PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the UN system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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 Policy and Programme Division (PPD) is a center of excellence for strategic guidance and programmatic policy for UNEP. PPD enables UNEP’s strategic and programmatic direction, ensuring organization-wide coherence and effectiveness in implementation and continuous improvement. This post is located in the Gender and Safeguards Unit (GSU), Policy and Programme Division, in UNEP at the Nairobi duty station. The GSU is mandated with the development and implementation of the UNEP Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF), which is designed to strengthen the organizational commitment to mainstream environmental and social safeguards with a strong focus on gender, in its policies, programmes and projects. Under the direct supervision of Head of the Gender and Safeguards Unit, the incumbent will perform the following duties: ResponsibilitiesSafeguard Advisory • Supports implementation of UNEP’s Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF) and related initiatives. This includes the establishment, testing, implementation and refinement of the ESSF and related operational tools and systems, including the Safeguard Risk Identification Form (SRIF). • Ensures that UNEP is fully compliant with the identification and management of the relevant environmental and social dimensions of the projects, including poverty eradication, and in line with Leave No One Behind UN principles. • Oversees UNEP’s identification, assessment, management, monitoring and oversight of environmental, social and economic risks and impacts of its projects. • Coordinates the UNEP Safeguards Advisory Working Group, to strategically mainstream and enhance operational procedures, while building capacity to ensure compliance with safeguard policies. • Oversees project screening for environmental and social safeguards (including maintenance of a systems contract), with emphasis on poverty eradication and disability inclusion. Identifies potential safeguards risks, provides advice to project managers on appropriate actions, and the list of external consultants on impact assessment to the project managers. This includes supporting the advisory services function of the Advisory Working Group to provide high quality and timely review and clearance of the safeguards aspects of UNEP’s projects and ensuring that the projects comply with applicable safeguards policies and procedures. • Coordinate the implementation of UNEP Poverty and Inequality Guidance and associated workplan in conjunction with other units in PPD and other UNEP Divisions and Offices. Programme and Project guidance and standard setting • Supports development and delivery of high quality capacity-building initiatives for UNEP staff and implementing to enhance their understanding and skills in identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting on safeguard requirements for project management, in line with Leave No One Behind UN principle; This includes dealing with preventing potential compliance or grievance cases. • Carries out reviews of projects submitted to the UNEP Project Review Committee for compliancy with the Safeguard Risk Identification Form (SRIF). Supports the oversight of safeguards implementation at the programme level, together with Subprogramme Coordinators, GEF and GCF coordinators working closely with the Corporate Services Division to periodically report on the overall and aggregated status of ESSF implementation. Administration of Safeguards • Supports coordination of activities of the Interagency Working Group in their efforts for safeguards mainstreaming in the UN system. Including support for engagement in the UN system-wide collective thinking process on the way forward and promotion of UNEP’s role in environmental sustainability. • Researches, analyzes and presents information on safeguards issues, including on disability inclusion and poverty eradication, gathered from diverse reliable sources. • Where requested, represents UNEP in other professional, multi-donor and international fora relating to safeguards and standards, providing leadership in these areas. • Undertakes administrative and management tasks, as and when assigned. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Performs other duties as required. CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in an environment and/or development context. Ability to provide authoritative technical advice and negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in risk screening, reviewing and oversights; provision of technical and methodological guidance to senior management, project managers, implementing/executing partners and others in the technical area of specialization; Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; 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. 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. JUDGEMENT/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 or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environment, law, or development field, international relations, environmental policy/science, safeguards, economics, social affairs, impact assessment, or related disciplines, is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in environmental social safeguard systems are required. Five (5) years of relevant international experience are required. Work experience establishing and strategizing safeguard policies, relevant tools and systems, managing and delivering complex safeguard risk issues is required. Experience in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in an environment and/or development context is required. Work experience in the field is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable. NOTE: ''Fluency'' equals a rating of ''fluent'' in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ''Knowledge of'' equals a rating of ''confident'' in two of the four areas. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeAppointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension. External candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (\"FTA-limited\") in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of \"internal candidate\" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position subject to limitation will retain their current appointment status and will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. 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. 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. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. The requirement is not applicable when a person considered for appointment is serving or has previously served as affiliated personnel (for example as a consultant, individual contractor, intern or gratis personnel) with a specialized agency or an Office, Fund or Programme such as UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP or UNOPS which is separately administered and funded from voluntary contributions. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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 \"Contact Us\" link. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. 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