SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change.

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Senior Environmental Manager reports to the Director of Planning and works closely with Deputy Director of Planning.

Responsibilities

- Coordinates Agency-wide strategy development and planning efforts relating to environmental sustainability, in cooperation with UNRWA Field Offices, Headquarters Departments and Divisions and the Environmental Working Group. Develops an Environmental Sustainability Policy implementation plan that, in accordance with the UN Chief Executives Board, Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System, 2020–2030, will establish gaps, areas for improvement, agreed actions, accountability lines, implementation timelines and resource implications. Provides advisory support to Agency Field Offices, Departments and Divisions to develop plans and initiatives.

- In cooperation with UNRWA Field Offices, and Headquarters Departments and Divisions, acts as the coordination lead in relation to the development of Agency-wide environmental sustainability monitoring, including the elaboration of performance indicators / success criteria and targets, and ensures substantive interaction throughout the monitoring process. Coordinates with material stakeholders to collect and analyse data and provide insights (including trend analyses) in support of data-driven environmental sustainability decision-making.

- Develops strategic partnerships, coordinating UNRWA cooperation on environmental sustainability issues with host authorities, UN entities, international financial institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, the private sector and civil society, based on UNRWA environmental sustainability goals, Palestine refugee needs and donor priorities.

- Coordinates the development of Agency-wide environmental sustainability reporting efforts and contributes to relevant UN reporting mechanisms, taking the lead in the development of specific reports, as required.

- In coordination with relevant Field Offices and Headquarters Departments and Divisions, engages in resource mobilization efforts (project development) aimed at supporting Environmental Sustainability Policy implementation, ensuring proposals are follow UNRWA project development guidance and are technically sound.

- Leads environmental sustainability learning initiatives with Field Offices and Headquarters staff. Synthesizes best practices and lessons learned and disseminate, internally and externally.

- Identifies, assesses, analyzes and monitors environmental sustainability and relevant political, economic and social development trends to generate knowledge, information, early warning for decision making and UNRWA planning and reporting.

- Enhances communication of key environmental sustainability messages, outputs and results, for example through the UNRWA website, annual reports and targeted campaigns and events.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply.

- Planning and Organizing
-Applying Technical Expertise
- Deciding and Initiating Action
- Managing Complexity and Change
- Engaging and Nurturing
- Ability to work independently, effectively managing a range of work processes in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
- Experience working in the UN or other international development and/or humanitarian organizations.
- Initiative in setting challenging outputs for her/himself and a willingness to accept new work assignments.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in environmental project or programme management or sciences, social sciences, economics or other sustainability-related disciplines.

Job - Specific Qualification

Training or certification in any of the following: ISO 14001, ISO 14031, Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, or a similar environmental management training or certification is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience at the national or international levels in environmental and/or social safeguards, environmental governance, sustainable livelihoods, climate adaptation and/or climate/green/conservation finance is required.

At least 5 years of work experience at senior level is required

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required

Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships and coordinate a range of stakeholders is required

Proven programme/project design/development, monitoring and reporting skills is required.

Work experience in sustainability or related fields in countries with humanitarian, conflict and development challenges would be an asset, as would relevant knowledge of environmental sustainability challenges and opportunities in the Middle East is desirable.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in environmental project or programme management or sciences, social sciences, economics or other sustainability-related disciplines is required

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Knowledge or Arabic language.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

Equivalency:
A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, 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. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

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.