Deputy Director

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This position is located in UNEP/Ecosystems Division, at the Nairobi duty station. Under the overall supervision of the Director, the incumbent will:

Responsibilities

1. Develop and recommend strategies and policies concerning the implementation of the Ecosystems' Division programme of work.

a. Coordinate and develop the preparation of the Ecosystems Division biennium programme of work, and budget, liaising with heads of branches and chiefs of units as need be, ensuring that the proposed activities of each branch are in the line with UNEP/Ecosystems Division’s overall objectives. Assist the Director in the presentation of the programme of work to UNEP Senior Management, United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) and serve as the division's focal point for programme planning, coordination and reporting.

b. Promote Ecosystems Division objectives with governments, agencies, NGOs and institutions. Participate in inter-agency meetings to ensure cooperation and define modalities of cooperation.

- Provide management reports to the Director including progress reports

- Hold regular contacts with heads of branches and chiefs units to assess and monitor the progress made on the implementation of relevant unit objectives and brief the Director.

c. Promote and establish in close co-operation with Corporate Services, donor contacts to ensure financial support to Ecosystems Division activities. Evaluate the Division's needs and identify the most appropriate partners, ensuring the support of government, NGOs and institutions.

d. Scrutinize for approval of the Ecosystems' Director, project proposals from branch heads and chiefs of units, to ensure compatibility with Ecosystems Division’s and UNEP’s overall objectives.

e. Contribute to and coordinate the development of policies to ensure that the substantive work of the division is consistent with and complimentary to global/regional multilateral environmental regional/national processes.

f. Overall in-charge for programme evaluation requirements and responses to audit and oversight evaluation recommendations.

g. Coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies, such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), CPR, Senior Management Group (SMG), the Executive Director (ED) and other policy making organs, as appropriate. Prepare reports to intergovernmental bodies on programme performance, work programme implementation as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and /or annual reports and inputs for integrated monitoring and reporting.

2. Responsible for day-to-day oversight of administrative, budgetary and personnel issues in Ecosystems Division:

a. Review and recommend the overall budgetary allocation of the Division, liaising with heads of branches and chiefs of units, and coordinate the preparation of the Division's costed workplan.

b. Evaluate and recommend the human resources requirements for the programme implementation, reviewing proposals from heads of branches, determining, in cooperation with UNON HRMS (Human Resource Management Service), the classification of posts for professional and general service staff. Coordinate the requirements of consultancies and corporate contracts.

c. Recommend the most efficient administrative and organizational framework to implement the Ecosystems Division's programme of work considering most effective use of the Division's financial and human resources, recommending strategies as necessary.

d. In conjunction with experts and senior staff, identify emerging issues in the technical specialties and potential opportunity for synergistic relationships with other divisions and organizations.

e. Oversee and monitor the day-to-day functioning of the division's work, provide technical and administrative support, and ensure effective coordination with other UNEP divisions and regional offices.
f. Guide and support managers and other staff in meeting their objectives and outputs; foster teamwork and communication in the Division, Branches and across organizational boundaries.

3. Supervise the evaluation, adaptation and management of the division's information exchange systems through internet and other electronic systems; monitor the use of technology and identify overall needs for equipment and related software.

a. Liaise with the Communication Division to ensure that publications and information materials are in conformity with UNEP standards.

b. Supervise the information management systems in the Division, establishing priorities and deciding on the use of the most appropriate and cost effective tools and technologies.

c. Coordinate the Division information inputs to major international events such as , UNEA, CPR, etc. and raise the Division's profile.

4. Support the Director of Ecosystems Division in discharging their functions and act on their behalf during absences within agreed areas of responsibility, as well as performing representative functions on behalf of Ecosystems Division.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Education

Advanced university degree in Environmental studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Management or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of progressive responsible work experience in the management of environmental or sustainable development work in a multi-cultural setting is required.
5 years of working experience at the international level is required.
3 years of working experience in a supervisory capacity is required.
Experience managing the preparation of budgets, programmes of work and the management
of financial resources is required.
Experience in driving the global environmental agenda and sustainable development goals is
required.
Experience liaising with governments and in resource mobilisation is desirable.
Experience working for the United Nations system or other international organization is desirable

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.

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.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.

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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.


Internal Applicants – 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, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

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

According 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

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