United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Senior Adviser, Nairobi, Kenya

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Job Description

Posting Title: SENIOR Adviser, P5 Job Code Title: SENIOR Coordination OFFICER Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme Duty Station: NAIROBI Posting Period: 02 May 2019 - 15 June 2019 Job Opening Number: 19-Programme Management-UNEP-115587-R-Nairobi (X) United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity Organisational Setting and Reporting The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. This post is located in UN Environment, Executive Office, at the Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Director" id="link" class="link">Executive Director, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Responsibilities 1. Organizational and strategic reform:
  • Promoting support for the management strategy, philosophy and directives.
  • Supporting the coordination of reform processes initiated by the Executive Director, in particular in areas related to programme coordination, analytical production, Results-based Management and Resource Planning and gender.
  • Supporting the coordination of teams established by and under the direction of the Executive Director to address other strategic issues.
  • Providing strategic, political and policy advice to the Executive Director on a wide range of issues related to the functions and responsibilities of UNEP.
  • Establishing collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
  • Liaising with external partners and governments as required to exchange information, co-ordinate and seek support for the activities of the Executive Director.
2. Strengthening of policy and programme:
  • Monitoring, identifying and bringing to the attention of the Executive Director emerging policy issues of relevance to the mandate of UNEP in particular and the UN in general; keeping abreast of deliberations of inter-governmental bodies.
  • Maintaining an active overview of the work of all the Divisions, Offices and Secretariats to ensure effective and coordinated support to the Executive Director.
  • In cooperation with the relevant Divisions and Offices, leads the identification of emerging environmental policy issues, undertakes preliminary research, identify and promotes the need for further research and provides briefings to the Executive Director upon request.
3. Support to Senior Management Team:
  • Participating as an ex-officio member to the UNEP Senior Management Team (SMT).
  • Providing Secretariat functions to the SMT by identifying priorities, problems and issues to be addressed; preparing the agenda of the meetings, retreats, supervising the preparation of relevant documentation.
  • Initiating follow-up activities of SMT and their implementation through teamwork and communication at the Directors level.
4. Performing other related duties as required.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers and inspires others to translate vision into results; identifies proactively strategic issues, opportunities and risks; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support for organizational direction; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in in environment science, management, social sciences, economics or a related field. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in project or programme management, environment related field or other related area with at least three years at the international level is required. Experience in advising senior officials is required. Experience within the international environment governance system is required. Functional knowledge of the UN System is highly desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral or geographical move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

Internal Applicants - when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.

If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of International Human Rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme Kenya Nairobi, Kenya
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