Environmental Governance Specialist

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 operates through its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), which helps implement UNEP's global programs by initiating, coordinating, and catalyzing regional and sub-regional cooperation in response to environmental problems and emergencies. UNEP was established in 1972 and has a presence in multiple countries, working with various stakeholders to address environmental challenges.

Job Overview:
The Environmental Governance Specialist position is crucial for supporting UNEP's engagement with the UN system at regional and country levels. The role involves integrating environmental sustainability into country policies and UN Reform processes, as well as strategic planning, reporting, and monitoring of development activities. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director and will be responsible for facilitating effective collaboration among UN entities, ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded in development frameworks, and supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This position requires a proactive approach to engage with various stakeholders and to promote environmental governance across the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in effective UN Environment engagement with the UN system on the development and implementation of UN Cooperation Frameworks and regional strategies. This includes serving as the UNEP technical focal point, coordinating UNEP inputs for national UN Cooperation Framework discussions, and representing UNEP in various forums.
• Advise on integrating environmental sustainability into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and UN Reform, supporting operationalization efforts and managing global and regional projects.
• Support strategic planning, monitoring, and reporting at the Regional Office, including data collection and analysis, programming processes, and resource mobilization.
• Contribute to the development of technical papers and reports, ensuring that gender perspectives are incorporated into all aspects of work.
• Facilitate collaboration among UNEP Sub-programmes and ensure compliance with UN rules and regulations in project management.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of environmental and sustainable development issues, particularly in mainstreaming environmental sustainability in country analysis and sustainable development frameworks. Familiarity with UN programming processes, results-based management, and human rights and gender approaches is essential. The ability to identify emerging issues on political agendas and develop strategies to achieve objectives is also required. Strong research and analytical skills are necessary to support decision-making processes and convey information effectively to management.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environment, development, or a related area is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. Successful completion of degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is desirable, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in environmental governance, development work, or capacity building is required. Within this timeframe, at least three years of experience at the international level is necessary. Experience in formulating and implementing projects at the country level is desirable, as is experience working with UN Country Teams and interagency partnerships in developing countries. Additionally, a minimum of two years of experience in data analytics or a related area is preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another UN official language is considered desirable. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking, understanding), while knowledge is rated as 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of extension. Applicants from underrepresented or unrepresented Member States in the UN Secretariat are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff, and female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. The recruitment process does not involve any fees, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request.