DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PROGRAMME

Org. Setting and ReportingThe 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 member States and 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 be responsible for the following duties: Responsibilities1. 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 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 the 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, Non-Governmental Organizations (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 Division (CSD), donor contacts to ensure financial support for 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 the 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), Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), Senior Management Group (SMG), the Executive Director (ED), and other policy-making organs, as appropriate. Prepare reports to intergovernmental bodies on programme performance and 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 the 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, and 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 the most effective use of the Division's financial and human resources, and recommending strategies as necessary. d. In conjunction with experts and senior staff, identify emerging issues in the technical specialties and potential opportunities 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 the 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's 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. 5. Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. 6. Perform other related duties. CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of concepts and approaches related to the implementation of environmental policies. 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. 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. 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Management, or a 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 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 fifteen (15) years of progressive responsible work experience in the management of environmental or sustainable development work in a multi-cultural setting is required. Five (5) years of working experience at the international level is required. Three (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 is desirable. Experience in resource mobilization is desirable. Experience working for the United Nations system is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language 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 NoticeThis position is temporarily available for a period of 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. 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. 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. 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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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