Job Title: SENIOR PROGRAMME OFFICER, P5
Department/ Office: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
Duty Station: CAMBRIDGE
Posting Period: 28 July 2011-26 September 2011
Job Opening number: 11-PGM-UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME-19865-R-CAMBRIDGE (O)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) 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 located in UNEP/DEWA at the Cambridge duty station. Under supervision of Director DEWA, the incumbent will:
Responsibilities
1. Develop, implement and evaluate projects carried out by UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) for UNEP Divisions and Regional offices: direct subordinates in programme/project development, implementation; monitoring and assessment; identify priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow up actions. 2. Oversee development of closer links between UNEP-WCMC and the UNEP Divisions and Regional offices: facilitate more dialogue for joint project formulation; provide information on UNEP’s activities and priorities to the staff of UNEP-WCMC and oversee the formulation of strategies and action plan to help increase collaboration between UNEP-WCMC and the UNEP Divisions and Regional Offices. 3. Act as UNEP-DEWA focal point for organisational and administrative matters: Supervise and undertake the preparation of written outputs including background papers on UNEP-WCMC activities and the Millennium Development Goals, substantial sections of reports and studies as the Global Environment Outlook, inputs to publications and journals mainly aimed at a policy audience. 4. Direct substantive support to consultative and other meetings of UNEP, Governing council; 5. Lead missions to UNEP headquarters and the regions to promote the work of UNEP-WCMC, develop joint projects with UNEP and its Regional Offices, and provide guidance to government officials on joint projects to support countries in their implementation of their Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and national biodiversity strategies. 6. Perform other duties assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: 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. 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; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. ; Judgement/ 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; Makes tough decisions when necessary. Leadership: identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the organization's strategy and the work unit's goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; empowers others to translate vision into results; provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in natural resources management, economics, environment or sustainable development or related area is required. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in environmental and sustainable development programme evaluation, coordination and implementation and policy analysis is required. Extensive experience in research, evaluation and policy development is desirable. Working experience in developing countries an advantage.
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 another UN language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
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.
1. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
2. 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 send an email to recruitment@unon.org, quoting the job opening number in the subject header of your email.
Special Notice
Have you made at least two lateral moves during your UN career? If so, please provide further details in your PHP and cover note.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Moreinfo: Click here
