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 world is failing to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and is in a climate emergency – “a code red for humanity” according to the UN Secretary-General. The concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere is wreaking havoc across the world and threatening lives, economies, health and food. UNEP has a strong Climate Action portfolio which has grown significantly, and which currently resides within various business units across the organization. In line with the ambition of the UNEP Medium-term Strategy 2022-2025, a Climate Division is to be established with the intent of providing a more streamlined and visible response to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss and pollution and waste. The Climate Division will work with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the global implementation of integrated policies on climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Division would support national stakeholders and countries to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement through strategic interventions of environmental governance, science-policy connections, technological advancement, finance and economic transformations. UNEP catalyzes public support and political will for climate action, connects countries to climate technology solutions as well as promotes the acceleration of long-term finance goals of the Paris Agreement. In collaboration with its networks and partners, including the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and for nexus and interlinkages with other relevant MEAs and themes, the Global Environment Facility, and Green Climate Fund, UNEP supports countries meet their transparency and other reporting obligations. This position is located within the Climate Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya Duty Station. The Director reports to the Deputy Executive Director, under the overall guidance of the Executive Director. Within delegated authority, the Director will be responsible for the following.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages a major programme(s) of the Organization. • Contributes to the formulation of the department’s overall strategies and policies by participating in various committees, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting, as required, in an advisory capacity to the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director on the climate action subprogramme; contribute to the overall management of the Department’s activities and operations. • Provides leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes and leads complex organizational change management processes and communication to engage staff and establish the relevant organizational structures and engagement with member states on common messaging on the new vision for climate action division. • Formulates and implement the substantive work programme of the Climate Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery, in co-operation and co-ordination with other UNEP divisions and offices and with other organizations of the UN System, donors and agencies. • Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Division, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Division, working closely with UNEP Regional Offices through the UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams. • Prepares and implements activities pertaining to the protection and development of the climate action aimed at building the capacity of Governments and other stakeholders, especially those in developing countries, to address climate change and providing technological support. • Co-ordinates and oversees analysis, the preparation of reports, policy briefs and presentation to donors and intergovernmental bodies such as UN Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Programme, Committee for Programme Coordination, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Permanent Representatives, Economic and Social Council, other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly and other policy-making organs as well as relevant regional and global platforms. • Reports to UNEP Senior Management Team, intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. • Works collaboratively with Regional Offices to mobilize resources from global and regional sources for project funding. Clears the allocation of the necessary financial and human resources for the delivery of results related to the strategic objectives based on the recommendations from other Division Directors, Regional Directors, and Sub-Programme Coordinators. • Ensures close and effective engagement with Regional Offices to ensure co-design of projects that contain regional and national components. Ensures accountability for delivery of project results that fall within their division’s expertise and mandate. • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the office/division under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based management including budgeting, development of staff work plans, and evaluation of staff performance (PAS). • Oversees the recruitment of staff for Division taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values. • Manages, guides, develops, encourages, and trains staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries. • Chairs meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides programmatic/substantive expertise, and, when appropriate, holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. . Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Perform other related duties as requested by the senior management of the Organization.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter, in particular the international response to Climate Change with a focus on mitigation and adaptation measures. Ability to formulate and lead strategic visioning exercises and complex organizational change management and reform initiatives, particularly on climate change agenda through intergovernmental and environmental governance processes. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management is desirable. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows 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. 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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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 improvement; 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. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, International Relations, Social Sciences, business or public administration, Economics, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

Over fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration, logistics, financial management, budget or related field is required. Experience in programme and organizational management either in government, intergovernmental entities and/or United Nations is required. Experience in climate change multilateral and intergovernmental processes at a senior level is required. Experience in policy analysis, formulation and implementation is required. Experience at the senior level managing human and financial resources is required. Experience working in an international setting is required. Experience in building capacity of developing countries or countries with economies in transition on climate change is required. Experience with UN country or regional strategies, particularly UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) and UN Common Country Analysis (CCAs), is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post 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 (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 temporarily available for 364 days and may be subject to extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff at the D2 level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter. 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 Candidate Profile form, 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 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. 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. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 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. 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 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. 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 Fee

THE 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.