The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The UNEP’s Early Warning and Assessment Division (EWAD) is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. This position is located in the Thematic Assessment Unit of the Scientific Assessment Branch in the Early Warning and Assessment Division (EWAD) in Nairobi Duty Station. Under the overall direction of Director, Early Warning and Assessment Division (EWAD), and direct supervision of the Chief, Scientific Assessment Branch, the incumbent will perform the following duties.

1. Developing the strategic approach to the work of the section aimed to deliver the relevant mandates of the Division and UN Environment in the context of sustainable development and supervise the staff to implement the relevant activities; Planning, co-coordinating and mobilizing resources to implement programmes and activities related to thematic assessments, working with partner institutions, private sector and networks of experts that will enhance the scientific credibility of UN Environment’s assessment programme; Implementing methods and procedures to integrate and analyze global and regional assessments, data quality and trends of environmental conditions as an element of integrated assessment and global outlook; Developing and coordinating global and regional technical and scientific co-operation networks comprising: scientific institutions, governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations in UN regions, intergovernmental organizations active in the field of relevant thematic assessments as mechanisms for co-operation and consultation for the production of global and regional thematic environmental assessments; Initiating and maintaining agreements, processes and procedures with specialized scientific institutions, the private sector, specialised non- governmental organisations and governmental and intergovernmental structures involved in thematic assessments of global significance; As necessary and appropriate, integrating the scientific thematic assessment processes with the monitoring, capacity building, technical co-operation activities of the Early Warning and Assessment Division and in close cooperation with UN Environment’s divisions, regional and sub-regional offices, strategic partners and relevant national, international organizations’ and programmes. 2. Liaising with the UN system agencies and with other international and non-governmental organisations and national focal points with respect to intergovernmental assessments activities, focused environmental assessment programmes and outputs, capacity building and broker partnerships and collaboration; Preparing and organizing intergovernmental, interagency and expert meetings required to implement the work of the section and of the branch; Participating in international scientific advisory groups and speak at seminars, symposia and other meetings. Overseeing and contributing to the preparation of outputs and reports; Overseeing the preparation of project documents, Memoranda of Understanding, identifying and supervising consultants, staff and interns in support of the above; Overseeing the implementation of the Programme of work and budget planning, reporting and evaluation; Assuming the overall leadership of the Thematic Environmental Assessment, overseeing and be accountable for the implementation of the Programme of Work and budget planning, reporting and evaluation. 3. Supporting the overall management of the branch, the programme planning and evaluation and perform other related duties as required. 4. Manage the work of the thematic environmental assessment section in order to implement General Assembly (GA) and United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) decisions related to scientific assessment. 5. Perform the function of the Head of Thematic Environmental Assessment section, undertaking necessary and appropriate supervision of staff and sound administration of the section 6. 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. 7. Perform any other duties as may assigned.

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated ability to identify key strategic issues and to provide innovative technical and scientific inputs and guidance for the production of integrated, comprehensive, policy relevant, global environmental assessments and reports, including related projects, ability to understand and synthesize the many branches of environmental knowledge. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Proven ability to analyze and integrate diverse information and to communicate it (verbally and in writing) clearly and effectively to senior managers; while ensuring that global scientific assessments integrate, reflect and contribute to UN Environment’s work in all sub-programme areas. Broad knowledge of environment and development issues; shows pride in work and in achievements; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges, remains calm in stressful situation. LEADERSHIP: Demonstrated innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development and management of operations; tact and negotiating skills; good judgment and decision-making skills; empowers others to translate vision into results; shows the courage to take unpopular stands; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; 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. TEAMWORK: Demonstrated team building and team leadership skills. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, in order to achieve organizational goals; works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; places team agenda before personal agenda; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts join responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Track record of excellent time management and ability to meet tight deadlines. Demonstrated ability to plan, budget, coordinate and manage complex projects, including foreseeing risks and allowing for contingencies when planning; uses time effectively; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in an area of environmental science or natural resources management, is required. A first level university degree with a combination of two years of professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, or data science programs is desirable.

Not available.

A minimum of ten (10) years progressively responsible experience in environmental assessment and reporting, planning or resource management; experience of progressive responsibility for environmental assessment at international or regional level is required. Experience in capacity building and partnership development in the last five years is required. Work experience in negotiation and building consensus to regional perspectives and in developing regions is desirable. Work experience in the role of scientific assessment, monitoring and data needs and the consequent use of current assessment findings in analyzing environmental change, is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations 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”.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31st October 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply:Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the and of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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