Job: Associate Programme Officer

Location: Paris
Deadline: Sunday, 27 October 2013 

Description

Job Title

ASSOCIATE PROGRAMME OFFICER, P2

Department/ Office

United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station

PARIS

Posting Period

28 August 2013-27 October 2013

Job Opening number

13-PGM-UNEP-28319-R-PARIS (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) works with national and local governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of conventions and international agreements.

This post is located in the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics of the United Nations Environment Programme, based in Paris, France. Under the supervision of the Head of the Integrated Resource Management Unit, and the overall coordination of the Chief of the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Branch, the Associate Programme Officer will work for the Secretariat of the International Resource Panel (IRP), performing the following duties:

Responsibilities

Providing substantiveservices to the IRP to ensure the policy and priority of UNEP with regard to environmental sustainability and sustainable development be addressed by scientific assessment reports and reflected in policy papers and communication/outreach materials:

• Improving the policy relevance of IRP assessment work;
• Reviewing study proposal and the Terms of Reference for relevant Work Groups, outline and drafts of assessment report;
• Providing input and suggestion on:

1) the strategy, direction and plan of the IRP;

2) the outline and draft of assessment reports; and

3) communication and outreach materials for a broad dissemination of the results of IRP assessments;

• Working on scientific and language editing and publication and organizing launch and outreach events once assessment reports are ready for publication;
• Facilitating the interaction between Panel members, Steering Committee representatives, donor agencies and other stakeholders.

Assisting the Head, the Secretariat for efficient and productive operation of the IRP:

• Contributing to the preparation of the work plan of the IRP Secretariat;
• Organising the biannual meetings of the IRP;
• Searching for and recommending candidates as member of the IRP and working on the membership management;
• Facilitating the process of operational matters.

Enhancing effective communication and wide dissemination of IRP achievements and results:

• Preparing, based on the results and achievements of IRP assessments, issue papers, policy analysis and scientific/educational materials on sustainable resource management;
• Enhancing and raising the awareness about the IRP and sustainable management of natural resources;
• Drafting background notes and speeches for the senior management.

Liaise with other Units, Branches and Divisions within UNEP to ensure close coordination and synergy with relevant initiatives of resource efficiency and contribution to the corporate objectives of UNEP;

• Monitoring the launching and implementation of actions and projects concerning sustainable production, use and recycling of natural resources by UN agencies and other international and regional organizations, IFIs as well as other stakeholders in order to seek greater cooperation and synergy;
• Cooperating and coordinating with international and regional organizations.
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned.

Competencies

Planning and organizing:

• Ability to identify priority activities and assignments, allocation of appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Experience in administrative work is required (preparing briefing notes, meeting reports and managing budgets).

Communication:

• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken as well as ability to draft or edit a variety of written reports in English (French and other official UN languages desirable).
• Ability to ask questions to clarify, exhibiting interest in having two-way communication;
• demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with UNEP colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• proactively develops partnerships; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise;
• is willing to learn from others, and able to work in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment, working with transparency and building trust and confidence with colleagues and staff members.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental management and policy, political sciences and/or a related field or a first degree in one of these areas combined with relevant professional experience and other formal qualifications.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in environmental management and policy, political sciences and/or related area is required.

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.
• Working knowledge of French is desirable.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Assessment Method

• Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

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.

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. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira 'Need Help?' link.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

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.

More Info and Application