EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

UNEP's Science Division is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment.

This post is within the Secretariat of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) located at the Washington DC duty station .Under the guidance of the STAP Chair and supervision of the Chief, Capacity Development and Innovation Branch of the Science Division, the incumbent will perform, among other duties:

Responsibilities

1. Coordinate the strategic engagement of STAP with the GEF Council, GEF Secretariat, GEF Agencies, the GEF Independent Evaluation Office, and as necessary with other GEF stakeholders, to ensure the effective delivery and communication of STAP advice, through:
a. Planning, preparation, and facilitation of regular interactions with GEF Council, GEF Secretariat staff, and GEF Agencies on scientific and technical matters.
b. Coordinating and providing strategic direction for the planning and preparation of STAP's scientific and technical advice to the GEF, including to the GEF Replenishment Process.
c. Contributing to reports of the Chairperson to Council and other meetings.
d. Facilitating interactions between STAP Panel Members and the GEF Council, GEF Secretariat, GEF Agencies and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
e. Overseeing the planning and delivery of STAP's outreach during and in the margins of GEF Council Meetings, MEA meetings and other relevant events.
f. Leading the development and periodic revisions of STAP's 4-year rolling Work Program.
g. Keeping the STAP Chair fully briefed on all STAP strategic engagements, on delivery of the STAP Work Program, and on the views of Agencies, MEAs and GEF Secretariat staff.

2. Supervise the day-to-day functioning of the STAP Secretariat, including its management, coordination, and administrative support to the Panel and its implementation of the STAP Work Program including:
a. Overseeing the management and organization of STAP meetings.
b. Overseeing STAP Secretariat staff workplan development, periodic revisions, and implementation.
c. Supervising the preparation of STAP reports and documents and their distribution, ensuring clarity and suitability for audiences, structure of documents, key messages, and overall scientific and technical quality.
d. Directing the final editing, publication, and dissemination of STAP documents.
e. Supervising the preparation of all other STAP outputs, including trainings, outreach functions and webpages.
f. Ensuring the execution of STAP's screens of GEF projects.
g. Providing overall management of STAP Secretariat operations and guidance to STAP Secretariat staff on administrative and financial matters.
h. Acting as the lead STAP Secretariat liaison to the STAP Chair, GEF Secretariat and Agencies.

3. Ensure STAP Panel Members are apprised of strategic scientific and technical issues affecting GEF policies, operational strategies, and programs, including by:
a. Identifying, reviewing, and recommending to STAP policy, strategic and operational issues requiring STAP's analysis and advice.
b. Overseeing the preparation of background papers for STAP discussions, consolidating and synthesizing issues and options.
c. Providing leadership in developing cooperative activities with scientific bodies and conventions related to STAP's work.
d. Ensuring the highest standards for STAP's reports, papers, and project screens.

4. Lead the mobilization of scientific and technical expertise that allows STAP to function as a conduit between the GEF and the scientific community at large, by:
a. Overseeing recruitment processes that produce high quality and suitable candidates for membership of STAP.
b. Briefing the Chair and Panel on major scientific and technical activities and promoting the participation of STAP members in international scientific initiatives, including proposing and developing cooperative activities between STAP and other scientific organizations and panels, for example, by UNEP, other GEF Agencies, and the MEAs.

5. 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.

6. Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the GEF. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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.

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.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

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. 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.

BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion. Manages in a deliberate and predictable way. Operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda. Places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients. Gives proper credit to others. Follows through on agreed upon actions. Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), in natural, environmental or social sciences (e.g., law, sociology, or related fields, with specialization in global environmental issues, or resource management or economics 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 desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience in environmental science or policy including seven years of experience at the international level is required.

Experience in interacting with the scientific community at the highest levels of expertise is required.

Experience in project development or management in Global Environment Facility (GEF) recipient countries, as well as knowledge of the GEF and Partner Agencies, and extensive knowledge of the GEF and global issues in the context of GEF activities is desirable.

Solid experience in managing international scientific and technical programs is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second official UN language is desirable.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand)
and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) 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.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, 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 or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 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. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link.

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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.