Job: Programme Officer

Location: Panama City
Deadline: Tuesday, 29 October 2013 

Description

Job Title: PROGRAMME OFFICER (Chemicals and Wastes) - ROLAC, P4

Department/ Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: PANAMA CITY

Posting Period: 30 August 2013-29 October 2013

Job Opening number: 13-PGM-UNEP-27461-R-PANAMA CITY (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 Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC) identifies synergies and promotes the substantive collaboration among Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). DELC also encourages inter linkages between UNEP's programme and those of MEAs.

This post is located in UNEP/DELC at the Panama duty station, and is part of a team of outposted regional MEA Focal Points supporting the implementation of the biodiversity and ecosystems and the chemicals and waste clusters of multilateral environmental agreements, as well as the implementation of UNEP's Programme of Work.

Under the strategic guidance of the Director, DELC, operational supervision of Chief, MEAs Implementations Branch, DELC and of the Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), and the direct supervision of the Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), the Programme Officer will:

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of UNEP's programme of work for chemicals and wastes and act as regional focal point for UNEP's Harmful Substances and Hazardous Waste Subprogramme : Identify and integrate national and regional priorities in UNEP's HSHW Subprogramme;
• Enhance cross-sectoral cooperation for integrated management of chemicals and of waste;
• Develop and support capacity-building; Assist in data collection and information gathering;
• Facilitate scientific assessment and knowledge networking;
• Facilitate the internalization of externalities through exchanges of commitments on various environmental issues; Identify emerging priorities, challenges and opportunities for UNEP's interventions in national and regional programmes and processes including on issues of conservation and development;
• Provide policy advice and guidance on options to mainstream chemicals and waste in the implementation of UNEP's Programme of Work, promoting synergies among the different subprogrammes.
• Act as the regional focal point for chemicals and waste MEAs:
• Facilitate a coordinated implementation of UNEP's and the Chemicals and Waste MEA's programmes and facilitate the implementation of MEAs (COP and MOP decisions) in regions in tune with national and regional priorities;
• Serve as the UNEP focal point for the capacity building programme for implementation of MEAs in Latin America and the Caribbean countries;
• In collaboration with the Chemicals and Waste MEA secretariats, assist national MEA focal points on the issues to be discussed at forthcoming Conferences of the Parties;
• In consultation with MEAs, support implementation of national and regional activities such as MEA related workshops, training programmes and capacity building activities in preparation for various MEA events and processes.;
• Support the mainstreaming of Chemicals and Waste MEAs implementation into national development processes;
• Assist regional institutions and national governments, including relevant stakeholders:
• Support IEG processes related to the chemicals and waste agenda at national and regional levels;
• Provide a forum for direct participation in problem identification and policy analysis;
• Assist technology transfer and promote the adoption of best options suited to national conditions and encouraging innovative local solutions;
• Support resources mobilization to support UNEP's activities in the region;
• Facilitate coordination with institutions with primary implementation responsibility: national governments, UN Agencies, business, civil society organisations and providing a database of best practices;
• Assist with cooperation agreements between the Chemicals and Waste MEA Conventions for supporting coordination at national and regional levels;
• Develop and maintain a network for collaboration and partnerships within UNEP, UN organizations, governments and expert institutions and promoting the mobilization of resources for programme activities.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Good knowledge of the key subject areas of this post.;
• Affinity with the United Nations and its policies, procedures and operations;
• Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, synthesize and generate quality products;
• General understanding of environmental issues;
• Proven ability to develop and manage projects;
• Proven ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues;
• Ability to review and edit the work of others;
• Ability to advice on problems with proven capacity to lead to fact-based and practical recommendations and creative solutions.

Communication:

• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written;
• Ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of intergovernmental bodies;
• Proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally;
• Ability to prepare reports that are clear, concise and meaningful.

Teamwork:

• Good inter-personal skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of diverse national and cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to lead and gain assistance of others in a team endeavor.

Education

• An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, social sciences, environmental management, environmental law or in a related field.
• A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of working experience in environmental project/programme development, project administration, implementation and management, of which some should be at the international level, preferably within the UN system. Familiarity with regional issues, and experience in Chemicals and Wastes-related law and conventions, is strongly preferred.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised post, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment which will 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.

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

2. 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 send an email to recruitment@unon.org, quoting the job opening number in the subject header of your email

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.

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