ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER - Temporary Job Opening

Org. Setting and ReportingThe post is located in the Water Unit of the Transboundary Cooperation Section of the Environment Division in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will support the activities under the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention). The broad aim of UNECE's environment activities is to safeguard the environment and human health, and to promote sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda. This position is temporarily available from for an initial period of six (6) months with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. ResponsibilitiesUnder the general supervision of the P5, Chief, Transboundary Cooperation Section, and the direct supervision of the P4, Secretary to the Water Convention, the incumbent will assist in servicing the intergovernmental bodies and official processes related to the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention. Economic or sector analysis: • Drafts specified inputs for briefing notes, background documents, technical papers and analytical studies on transboundary water cooperation and sustainable development. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff and members of the Water Convention Bureau. Intergovernmental support: • Support the l organization of and prepares documents and other inputs for meetings of intergovernmental bodies including the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management, Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment and meetings of the Bureau under the Water Convention. • Support the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Sustainable Financing (AHWGSF) under the Water Convention by preparing documents, reports, presentations etc. • Supports intergovernmental meetings and prepares reports. • Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. • Assists in the activities related to the preparation of the United Nations 2026 Water Conference (2-4 December 2026, United Arab Emirates (UAE)). • Facilitates and supports regular communication with the Bureau members, national focal points as well as with relevant partners. • Assists in financial management, financial reporting, trust funds management, preparation of cost plans and allotments etc. Technical cooperation: • Act as main responsible person in the Water team for the GEF project “Contributing to the implementation of the Drin Strategic Action Programme through the development of an information sharing system and legal support to the institutionalization of cooperation” ( Drin Project), • Participates in national workshops on accession to the Water Convention, usually as a member of a team. • Supports the development of the Water Convention website and publications. General • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit's services. • Organizes and supervises implementation of activities by consultants and institutional contractors. • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally. Competencies• Professionalism: Ability to apply concepts in the area of water and environmental affairs. 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. • 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental management, international relations, engineering, economics, natural or environmental sciences, law or other relevant discipline is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in water and/or environmental affairs and policy formulation at international level is required. A minimum of one year of experience with servicing intergovernmental processes in connection with global or regional environmental legal instruments is required. Experience in supporting technical cooperation projects on water is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Russian is a working language of ECE. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of Spanish is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeAt 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. This position is temporarily available for an initial period of six (6) months with possibility of extension. 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. 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. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE 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.