Associate Environmental Affairs Officer

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Position Title: Associate Environmental Affairs Officer
Location: Incheon
Country: South Korea
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations 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 Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP supports its member states through policy-oriented research, normative support, technical assistance, and capacity building to address development priorities and changing needs. The ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (SOENEA) collaborates with countries including China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea, as well as with Hong Kong and Macao, China, and the Russian Federation on technical cooperation matters. SOENEA also serves as the Secretariat for the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC).

Job Overview:
The Associate Environmental Affairs Officer position is located within the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (SOENEA). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Office and will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating assigned programs/projects that address subregional environmental challenges, particularly through NEASPEC. The role involves monitoring and analyzing program/project development, conducting analytical research on national policies related to environmental cooperation, providing support for policy coordination and evaluation, and assisting in consulting assignments. The incumbent will also participate in survey initiatives, contribute to various written outputs, provide administrative support for meetings and conferences, and engage in outreach activities. This position requires a proactive approach to identifying problems and recommending solutions, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders including governments, civil society, and the private sector.

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

• Collaborating with national counterparts in member states for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs/projects addressing environmental challenges.
• Monitoring and analyzing aspects of program/project development and implementation, reviewing documents, identifying issues, and recommending corrective actions.
• Conducting analytical research on national policies and programs related to environmental cooperation, including data collection and analysis.
• Providing substantive 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, designing data collection tools, and analyzing responses.
• Contributing to the preparation of written outputs such as background papers and reports.
• Providing administrative and substantive support for meetings and conferences, including logistics and documentation.
• Engaging in outreach activities and developing training workshops. 1
• Participating in field missions and coordinating budget-related activities. 1
• Performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Associate Environmental Affairs Officer position include:

• 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 relevant first-level university degree in the above fields combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in environmental policies, management, or related areas is required.
• Experience in sustainable development at national or international levels is essential.
• Desirable experience includes working within the United Nations Common System or International Organizations, project management in areas related to NEASPEC, and collaboration with government offices.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess 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, along with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in environmental policies, environmental management, or a related area. Experience in sustainable development at either the national or international level is mandatory. Additionally, experience within the United Nations Common System or International Organizations is desirable, as is experience in project management related to NEASPEC's focus areas such as air pollution, nature conservation, marine protected areas, low carbon cities, and desertification and land degradation. Experience working with national or local government offices is also preferred, along with familiarity with one of the areas of UN 2.0, including strategic foresight, behavioral sciences, digitalization, innovation, or data.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another UN official language, particularly Chinese or Russian, is considered an advantage.

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 availability of funds. ESCAP is committed to promoting diversity and gender equality within the Secretariat, and women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity in its recruitment processes, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request to support participation in the recruitment process.