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Technical Senior Analyst – Environmental - Retainer

Remote | Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Junior level - IICA-1, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Documentation and Information Management
  • Closing Date: 2025-02-18

Job categories Environment
Vacancy code VA/2025/B5012/29679
Level ICS-9
Department/office GPO, NYPO, SDC, Sustainable Development Cluster
Duty station Home based
Contract type International ICA
Contract level IICA-1
Duration Six (6) months with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds and necessity of services - retainer
Application period 05-Feb-2025 to 18-Feb-2025
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Functional Responsibilities

UNOPS is seeking the support of a Technical Senior Analyst – Environmental to advance the Global Programme on Nature for Development’s work to support governments to use spatial data in their conservation plans and monitoring. Working with 13 countries and counting, this work package develops approaches to use spatial data to identify where nature-based actions to protect, manage, or restore ‘essential life support areas’ (ELSAs) can deliver efficiently across national priorities for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. In addition to a general support role for web tools developed for all countries, this position will support the development of a customized version for Colombia.

The consultant will provide GIS expertise and support the development, hosting, and updates for web-based systematic conservation planning tools for each country developed using the RShiny and the R programming language that identify areas that provide stakeholders with a means to iterate and recreate the ELSA analysis. Webtools will be developed based on specific country needs, They will be capable of planning for multiple land use zones that are specific to each country and for multiple nature-based solutions that are related to biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. The tool will allow for real time manipulation of scenario settings (protected areas, weights, targets) and allow policymakers to run it using optimization. The tool will also allow multiple inputs datasets to be weighted and overlaid to produce thematic ‘heatmaps.’

All data for each country, including spatial constraints and impacts of zones, will be delivered to the consultant in a format ready for incorporation into the tool. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development, the consultant will carry out the following key tasks:

Colombia spatial prioritization webtool development

  • Coordinate the adaptation of the WhereToWork webtool based on Natural Parks of Colombia style guidelines such as colors, fonts, icons.
  • Coordinate with technical team the adjustment of the WhereToWork implementation, adding and removing features and UI elements based on the Colombia webtool needs.
  • Assist the technical team in organization and preparation of the full dataset and the dataset for the webtool.
  • Assist the team in generating the scenarios with the full dataset to load the solutions in the webtool.
  • Conduct webtool training for the Colombia team.

General ELSA webtool development

  • Coordinating the set up of repositories and data for each new country on the server.
  • Assist the set up the docker services and the triggers.
  • Assist in setting up the URL for the new countries.
  • Run checks and tests to ensure smooth functioning for end user.

ELSA webtool hosting and maintenance

  • Assist in setting up server to run systematic conservation planning tool.
  • Push data and parameter updates to the tool.
  • Assist in managing and updating code cloud versioning (via github), in collaboration with focal points at UNDP and UNICC.
  • Assist with migration to national servers, where needed, including training and handover sessions with national stakeholders.

ELSA webtool support 

  • Troubleshoot issues with webtool and support the Spatial Planner and Lead Scientist to resolve.

Project coordination and stakeholder engagement

  • Coordinate meetings with national stakeholders, as needed, to understand national needs for webtool development and hosting.
  • Gather the input of the core project team, as needed, to coordinate work.
  • Attend live workshop and working group sessions and ensure smooth functioning of the webtool during these sessions.
Others
  • The assignment is supervised by the Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development.


Education/Experience/Language requirements

*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY *FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*
Education

  • Master’s degree preferably in environmental management/sciences, conservation biology/ecology geography, natural resource management, computer science/software engineering or in another related field.
  • Bachelor’s degree preferably in the above-mentioned fields can be accepted with four years of relevant working experience (as outlined below).
Work Experience
  • A minimum of (2) years’ work or academic experience is required, preferably any of the following topics at a conceptual or practical level: international environmental policy, natural resource management, biodiversity/climate change, human/civil/indigenous/women’s rights, social entrepreneurship/impact investing, local economic development, and/or civil society engagement and education.
Language
  • Fluent in English with excellent oral and written communication skills is required.
  • Fluency in additional languages is an advantage.


We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.