Chief of Service, Programme Management

• Country: Kenya
• Organization: UNEP
• Deadline: 2023-12-23
• No of Vacancies: N/A

Responsibilities
Programme Management:

l. Manage the relevant sections of the Big Science Branch (BSB) and provide strategic directions to accomplish the mandated functions and approved objectives:
a) Analyze the assessment programme mandates, particularly as stated in General Assembly (GA) and United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) decisions, and translate the mandates into strategic programme directions, policies, outputs and concrete work programmes including budget allocations and the UNEP Medium Term Strategy.
b) Integrate the work programme of the Branch with other programmes of the division and as well as those of other UNEP divisions.
c) Secure approval of the work programme by the UNEP’s Project Review Committee (PRC).
d) Consult, negotiate and develop cooperation with appropriate assessment programmes within the UN system, such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) etc. and relevant national, regional and international organizations and secure agreement on collaborative mechanisms.
e) Develop, direct and coordinate the different projects of the Big Science Branch related to thematic and integrated assessment, and Global Environment Outlook (GEO).
f) Coordinate the development of policy relevant summaries and forecasts based on the findings of the major scientific assessments and the identification of emerging issues of potential international importance and organize their effective and targeted dissemination: including United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), other relevant UN bodies and governments.
g) Develop and direct the implementation of strategies and frameworks for the integration of scientific assessments and reports produced at global and regional levels or in thematic areas and their integration with national and regional activities.
h) Report on programme performance to appropriate authorities in the organization and to UNEA e.g. through the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) and the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA).
i) Undertake regular analysis of the EWAD assessment mandate and activities and propose, as required, policy options and recommendations for modification and change in the overall implementation of the work programmes.

Programme Implementation:

2. Direct and coordinate the implementation of activities and projects of the Branch work programme so as to ensure that the approved goals and objectives are met and outputs delivered in a timely fashion;
a) Discuss ongoing and planned assessment and reporting activities of the Branch with other divisions of UNEP and ensure that these are incorporated into an integrated programme of work for the division and for UNEP.
b) Identify and discuss potential assessment and reporting activities with other divisions of UNEP, negotiate and coordinate the development of joint activities with UNEP divisions and external partners and oversee the implementation of the identified joint activities.
c) Undertake regular monitoring of progress of the Branch programme of work and the individual projects and activities, assess the effectiveness of the results achieved and develop proposals to enhance performance as appropriate.
d) Develop and direct the development of new approaches, procedures, methodologies and tools for UNEP’s assessment and reporting activities.
e) Evaluate procedures, methodologies and approaches used by national and regional institutions and international organizations to assess environment and development interactions and support informed decisions.
f) Analyze alternative approaches and methodologies and their global, regional and thematic relevance in function of targeted user communities or policy and decision-making processes.
g) Coordinate the establishment and implementation of international cooperative agreements and mechanisms to develop appropriate procedures to implement UNEP’s mandated assessment and reporting functions and ensure their international scientific validity and acceptability.
h) Promote the acceptance and use of appropriate assessment and reporting approaches, procedures and methodologies by UNEP and relevant national and international organizations.

Policy Advice and Guidance:

3. Act as the principal advisor in the area of integrated scientific assessments and reporting.
a) Conduct high level technical and policy related consultations on matters related to the programme with policy makers and directors of institutes and international assessment programmes.
b) Develop policy initiatives on programme issues for intergovernmental and interagency meetings of minister and other high-level officials.
c) Provide regular updates and briefs to the Director, EWAD, Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director on issues related to policy servicing and planning in the context of programme implementation.
d) Provide technical advice and appropriate support to governments and assist in organizing and convening intergovernmental meetings of policy makers and technical experts to formulate, adopt and implement global, regional and national assessment programmes.
e) Represent EWAD and/or UNEP at external meetings, as requested by the EWAD Director and/or the UNEP Executive Office.
(f) Ensure that UNEP’s BSB functions are integrated across UNEP Sub-programmes.
(g) Carry out additional tasks from time to time as requested by the Director of EWAD.

Programme Budget and Supervisory Responsibilities:

4. Serve as the principal head of the Branch.
a) Provide supervisory leadership to professional and general service staff of the Branch, setting objectives and targets with them, inculcate in them, UN and UNEP ethical values and principles, monitor and appraise their performance, ensuring compliance with performance Appraisal System, identify their training needs and facilitate an environment of teamwork and high productivity.
b) Manage all non-human resources matters of the Branch in the most effective and efficient way.
c) Review human and financial resource requirements for programme implementation and determine priorities for budget allocation.
d) Liaise with the Budget and Fund Management Service and Division of Administration Services of UNON on financial, personnel and administrative matters.
e) Monitor financial performance of the activities and projects to ensure cost effective implementation of the work programme.

5. Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Excellent knowledge of the institutional mandates, scientific assessments, policies and procedures of the United Nations; Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

JUDGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in natural and environmental sciences, natural resources management, economics or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
Minimum 15 years of relevant working experience delivering and managing scientific assessments and network of scientists including at least five (5) years at the national, regional and global levels is required.

Experience with the operation and requirements of the UN or similar International organization particularly with regard to developing countries is required.

Progressive working experience in the management of programmes/projects and supervision of staff in a multicultural setting is desirable.

A mixture of working experience in developed and developing countries and training in scientific assessment tools, methods and processes is desirable.

Experience in diverse areas and pertaining to different aspects of environment and development is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand), and ” Knowledge of” equals a rating of ” confident” in two of the four areas.

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