Senior programme officer for early warning

Background

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 Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) provides timely, scientifically-credible, policy-relevant environmental analyses, data and information for decision-making and action planning for sustainable development. It monitors, analyzes and reports on the state of the global environment, assesses global and regional environmental trends and provides early warning of emerging environmental problems and threats. The main aim of UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Geneva’s Global Change and Vulnerability Unit, of which the incumbent is to serve as the head, is to provide early warning of emerging environmental problems and threats, particularly those seen as medium-term and “slow-onset”, and being of a multi-regional and/or trans-boundary nature, while also identifying links between ecosystems decline, climate change and disaster risk.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the head of Global Change and Vulnerability Unit (GCVU) will be responsible for the following duties:

- Lead the Global Change and Vulnerability Unit, and develop and manage its activities plan in line with UNEP’s programme of work, and ensure that related contracts and projects are run smoothly and efficiently, all under the supervision of the DEWA-Europe Regional Coordinator, Head of DEWA’s Early Warning Branch and DEWA Director.
- Provide scientific guidance and development of research methodologies in environmental science regarding ecosystems-based climate adaptation, vulnerability and decline, along with ecosystems services, climate change and disasters-related issues.
- Supervise research into emerging environmental issues and the preparation of (monthly) early warning bulletins and in-depth reports for UNEP’s Global Environment Alert System (GEAS).
- Participate in identification of emerging environmental issues, in particular through the UNEP-led “Foresight Process” and in coordination with UNEP’s Chief Scientist.
- Contribute to the dissemination of information regarding environmental issues through publications, participation in relevant workshops, meetings and other activities.
- Maintain a network of partners with other UN agency and international organizations in the same realm of global change and vulnerability, emerging environmental issues and disaster risk reduction (DRR), and establishing collaboration with partners on selected projects.
- Manage the programme budget of activities and projects run by the GCVU.
- Ensure that the budget of the GCVU is sufficient to cover all costs related to ongoing projects.
- Provide leadership, scientific advice, coordination, motivation and supervision for a team of interdisciplinary scientific researchers in the Unit through daily contact, regular group meetings and occasional individual meetings.
- Ensure that the tasks are distributed to relevant staff and that their work is optimized in terms of both performance and well-being of the staff, including career aims.
- Lead research on issues related to climate change, improved ecosystems management and DRR at the local level, along with research to highlight the role of ecosystems for DRR.
- Organize trainings to transfer the methodology and supervise the development of new projects in other countries and on other ecosystems.
- Provide appropriate support for development of the UNEP-Live platform, including links to the Global Risk Data Platform, and see to the GRDP’s maintenance and further development.
- Fund raising for the above-mentioned activities and other relevant projects from UNEP’s programme of work.

Capacities and skills

Incumbent should have the ability to:

- design and implement a work plan and provide estimation of resources needed;
- provide innovative thinking on programme, project and other issues;
- to present methodology and results in different fora, workshops and conferences related to the above issues.
- management and implementation of complex geographical information systems (GIS);
- demonstrated capacity for continuous learning;
- attuned to user needs and problem solving;
- ability to advise senior management on relevant matters;
- capacity to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical scientific and operational issues and propose appropriate or alternative solutions;
- in-depth knowledge of geographical information systems;
- adaptability to changes in priorities;
- demonstrated skills in complex project management.
- good communication skills, the ability to explain complex issues in clear and concise terms to different audiences, ranging from UNEP management to government civil servants to external non-specialists.

The selected candidate will be responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Required Selection Criteria

Competencies

- Excellent knowledge of emerging (and other, broader) environmental issues;
- broad knowledge of DRR and certain aspects of disaster risk identification, and development-related issues.

Communication

- Speaks and writes clearly and effectively in both English (and French as well);
- listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
- asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
- tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- Excellent presentation skills and adept at communicating complex scientific and technical issues into working language for non-technical staff and senior management.

Technological Awareness

- Broad knowledge of all aspects of management and implementation of complex analysis (including state-of-the-art internet, GIS, remote sensing and statistical analysis), demonstrated expertise in data sets related to ecosystems and to disaster risk (hazards, exposure and vulnerability).

Leadership

- ability to manage staff including with respect for cultural diversity,
- interdisciplinarity and gender; empowers others to translate vision into results;
- is pro-active 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; able to question the status quo; shows courage to take unpopular stands.

Gender issues

- 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.

Judgment/Decision-Making

- Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision;
- considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them;
- takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization;
- proposes a course of action and makes a recommendation based on all available information;
- checks assumptions against facts;
- determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision;
- makes tough decisions when necessary.

Qualifications

Education

- Advanced university degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences,
- Geography, earth sciences, geology, meteorology or related area.
- A first-level university degree with a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience in the field of Environment may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in developing and implementing complex research projects in a multi-national or global organization.
- At least five years of managerial experience supervising junior and mid-level technical staff is required.
- Practical experience in using GIS, remote sensing and statistical software, and implementation of scientific projects, is also necessary.

Languages

- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in both oral and written English and French is required.
- Knowledge of other official UN languages is an advantage.

Other Skills

- Excellent knowledge of environmental issues. Contacts with and/or good knowledge of the DRR community and related institutions is desirable, along with a demonstrated ability to prepare proposals for funding and linkages to bi- and multi-lateral donors in Europe and Switzerland.
- Familiarity with United Nations administrative and financial procedures is an advantage.