Title: National Quality Infrastructure Expert

 

​Requisition ID: 3460
Grade: SB5 – Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Timor-Leste
Duty Station: Dili
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 10 months
Application deadline: 04-Mar-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

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), 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).

This 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

Timor-Leste’s accession as a member state to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is yet at an incipient stage. The project titled “Strengthening the quality infrastructure system to enhance export compliance” contributes to greater alignment of Timor-Leste’s quality practices with international standards, which is expected from candidates for accession to the WTO and ASEAN.

At present, Timor-Leste’s economy lacks sufficient domestic access to conformity assessment services for food safety and quality controls that facilitate compliance and demonstration of compliance with technical regulations, voluntary standards, and market requirements. Its underdeveloped quality infrastructure (QI) system lacks the competence and capacity required to provide confidence to buyers, users and regulators that products, processes and services are compliant, which is inhibiting integration of its value chains into regional and global trading systems. In particular, the standardization and metrological pillars of NQI are fundamental and catalytical for putting the country on a path of non-oil based, export-led economic growth.

To address these trade-related constraints, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI), requested the technical cooperation of UNIDO in designing and implementing a three-year project that aims to modernize Timor-Leste’s QI to foster trade competitiveness, and to smooth the integration of Timor-Leste’s value chains into regional and global trading systems.

The objectives and outputs of the project are summarized below:

• Overall objective (impact): The QI system operates in line with international practices and is responsive to national and relevant destination market regulations to facilitate Timor-Leste’s integration into the international trading system.
• Specific objective (outcome): The QI regulatory framework and technical service providers facilitate compliance of the F&B sector with quality and food safety-related technical regulations and standards to foster market access and integration into global value chains.
• Outputs:

• Output 1: QI legal and regulatory framework proposed for better QI governance.

• Sub-Output 1.1: A legal framework to create and enforce regulations within the QI domain and effect institutional coordination across the QI pillars proposed.
• Sub-Output 1.2: National standards formulated.
• Sub-Output 1.3: Technical regulations formulated.

• Output 2: Technical assistance delivered to increase the scope of market-ready calibration, testing, and (legal metrology) verification services.

• Sub-Output 2.1: Technical consultancy, training, and equipment delivered for the documentational & operational readiness of IQTL’s calibration services for the market.
• Sub-Output 2.2: Technical consultancy and training provided to enhance testing capabilities on F&B quality and food safety at MAP and MS, such as microbiological, toxicological and MRL analysis.
• Sub-Output 2.3: Technical consultancy, training, and instruments delivered for the documentational & operational readiness of AIFAESA’s legal metrology verification service under the purview of IQTL’s legal metrology system.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The scope of work, defined below, shall be delivered in close consultation with the project team. Under the strategic guidance of the Project Manager (PM) and under the direct technical supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the project, the National Quality Infrastructure Expert, will provide technical guidance to and coordination with NQI institutions and conformity assessment bodies servicing the food & beverages (F&B) sector. The expert will carry out duties and responsibilities, including, but not limited to the below.

Main duties	Concrete/measurable Outputs to be achieved	Duration	Location
In close coordination with the PMU, support implementation of the project’s technical activities: Facilitate technical activities to increase capabilities, deepen competencies, and facilitate documentational readiness (e.g., QMS) in the areas of calibration, food testing, and standardization. Propose alternative methods/corrective actions/adaptations for the implementation of technical activities to contribute to achieve project outputs, in consideration of the Timorese context. Carry out continuous monitoring of the project to ensure the expected outcomes and outputs are met.	Technical activities implemented. Achievement of expected outcomes and output monitored.	10 months	Dili, Timor-Leste
Coordinate and monitor technical activities linked to quality infrastructure in collaboration with relevant stakeholders: Strengthen laboratory practices within the project framework to adhere to relevant regulations, industry standards, and quality management systems (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025). Contribute to ensuring proper operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment procured for the national calibration laboratory under the purview of IQTL. Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of calibration/testing procedures and results in compliance with international standards. Carry out activities related to the development of national priority standards.	Laboratory practices strengthened. Laboratory operationalized and equipment procured, commissioned and maintained.
Support the organization and facilitation of education, training, experience and professional development activities: Review and quality-check learning material. Tailor training content to the needs of the recipient stakeholders in Timor-Leste. Communicate effectively with local counterparts to facilitate training delivery. Coordinate activities with facilitators.	Education, training, experience and professional development activities effectively organized and delivered.
Coordinate with internal counterparts (IQTL) and external stakeholders (other government counterparts, private and public sector entities) on project implementation: Contribute to establish effective liaison concerning technical activities on laboratory management and standardization. Ensure commitment and involvement of the counterparts and beneficiaries, and synergy between the relevant organizations and institutions at the national level. Ensure communication and visibility of project milestones	Effective coordination and communication with local counterparts ensured. Visibility and communication of project milestones ensured.
Support with data collection and analysis, proofreading, drafting and editing technical reports and documents. Draft, revise, track, and/or finalize technical documents and reports. Furnish inputs related to technical activities in compliance with reporting requirements as per the project Trust Fund Agreement.	Technical reports and documents submitted in compliance with Satisfy reporting requirements per Trust Fund Agreement.
Perform any other task related to the timely and effective implementation of the project. Effectively complete ad-hoc tasks as they arise.	Ad hoc activities effectively delivered.

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.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in a scientific discipline, including physics, engineering, chemistry, microbiology or relevant discipline is required. A first level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) combined with a substantial number of years of practical laboratory experience (e.g. calibration, measurement and use of metrology equipment or quality assurance and control) may be accepted en lieu of an advanced university degree.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in the field of quality infrastructure (incl. standardization, metrology, conformity assessment) is required.
• Proficiency in ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories, and technical knowledge in laboratory techniques, laboratory equipment operation and safety protocols is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages are required.
• Professional experience or academic qualifications in project management is desired.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Tetum is required. Working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Portuguese would be considered an asset.

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