Environmental Marine Specialist Technical Specialist Environmental Knowledge Management

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners’ agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements,  such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The South China Sea region and the UNEP/GEF SCS-SAP Project The South China Sea …

Functional Responsibilities:

The consultant will be under the overall supervision/direction of the Project Manager, in close coordination with the COBSEA Coordinator and other PCU staff members and project partners. The Consultant’s deliverables, covering three areas, include:

Governance: 

• Review and ensure alignment of SCS-SAP project outcomes with the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027
• Develop and coordinate the work plan and activities on the sustainability and integration of the SCS-SAP project goals and targets with the overall objectives and activities of COBSEA
• Coordinate and facilitate the activities of the SCS-SAP consultants with COBSEA member states and national focal points
• Draft relevant SCS-SAP information and working document/s for presentation in the COBSEA Intergovernmental Meetings.

Collaboration:

• Review and ensure alignment and consolidation of SCS-SAP Regional Working Groups on Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Seagrass, and Coastal Wetlands with COBSEA’s Framework and Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
• Develop and coordinate the work plan and activities on integration of the SCS-SAP Regional Working Groups and COBSEA Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
• Review and ensure alignment of SCS-SAP efforts on marine pollution, specifically on nutrient pollution with COBSEA’s draft nutrient reduction strategy (RENEWSEAs) and other nutrients related/relevant projects
• Coordinate and facilitate the activities of the SCS-SAP consultants and working groups with COBSEA member states and national focal point
• Draft relevant SCS-SAP information and working documents for regional working group meetings

Knowledge Management: 

• Develop and coordinate work plan and activities on integration of SCS-SAP project outputs with the COBSEA knowledge management system
• Participate in and provide inputs to SCS-SAP knowledge management activities and events, including coordinating and facilitating such with COBSEA member states and national focal points
• The consultant will be hosted by COBSEA, and co-located with the COBSEA Secretariat, in conjunction with UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required preferably in sustainable development, marine biology, oceanography, coastal ecology, environmental sciences/engineering, or other science areas is required;
• First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of working experience in environmental management, including experience with projects related to the management of marine and coastal habitats and pollution in one or more of the following countries: Cambodia/China/Indonesia/Philippines/Thailand/Viet Nam
• Demonstrated experience in the management and/or development of national and/or regional environment, coastal and marine related projects is desirable;
• Demonstrated experience in large multi-country and multi-disciplinary projects, such as GEF-funded projects, is desirable;
• Demonstrated experience in inter-governmental mechanisms and UNEP regional sea programme is desirable;
• Experience and familiarity with the South China Sea region and country’s geopolitical, cultural, social and economic setting, including international treaties and environmental agreements, as well as COBSEA intergovernmental process, is desirable.
• Knowledge of global and other regions initiatives and best practices in the management of marine and coastal habitats and pollution is an asset.
• Knowledge of the United Nations system and/or Global Environment Facility, including their administrative processes, is an asset.

Language Requirement: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in one or more of the following languages is required: Khmer/Chinese/ Bahasa/Filipino/Thai/Vietnamese.
• Working knowledge of other United Nations languages and/or regional languages is an asset.

Source:  https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=27873#2