Environmental Policy Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat, established to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP supports its member states through policy-oriented research, analysis, and capacity-building assistance to address development priorities and changing needs. The organization operates in multiple countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, China, Macao China, and the Russian Federation. The ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (SOENEA) specifically focuses on environmental cooperation and sustainable development initiatives in these areas, including the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC).

Job Overview:
The Environmental Policy Officer position is located within the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (SOENEA) and reports directly to the Head of Office. The incumbent will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and projects that address subregional environmental challenges. This includes working closely with national counterparts in member states and engaging with various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector. The role requires analytical research on national policies related to environmental cooperation, providing substantive support for policy coordination, and assisting in the evaluation of emerging issues in environmental affairs. The officer will also participate in field missions, contribute to written outputs, and coordinate activities related to budget funding and project preparation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Environmental Policy Officer include:

• Collaborating with national counterparts for the development and implementation of programs addressing environmental challenges.
• Monitoring and analyzing program/project development, identifying issues, and recommending corrective actions.
• Conducting analytical research on national policies related to environmental cooperation.
• Providing support for policy coordination and evaluation, including reviewing emerging issues in environmental affairs.
• Assisting in consulting assignments by planning and facilitating workshops and developing action plans.
• Participating in survey initiatives and assisting with the design of data collection tools.
• Contributing to the preparation of various written outputs, including reports and publications.
• Providing administrative and substantive support to meetings and conferences related to environmental cooperation.
• Undertaking outreach activities and participating in training workshops and seminars. 1
• Participating in field missions, providing support for data collection and analysis. 1
• Coordinating activities related to budget funding and preparing related documents and reports. 1
• Performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment-related studies, such as natural science, natural resource management, environmental policy, or environmental economics. A first-level university degree in these fields combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates should possess a strong understanding of sustainable development policies and transboundary environmental issues, along with the ability to formulate opinions and recommendations based on analytical findings. Professionalism, planning and organizing skills, and teamwork capabilities are essential for success in this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment-related studies, including but not limited to natural science, natural resource management, environmental policy, or environmental economics. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in these fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of experience in environmental policies, environmental management, or a related area is required. Candidates should have experience in project management related to the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation and experience in environmental affairs at either the national or international level. Experience within the United Nations Common System or similar international organizations is desirable, as is experience in areas related to UN 2.0, such as Strategic Foresight, Behavioral Sciences, Digitalization, Innovation, or Data. Additionally, experience working with national or local government offices in East and North-East Asia is preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of one of the languages of the NEASPEC countries—such as Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Korean, Japanese, or Mongolian—is desirable. The UN Language Framework specifies the required proficiency levels for these languages, with English requiring a minimum of UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Additional Notes:
This position is funded from extra budgetary resources, with an initial appointment for a period of one year. The extension of the appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. ESCAP is committed to promoting diversity and gender equality within the Secretariat, encouraging women candidates to apply. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of recruiting staff based on qualifications and organizational needs, ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request. Candidates under serious consideration will undergo reference checks to verify the information provided in their applications.