Chief Technical Officer

The main objective of the Stockholm Convention (ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 30, 2010) is to take measures for the elimination or restriction or prevention of the production, import, export and use of all manufactured persistent organic pollutants (pesticides and industry chemicals) and the continuous reduction to minimize the occurrence of these pollutants in the environment, and the elimination of emissions of unintentionally produced POPs (such as dioxins, furans, as well as hexachlorobenzene and PCBs that occur in industrial processes). All these substances, listed under the Stockholm convention on POPs, pose a global threat to the environment and human health due to their long persistence in the environment, their long-term and cumulative toxic properties and their capacity to bioaccumulate in living organisms.

Following the objectives of the Stockholm Convention and commitments that Bosnia and Herzegovina made in regard to its implementation, this Project intends to prevent the release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment through the improvement of health care waste management, implementation of green chemistry initiatives in the industry and agriculture along with destruction of identified POPs waste stockpiles. The logic behind this Project is that the risk for people’s health and the environment will be reduced only if the POPs related legislation is mainstreamed in to the process of inter-institutional and the BIH environmental legislation is harmonized with EU standards, if the PCDD/F release is avoided through the establishment of capacity for the proper segregation and management of waste generating U-POPs and if the green chemistry principles are adopted in the emerging plastic manufacturing sector, contributing to the avoidance of the use of at least 10 tons of PBDE, deca PBDE and short chain chlorinated paraffins.

This will be achieved through 5 components, namely:

• Component 1. Capacity building and mainstreaming of POPs related legislation into the process of harmonization of the BiH environmental legislation;
• Component 2. Prevention and monitoring of U-POPs generation and of release of POPs through minimization, segregation and environmentally sound management of selected hazardous waste stream;
• Component 3. Implementation of green chemistry principles in plastic manufacturing to prevent the use of and release of new POPs, including the candidate deca PBDE and SCCP;
• Component 4. Management and disposal of PCBs and POPs from abandoned industrial premises;
• Component 5. Monitoring, learning, adaptive feedback, outreach and evaluation.

The Project is financed by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and is directly implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office.

The Chief Technical Officer will be responsible for providing technical support to the Environmental Development Project Manager in order to ensure smooth implementation of the Project. These tasks refer both to the provision of support relevant for operational management of the Project as well as assuring the high-quality outputs of activities implemented within the Project.

The Chief Technical Officer will be expected to closely coordinate his/her activities with the EE Sector Leader, EE Sector Programme Associate and Environmental Development Project Manager.

The incumbent will be based in UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo.      

Technical inputs to implementation of Project’s activities

• Supervises and ensures the timely implementation of the project relevant activities as scheduled in the working plan
• Prepares a detailed work plan for the project and draft terms of reference (ToRs) for the subcontracts in cooperation with Project Manager and in consultation with the Project Board;
• In cooperation with Project Manager, develops the scope of the work and ToRs and other procurement documentation required to identify and facilitate recruitment of experts and consultants;
• Identifies and hires/subcontracts the local experts and institutions in cooperation with Project Manager and in consultation with the Project Board;
• Supervises local consultants who are recruited to provide technical assistance
• Facilitates the workshops and trainings needed during the Project;
• Liaises with the relevant ministries, local and international research institutes, NGOs, and other relevant institutions in order to involve their staff in project activities, and to gather and disseminate information relevant to the Project;
• In cooperation with Project Manager, prepares periodic progress reports of the Project;
• In cooperation with Project Manager, summarizes and synthesizes the results of the Project;
• Identifies the follow up activities and mobilizes other resources at the extent possible;
• Identifies and ensures synergy with other relevant ongoing / new projects;

Provide technical inputs to the Environmental Development Project Manager in project activities related to the quality control, from formulation to implementation

• Provides technical inputs for designing and formulation of work plans, financial and procurement plans within the area of responsibility, translating project goals into specific interventions to be implemented by the Project;
• Provides inputs for organization and implementation of external evaluation of the project;
• Monitors and analyses the risks for project implementation and proposes/conducts timely adjustments; if needed;
• Take part in evaluation of the project impact

Support in creation of strategic partnerships;

• Supports Project Manager in developing partnership with all government levels in BiH, international financial institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Analyses and researches information on donors, prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identifies opportunities for initiation of new projects, actively contributes to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

Support knowledge management and gender equality mainstreaming within the project

• Support Project Manager in mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation;
• Ensures that project documents prepared by the incumbent are written using gender sensitive language;
• In the preparation of meetings/consultations/trainings ensures gender balance of participants as much as possible;
• Support Project Manager in reporting on gender sensitive indicators.
   

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda/Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Results-Based Programme Development and Management/Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

• • Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• • Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• • Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation.

Building Strategic Partnerships/Maintaining a network of contacts

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches/Enhancing processes or products

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches;
• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise/ Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Client Orientation/Establishing effective client relationships

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

Resource Mobilization/ Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing/Basic research and analysis

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches. Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, disabilities, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Competence in handling project’s external relations at all levels;
• Demonstrate strong negotiation skills;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Managing conflict;
• Informed and transparent decision making;
• Possesses strong ICT skills.
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each employee.

Education: 

• Master’s degree in chemical technology or engineering and/ or chemistry

Experience: 

• At least 3 years’ experience relevant to the Project;
• Overall understanding of environment/development issues in BiH as well as the thematic areas-chemicals, hazardous waste treatment and disposal, air pollution control solutions, monitoring systems, remediation of soil and groundwater, risk assessment studies, environmental auditing;
• Experience in putting together costed, results-oriented action plans;
• Demonstrated experience in working with government, donors and the United Nations system would be an asset
• Knowledge of the Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention and EU legislation covering related thematic areas is mandatory,
• Substantial knowledge on chemicals and their impact on environment and human health,
• Experience in co-operating with local stakeholders  including government officials, scientific institutions, NGOs, and private sector;
• Experience in managing tasks of similar complexity and nature;
• Familiarity and prior experience with UNDP requirements and procedures are considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in spoken and written English and in BHS languages

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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