Regional Program Officer - NDC Partnership

Job Posting Organization:
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office, based in Vienna with a global presence. Established to manage a portfolio exceeding 500 million USD over the last 15 years, WEC focuses on climate action and environmental conservation. It collaborates with partners to operationalize their agendas and supports key multilateral environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The NDC Partnership, a global coalition of countries and institutions, aims to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development, facilitating the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) across nearly 200 countries.

Job Overview:
The Regional Program Officer will support the Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean in various aspects of regional engagement. This includes partnership building, responding to regional information requests, and monitoring and reporting on regional activities. The role requires the application of knowledge tools and communication strategies to drive the implementation of NDCs in member countries. The incumbent will work closely with the Support Unit and is expected to be located in or near the Washington D.C. time zone, despite the home-based nature of the position. The contract modality will depend on the nationality of the selected candidate.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will assist in developing the regional Annual Work Plan (AWP), track implementation activities, and report back to the Support Unit’s Management Team. Responsibilities include overseeing country-related work, organizing coordination meetings, preparing responses to requests from various workstreams, conducting multi-country analyses, and ensuring timely onboarding of new team members. The role also involves regular follow-ups on country progress reports, drafting briefing notes, tracking progress trends, conducting research, and managing regional knowledge documentation. The officer will lead the organization of regional events and contribute to continuous learning within the RPO community.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least 2 years of experience in international cooperation or project management related to developing countries in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. Skills in managing large databases and spreadsheets are essential, along with excellent writing and communication abilities. Knowledge of climate change topics and UNFCCC issues is required, while familiarity with international climate policy and the development sector is considered an asset. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to conduct financial and budget analysis.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international relations, international development, climate, environmental management, economics, finance, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience (totaling 4 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, with additional years considered based on academic credentials. Experience in the development sector and environmental issues within the Latin America and Caribbean regions is necessary, along with demonstrated skills in communication and analysis.

Languages:
Fluency in both Spanish and English is mandatory. Knowledge of other UN languages is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for this position.

Additional Notes:
The contract type is ICA, with a level of LICA 09 / IICA 0

• The contract duration is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, valuing diverse perspectives and experiences. Candidates are encouraged to inform the HR team if they require assistance during the assessment process. UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than advertised and requires completion of mandatory courses for retainer contracts.