ and in close cooperation with the IOM project team in Malaysia, the National Project Administrator will be responsible for the following main tasks :

• Contribute to the overall coordination / implementation of the project in a timely and consistent manner
• Finalize the assessment and selection of a pilot training centre, based on in-demand industrial sector training in Australia and analysis of prior experiences and qualifications of surveyed vulnerable migrants
• Support mapping of available complementary labour migration pathways, trends and opportunities in target host countries, including eligible profiles and related skills areas
• Map the relevant exit process in Malaysia to understand the steps that vulnerable migrants will need to complete in order to leave the country regularly
• Support the evaluation of the selected centre’s capacity to deliver refugee-tailored technical training, including review of curricula, infrastructure, certification mechanisms, and inclusion safeguards, in coordination with UNIDO experts
• Provide recommendations to the migrant assessment, i.e. on the incorporation of data to inform curriculum adaptation and capacity-building measures
• Support the refugee selection process by reviewing profiles and matching candidates to labour market needs, based on data collected under Output 1
• Serve as the focal point for the pilot training centre, supporting planning and implementation of training delivery
• Support the organization of counselling and information sessions for refugee participants on employment and migration pathways, in coordination with the IOM team in Kuala Lumpur
• Assessment report on training centre elaborated
• Inputs submitted for curriculum adaptation and training plan
• Shortlist of selected refugees developed based on survey data
• Work plan with pilot training centre agreed and implemented

49 days

3 days

10 days

5 days

2 days

Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education : Advanced university degree in economics, education sciences, international development, business administration, or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience :

Languages : Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and / or working knowledge of Bahasa Melayu 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, WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST, WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE. Details as described in the original.

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. 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 :

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 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 :

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