This post is located in the Biodiversity and Land Branch (BLB), Ecosystems Division, at the Nairobi duty station and reports to Deputy Division Director, while working closely with the Director. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
Responsibilities
Develop and oversee relevant projects and activities under the Healthy and Productive Ecosystems sub Programme of the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of work. Develop, design and advocate concepts of the programme; Enhance inter-linkages among stakeholders on biodiversity and ecosystem services related matters. Develop policy advisory services for various decision makers. Develop and oversee biodiversity and ecosystem services projects in light of the seven thematic priority areas of UNEP;
Provide leadership and guidance to the conceptualization, formulation and completion of special initiatives on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including efforts to address the illegal trade in wildlife, to increase land and seascape connectivity, and the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP). Enhance collaboration and partnership between stakeholders in the delivery of UNEP’s programme of work, including with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Promote integrated ecosystem strategies and analyze and resolve challenges in the implementation of these strategies;
Oversee the work of the four Units of the Biodiversity and Land Branch (BLB), (GEF Biodiversity Unit, Ecosystem Services Economics Unit, Wildlife Unit, and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit) providing guidance and oversight to these units’ implementation of the UNEP programme of work;
Formulate policies, strategies, actions and provide policy advice and recommendations to the Director. Formulate a biodiversity programme of work for DEP. Design UNEP strategy for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Analyze developments and provide advice for UNEP’s strategic direction and intervention. Contribute to UNEP’s efforts in strengthening the science policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services;
Facilitate substantive and organizational discussions in the area of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Cooperate with other divisions, clusters and regions within UNEP for provision of expert advice and support in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
Develop and implement projects for funding in support of the work of the Branch. Develop relationships with potential funding sources. Analyze and monitor the trends in international development cooperation on the impacts of their decisions on UNEP’s funding-strategies for biodiversity and ecosystem services related activities;
Oversee the management of administrative, budget and personnel operations of the Branch. Oversee and contribute to the preparation of reports for presentation to inter-governmental bodies such as the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the United Nations Environment Assembly, the UN General Assembly and other policy-making organs;
Perform other related duties as may be assigned.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to provide technical and substantive support in the field of environmental management, development and mastery of marine biology or coastal ecosystems; shows pride in work and in achievements; 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.
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, and; makes tough decisions when necessary.
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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences or in a discipline related to the work of Ecosystems Management or 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 work experience in project/programme management in the context of Ecosystems management or related area is required.
Five (5) years of relevant experience at the international level with at least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity; demonstrated experience in managing performance of teams and staff with specialist expertise and mobilizing resources in an international environment is required.
At least five (5) years of relevant work experience in ecosystems policy development, regional programme /project coordination and resource mobilization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is an advantage. Knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. 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.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
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.
Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, 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, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.
United Nations Considerations
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
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