Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
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. The post is located in the Governing Bodies Unit of the Governance Affairs Office at the Nairobi duty station. The incumbent will head the Governing Bodies Unit and act as Deputy Director for the Governance Affairs Office, reporting to the Director of the Office. The Senior Programme Officer will coordinate matters concerning convening and following-up on sessions of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary bodies. Within delegated authority, and under the guidance of the Director of the Governance Affairs Office, the Senior Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Responsibilities
- Coordinates and directs the provision of secretariat services to the sessions of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary organs, in particular the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), including continuous guidance and advice to the presiding officers as well as other elected offices on the conduct of meetings, organization of work, status of negotiations, and rules of procedure and established practices.
- Serves as the Secretary of preparatory and in-session negotiating committees before and during the UN Environment Assembly, as required.
- Serves as the Secretary of other relevant intergovernmental processes/bodies as mandated by UNEA, as required.
- Supervises preparations of the procedural script for the presiding officer for each meeting and on each agenda item of the CPR, including for regular quarterly meetings of the Committee, meetings of the CPR subcommittee, the annual meeting of the subcommittee of the CPR, and the Open-Ended meeting of the CPR.
- Supports the work of the Bureaux of UNEA and the CPR in preparation for the sessions of UNEA and the meetings of the CPR.
- Supervises the timely and accurate submission and issuance of all pre-session, in-session and post-session documentation (including draft recommendations) to UNEA and the CPR.
- Coordinates the intersessional work of the CPR between the annual meeting of the Subcommittee of the CPR and the Open-Ended meeting of the CPR, including the consultations on draft proposals for adoption by UNEA.
- Facilitates the organization of orientation sessions and training on UNEP’s governance and functions for the representatives of Member States accredited to the CPR.
- Assists in coordinating UNEA and CPR follow-up actions in close coordination with the relevant UNEP Divisions.
- Coordinates communication with Member States on the work of UNEA, the CPR and UNEP, development of relevant online platforms, timely update of the various online contact directories, and providing timely responses to external queries.
- Coordinates with the secretariats of the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on actions for conveying the outcomes of UNEA sessions and for harmonizing the calendar of meetings.
- Develops and maintains relations with senior government officials and advises them on issues and policies.
- Prepares draft briefing notes and talking points for the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP.
- Supervises research and studies to evaluate and improve the procedure and practice of UNEA, the CPR and other intergovernmental bodies, as required.
- Contributes to governance-related policy development and decision-making processes.
- Upon request by the Director, represents the Division at meetings inside and outside the organization.
- Leads and directs the team; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of unit and individual work plans and training programs.
- Assists the Director in activities related to budget formulation and assists in the implementation of the programme of work.
- Acts as officer-in-charge of the Division in the absence of the Director.
- Leads 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.
- Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Possesses sharp political awareness as well as negotiation and diplomatic skills; Knowledge of intergovernmental processes, including relevant rules of procedure, mandates and other provisions, as well as past practice and precedent; a thorough knowledge of documentation of United Nations or similar international organization. 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. 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 able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
- 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.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Managerial Competencies/Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, law, diplomacy 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.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the field of international relations, law, diplomacy, policy or sustainable development is required. Experience in dealing with international political issues in a multicultural context is required. Experience in the provision of substantive support to intergovernmental processes and legislative machinery in an international organizational such as the United Nations is required. Work experience in procedures and practices of intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. NOTE: ‘Fluency’ equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write and understand) and ‘Knowledge of’ equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.
Application instructions
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