Department/ Office United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station NAIROBI
Posting Period 9 July 2014-7 September 2014
Job Opening number 14-POL-UNEP-35451-R-NAIROBI (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
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 seek technical assistance through the Inspira ‘Need Help?’ link.
Job Opening number 14-POL-UNEP-35451-R-NAIROBI (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one 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.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. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
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 seek technical assistance through the Inspira ‘Need Help?’ link.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is ‘to be 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’. This position is located in the UNEP’s Executive Office, under the supervision of the Deputy Executive Director. Working in close coordination with the Chief, Executive Office, the staff member serves as liaison between the Deputy Executive Director and other parts of the Organization and external entities.Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Director, and working as part of the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director’s Coordination Team, the staff member will:1. Support and advise the Deputy Executive Director through:
i. Coordination and strategic prioritisation of all communications addressed to the Deputy Executive Director.
ii. In consultation with UNEP Senior Management, monitors, identifies and brings to the attention of the Deputy Executive Director and Chief, Executive Office, emerging policy and managerial issues.
2. Maintains liaison with Divisions and serves as contact between the Deputy Executive Director and the Executive Office, Senior Management and UNEP Regional Offices.
i. Manages the Deputy Executive Director’s day-to-day commitments, serves as point of referral requiring the Deputy Executive Director’s attention.
ii. Ensures prompt and efficient communication and coordination between the Deputy Executive Director and UNEP Divisions and Offices.
iii. Working with the Divisions and relevant staff, drafts correspondence for and on behalf of the Deputy Executive Director, including confidential correspondence.
iv. In close collaboration with the Spokesperson and DCPI, ensures that the Deputy Executive Director maintains an overview of developments in the sustainable development arena.
3. Support the Deputy Executive Director’s meetings:
i. Assist in planning for and participating in meetings of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
ii. Ensure that the Deputy Executive Director is effectively able to participate in (and lead, when appropriate) meetings with the UNEP Senior Management Team, Project Approval Group, Publications Board, and other internal bodies as necessary.
iii. Ensure that the Deputy Executive Director has relevant briefing material for meetings with senior managers, colleagues, members of the Nairobi diplomatic community, and visiting government, UN, IGO and NGO officials.
4. Supports the Deputy Executive Director to maintain close contact with governments, delegations, senior officials of the UN, UN system organizations:
i. Facilitates effective communication and contacts.
ii. Brings to the attention of the Deputy Executive Director and Chief, Executive Office issues relevant to UNEP’s bilateral relations with governments and inter-agency cooperation.
iii. – Identifies, analyzes and monitors political developments, trends and emerging issues that could affect the work of UNEP.
Assess implications and make recommendations to senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives.
Supports the Deputy Executive Director in the performance of his/her functions, including the provision of policy advice on issues as appropriate.
5. Support the Deputy Executive Director’s missions:
i. Coordinate the preparation of extensive briefing materials and mission files, ensuring the materials from other offices are submitted in a timely manner and are of high quality.
ii. Finalise all speeches and statements to be delivered by the Deputy Executive Director, in close consultation with the submitting office.
iii. Guide the Deputy Executive Director’s Administrative Assistant on all logistical preparations for mission travel, in cooperation with relevant substantive colleagues (particularly in regional/out posted offices) and external interlocutors.
iv. Assist in follow-up actions arising from missions, including the finalization of mission reports and dissemination of relevant information to colleagues in other parts of UNEP.
6. Support the development and implementation of the biannual UNEP Programme of Work (PoW), relevant national, sub-regional and regional strategies and plans and devise innovative mechanisms to enhance UNEP’s responsiveness to country/regional needs.
7. Support the coordination of UNEP’s engagement and commitments in relevant UN System-wide processes and initiatives including the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), Post-2015 development agenda, UNDP/UNEP Memorandum of Understanding, United Nations Development Group (UNDG) processes, and Development and Aid Effectiveness.
8. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director and/or Chief, Executive Office.
Competencies
Professionalism: Ability to coordinate the development of policy options, undertake background research, and draft analytical papers and documents on cross-cutting issues related to UNEP. Ability to develop systematic links with outside academic institutions, research centers, think tanks and foreign policy forums. Ability to organize meetings and forums on topical, substantive cross-cutting issues. Ability to act as a UN system focal point on thematic policy matters of relevance to UNEP. Ability to develop partnerships and work collaboratively with other parts of the UN system and external partners.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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning & 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.
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.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’ and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors on-going developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.
Education
Advanced university degree in environment and development related field and international relations (natural resources management, environment/development economics, international relations) with knowledge of environmental, socio-economic and governance aspects of sustainable development. A first university degree with a combination of two years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.Work Experience
Minimum 7 years progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable development and/or environmental management and international relations or related areas at least 3 of which are at the international level including relevant environment/development working experience in the UN context.Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position will include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.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.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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