Open Recruitments at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and advice on biodiversity management and conservation, including developing strategies to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results in the best interests of the Organization and its partners.
• Take lead in developing biodiversity management strategies that embrace a long-term view about land use choices, including on reconciling conservation with; the expansion of agriculture; population growth; improving rural resilience, including creation of opportunity for smallholder farmers.
• Take the lead in informing and influencing land use choices through better understanding of multiple threats to biodiversity.
• Lead in establishing the Wildlife Biodiversity Economy as a legitimate and effective land use option.
• Take the lead in developing and promoting ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other conservation areas, and supporting wildlife aspects of integrated human, animal and environment health (eg. One Health) approach.
• 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.
• Ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines.
• Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Direct substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Manage outreach activities; design and conduct trainings, workshops, seminars, etc., make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensure preparation of related documents.
• Serve as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Ensure effective management, supervision and development of staff.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in biodiversity conservation management, environmental law, political ecology, environmental economics, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying 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 an advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in conservation and biodiversity conservation or related area of which five (5) years at the international level is required. At least five (5) years of work experience in Ecosystems and Biodiversity policy development, regional programme /project coordination and resource mobilization is desirable.
• Experience working with relevant multilateral environmental agreements e.g., Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and/or Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is desirable
• Experience working with multiple threats to biodiversity is desirable. Experience working with the UN system or similar international organization is desirable Two (2) years' experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

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Responsibilities

• Formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Office, determine priorities, and allocate resources for the completion of outputs/results and their timely delivery, in cooperation and coordination with other UN Environment Programme divisions and offices.
• Oversee activities undertaken by the Office as a contribution to the UNEP Programme of Work and Medium-Term Strategy (MTS), including preparation, execution and monitoring of office budget, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators and other administrative tasks.
• Ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely manner and co-ordinate work in the different areas both within the Office and other UN Environment divisions and offices, in accordance with UNEP's “delivery model” and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate, working closely with UNEP Regional Offices to support the UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, as per the UNEP Delivery Model and adherence to the principles of “One UNEP”.
• Coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to donors, UNEP Environment Assembly, United Nations intergovernmental bodies and other scientific inter- governmental forums as appropriate.
• Manage, guide, develop, encourage and train staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Office and across UNEP;
• Chair meetings, seminars, on substantive-related issues; represent the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences; provide programmatic/substantive expertise and, when appropriate, hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Report to UNEP Senior Management Team, intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance and on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Work collaboratively with Regional Offices to mobilize resources from global and regional sources for project funding. Clear the allocation of the necessary financial and human resources for the delivery of results related to the strategic objectives set by the UNEP leadership and its senior management team.
• Ensures close and effective engagement with all UNEP Offices to support the co-design projects that contain regional and national components. Ensures accountability for delivery of project results that fall within their division's expertise and mandate.
• As the Chief Scientist the Director of the Office of Science serves as a primary advisor on science: setting scientific priorities for the organisation, including advising on emerging issues and science and ensures credibility and quality of data, information and knowledge and products are aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead on foresight, analysis and intelligence initiatives and delivers updates / research papers and syntheses on new and emerging scientific issues to the Senior Management Team and the organization more generally, as needed.
•  Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree, PhD or equivalent degree) in any of the earth sciences (geology, ecology, geography, hydrology, atmospheric science, etc), environmental sciences, biology, social sciences environmental management, engineering, or other related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of applied sciences, environmental sciences, earth sciences, environment engineering, environmental geography or environmental health is required.
• Experience in programme and organizational management (human resources, budget, law) in government, intergovernmental entities and/or United Nations, universities and research institutions and non-governmental organizations at a senior-level is required.
• Experience in environmental policy analysis, formulation and implementation, and/or providing technical assistance on environment to policy makers on the environment is required. Working experience in a management and leadership position at senior level is required.
• Experience in the area of the environmental science-policy interface is desirable. A publication record of peer reviewed scientific articles and/or papers is desirable