Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. UNEP serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment and aims to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action in support of the transition towards climate stability. The organization is committed to addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, providing data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology, and building resilience. UNEP operates in multiple countries and has a diverse workforce dedicated to promoting sustainable development and effective policies for climate stability.

Job Overview:
The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for leading the project 'Toward Risk-Aware and Climate-resilienT communities (TRACT) - Strengthening climate services and impact-based multi-hazard early warning in Maldives'. This role involves providing embedded technical support, capacity building, and knowledge transfer to national entities such as the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) and Disaster Management Authority. The CTA will ensure high technical quality and timely achievement of project targets related to Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (CIEWS). The position requires strategic oversight of project management, compliance with reporting requirements, and fostering collaboration with other UN agencies and organizations to facilitate synergy and share lessons learned. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that project activities align with gender policies and Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) measures, while building the capacity of junior staff and national counterparts in project management and risk mitigation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as Chief Technical Advisor for the TRACT project, ensuring high technical quality and timely achievement of project objectives.
• Lead and provide technical support to national entities and partners involved in CIEWS.
• Oversee project management, compliance with reporting requirements, and project closure.
• Identify technical issues and opportunities related to climate information services and develop innovative approaches to address them.
• Provide strategic technical guidance for project implementation in alignment with government policies and relevant guidelines.
• Ensure coherence and quality control across country-level CIEWS activities.
• Coordinate project work with other UN agencies and relevant organizations.
• Ensure project activities comply with gender policies and ESS measures.
• Initiate and coordinate outreach activities, including meetings and conferences. 1
• Lead field missions and provide guidance to external consultants and government officials. 1
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends and provide insights for decision-making. 1
• Perform other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment, climate change, meteorology, climatology, or a related field is required.
• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is desirable.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project management related to climate information and/or early warning systems is required.
• Previous experience working with government entities responsible for meteorology and disaster management is required.
• Demonstrated technical experience in strengthening climate information services and disaster risk reduction approaches is required.
• Experience in implementing CIEWS in Asia and the Pacific or Small Island Developing States is desirable.
• Two years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field such as environment, climate change, meteorology, or climatology. Alternatively, a first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted. Additional qualifications in data analytics or related fields are considered advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project management related to climate information and/or early warning systems. Candidates should have previous experience working with government entities and stakeholders in implementing CIEWS activities at the country level. Experience in developing and implementing projects according to the requirements of Global Funds or similar funding mechanisms is also necessary. Technical experience in strengthening climate information services and disaster risk reduction approaches is essential, with a preference for candidates who have experience in the Asia-Pacific region or Small Island Developing States.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, but proficiency in French is not mandatory for this role. Candidates should refer to the UN Language Framework for details on language proficiency levels.

Additional Notes:
This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on the continued existence of the mandate and availability of funding. The selected external candidate will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited in accordance with administrative instructions. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All applicants are urged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the stated deadline. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.