Openings at United Nations Environment Programme

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: 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.

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 improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

JUDGEMENT/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

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences or discipline related to the work of ecosystems management 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 project/programme management in the context of Ecosystems management or related area is required.
• Five (5) years experience at the international level with at least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity is required
• Demonstrated experience in managing performance of teams and staff with specialist expertise and mobilizing resources in an international environment is required.

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Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for providing high quality technical guidance and advice for the effective implementation of the project and achievement of the planned results. Likewise, s/he will also facilitate and promote coordination and collaboration with other actors in the sector both at national and international levels.

The CTA will provide overall technical and operational support to the Project Management Unit, and will be responsible for the following deliverables over the contract period:

•  Provide overall technical backstopping for the project
•  Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for the timely achievement project targets and objectives
•  Provide advice to the PM for planning the implementation of project activities, and on adjustments to the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with corporate requirements
•  Undertake technical review and provide quality assurance of project outputs (e.g. technical reports, studies and assessments) and field activities
•  Provide guidance and technical inputs to the work carried out by national and international consultants and/or companies
•  Review and provide inputs for the preparation of the project's annual Project Implementation Review (PIR) and the Half-Yearly Progress Report (HYPR)
•  Make recommendations to the project staff and Project Steering Committee (PSC) for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities
•  Provide inputs and guidance to the project team on technical and financial reporting
•  Provide information and other inputs to the project closing process, including the drafting and review of the final project implementation report, and inputs and review for the Terminal Evaluation process
•  Provide advice and technical contributions to the project's knowledge management, communications and awareness-raising activities, and document lessons from project implementation

Qualifications/special skills

Skills: - Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants;

•  Excellent oral and presentation skills;

Academic Qualifications:

• An advanced University education (Master's or PhD) in the area of natural resource management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental management/studies or environmental / natural resource economics is required

Experience: -

• At least 7 years of professional experience in senior technical lead positions in planning and management of environmental and/or natural resources management programmes is required, including institutional strengthening and capacity building, of which at least four are at an international or regional level, and four are in climate change adaptation;
• Demonstrated experience in project development, implementation and management is required;
• Previous experience with GEF project implementation is required, preferably in a CTA position;
• Experience of working and collaborating with developing country governments is required;
• Previous experience from the East Africa region is desirable.