Air Quality and Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership that includes governments, intergovernmental organizations, private sector representatives, and members of civil society. Established to address the urgent need for integrated climate and clean air solutions, the CCAC focuses on reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, black carbon, HFCs, and tropospheric ozone. The CCAC is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Economy Division in Paris. The coalition has been instrumental in promoting international cooperation and action on air quality and climate change, with a particular emphasis on fast action to mitigate the impacts of SLCPs. Mexico has been a leading partner in this initiative, demonstrating commitment to ambitious targets for reducing super pollutants and integrating these goals into national legislation and strategies.

Job Overview:
The Air Quality and Health Specialist for the Super Pollutants Accelerator in Mexico will play a crucial role in enhancing the government's capacity to provide scientific expertise on the interconnections between short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), ambient and household air pollution, and human health. This position is vital for ensuring that effective mitigation strategies are designed, implemented, and evaluated to achieve measurable improvements in air quality and public health. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including government agencies, to develop and implement evidence-based policies and strategies that address the health impacts of air pollution. The role involves conducting health impact assessments, developing technical guidance documents, and providing training to government teams to enhance their ability to quantify health outcomes and track improvements. The specialist will also be responsible for consolidating knowledge products that inform national and international reporting on air quality and health co-benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Air Quality and Health Specialist include:

• Strengthening the scientific foundation for integrating health and air quality evidence into SLCP mitigation policies, including conducting exposure–health impact assessments and producing health-integrated mitigation briefings.
• Providing government teams with tools, methods, and datasets to quantify health outcomes, including developing health impact assessment toolkits and standardized datasets for government analysis.
• Delivering sector-specific technical guidance documents to maximize public health benefits, including identifying health-prioritized mitigation portfolios and providing rapid-response advisory notes for ministries.
• Preparing consolidated knowledge products for national and international reporting, including health-integrated datasets and annual reports summarizing SLCP trends and public health outcomes.
• Engaging with stakeholders to ensure effective communication of complex scientific evidence and facilitating capacity-building efforts across various sectors.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental health, epidemiology, public health, atmospheric science, or a closely related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates must have a minimum of 5–7 years of experience analyzing air pollutants and super pollutant emissions, particularly in Latin America or middle-income countries. Expertise in air pollution science and SLCPs is essential, along with a strong background in environmental health and exposure assessment. Candidates should demonstrate experience with health impact assessment methodologies and possess excellent communication skills to translate complex scientific information for non-specialists. Proven experience in preparing technical reports and engaging with stakeholders in the environmental or climate sector is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant field such as environmental health, epidemiology, public health, or atmospheric science. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complex interrelationships between air quality, health, and climate change.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5–7 years of relevant experience in analyzing air pollutants and super pollutant emissions, with a focus on their health impacts. Experience in Latin America or middle-income countries is preferred. Candidates should have a strong understanding of air pollution science, including the sources and behavior of pollutants, and experience with health impact assessment methodologies. Proven experience working with government or international development partners in the environmental or climate sector is also desired.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish (both written and oral) is required for this position, as it is essential for effective communication with local stakeholders and government agencies. Fluency in English (both written and oral) is highly desired, as it facilitates engagement with international partners and access to global resources and knowledge.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last for 12 months, and while specific details regarding contract duration and compensation are not provided, it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The organization emphasizes its commitment to transparency and ethical recruitment practices.