Job: SENIOR PROGRAMME OFFICER, Chemicals (Project Post), P5

Department/ Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: NAIROBI

Posting Period: 11 September 2013-11 October 2013

Job Opening number: 13-PGM-UNEP-29113-R-NAIROBI (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. The overall objective of the UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. Under the supervision of the Head, Chemicals Branch, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

Responsibilities

Portfolio management, project design, and development:

• Take lead to design, develop, and implement the UNEP Chemicals Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio; direct staff in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; direct review of documents and reports; identify priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow-up actions. Coordinate and advise internal and external partners to identify relevant and eligible project concepts;
• Coordinate and consult with UNEP Chemicals and Wastes Sub-programme Coordinator on design and implementation of the portfolio, UNEP Divisions and regional offices and GEF Coordination office;
• Create and develop project proposals and advise on concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer; direct, present and defend concepts and proposals at the UNEP Project Review Committee (PRC);
• Supervise preparation of written outputs, background papers, analysis, substantive reports and studies;
• Direct substantive support to project steering committees consultative and other meetings and conferences;
• Act as Focal point of the GEF Secretariat for UNEP on chemicals and wastes. Coordinate with GEF for Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel reviews and ensure that UNEP PRC recommendations are considered in project development by the executing agency;

Supervision of project implementation, UNEP and GEF corporate tasks :

• Take the lead to prepare and manage project supervision plans for all projects under his/her portfolio for their entire duration and periodically update them;
• Provide oversight to project execution and ensure UNEP and GEF criteria, rules and regulations are adhered to by project partners;
• Coordinate and participate in the project steering committee meetings and ensure the Steering Committee fulfills its functions;
• Monitor project progress and performance and rates progress towards meeting project objectives, project execution, quality of project monitoring and evaluation;
• Supervise reporting by project executing partners and provide feedback on the contents of the report in accordance with GEF and UNEP requirements;
• Review project outputs, provide technical input and ensure quality standards are met;
• Manage any mandatory project(s) mid-term and final review in accordance with UNEP guidance and prepares a management response with a plan for implementation of recommendations, is responsible for terminal evaluation and financial closure.

UNEP knowledge management and data management:

• Guides and directs knowledge management of the UNEP GEF Chemicals Portfolio.
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of project data in the project information system for all projects under his/her supervision;
• Supervises project data reconciliation exercises within UNEP and with the GEF Secretariat;
• Identifies media and other outreach opportunities and materials and contributes project information and written materials to be used by the communications and outreach Programme Officer.

Staff supervision and mentoring:

• Ensure effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guide, evaluate and mentor staff;
• Supervise and brief new staff on UNEP and GEF policies, strategies and procedures;
• Coordinate the work plan of all supervised staff; provide on-going feedback on performance to the staff under his/her supervision;
• Manage the performance management system for staff under his/her supervision;
• Contribute to the career development and capacity development of staff members under his/her supervision.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks.
• Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction.
• Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals.
• Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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.

Leadership:

• Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results;
• is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives;
• establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support;
• 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.

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.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see things from clients' point of view;
• establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree, (masters or equivalent) in the field of chemical engineering, management; environmental resource management;
• or related fields with specialization in issues related to the protection and management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• 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 ten years of progressively responsible experience including a background in a field related to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), of which six should be at the international level.
• Experience with the UN or other international organizations and of UN Rules and Regulation is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience of working in international and/or multi-cultural context desired.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
• For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.

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

This is a project post. Initial appointment against the post is for a period of one year and may be extended subject to availability of funds.

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.

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