National Professional Officer

Post Number : 3MXSC0001PA

Grade : NO-B

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Mexico City

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 12-MAR-2024

Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Only Nationals of Mexico can apply for this post

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for the Natural Sciences’ Sector (ADG/SC) and direct supervision of the Head of the UNESCO Office in Mexico City, the incumbent will contribute to the design, coordination and implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the programmes and activities carried out by the Natural Sciences Sector (SC) in Mexico in view of supporting the country in its effort to implement its National Development Plan (NDP) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Country Framework (UNSDCF), while also contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In particular, the incumbent will be responsible for providing professional and technical support, research, analysis, and mobilisation of partners and funds, with an emphasis on the protection of biodiversity, hydrological security and disaster risk reduction within the frame of climate change.

H/she will implement and evaluate programme initiatives to support Mexico at the federal and local levels in advancing science, technology, innovation, research, and engineering to address contemporary environmental and societal challenges, with a focus on building back better after the pandemic.

H/she shall work as part of the interdisciplinary team in the UNESCO Office in Mexico City, collaborating with relevant stakeholders and receiving technical guidance from Natural Sciences Programme Divisions at UNESCO Headquarters and Natural Sciences Programme Specialists at the Multisectoral Regional Office in San Jose.

The incumbent will be expected to perform the following responsibilities:

Long Description

• Provide professional and technical support in the identification, design, planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities in the field of natural sciences in the country aligning with Major Programme II and the Natural Sciences Sector’s strategies and priorities. This includes a particular emphasis on the protection of biodiversity, hydrological security, and disaster risk reduction to promote learning and sustainable societies, and to support Mexico in advancing science, technology, innovation, research, and engineering to address contemporary environmental and societal challenges.
• Participate in Regular Programme (C/5) work plans, policy formulation discussions, and other sector-related strategy formulation activities.
• Coordinate and monitor the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes and projects in natural sciences, including the Ecological and Earth Sciences (EES), Man and the Biosphere (MAB), Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), Science Policy and Basics Sciences (PBS), and International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP).
• Lead the UNESCO Mexico office’s interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary efforts, including the formulation of concept notes and project development for extra-budgetary funding through participation in intersectoral programmes and activities in areas such as environment, biodiversity, climate change, disaster risk reduction, science education, education for sustainable development, world natural heritage and world heritage biodiversity programmes and local and indigenous knowledge.
• Participate and provide technical support to UNESCO’s involvement in joint programming exercises within the framework of the UN Reform, such as Common Country Assessments (CCAs) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF).
• Provide technical advice and support to the national institutions and other stakeholders for sciences, technology, innovation and environmental policies and research action-oriented activities on new emerging national and global trends.
• Contribute to the development of pertinent strategy papers, technical notes, frameworks and scientific documents, articles that aid in the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
• Maintain strategic partnerships with other UN Agencies, in particular with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Multilateral and Bilateral Development partners. This collaboration, conducted with colleagues from Headquarters and Field Offices, Category I and Category II Centres and Institutes, aims to foster opportunities for joint programming activities related to natural sciences, within the implementation of common UN Country Programmes in support of UNSDCF.
• Identify and contribute to the formulation of the Office resource mobilisation strategy and its biennial implementation plans. Develop interdisciplinary concepts and project proposals aimed at consolidating and complementing the regular budget-funded programme activities in natural sciences. Formulate the required resource mobilisation and alternative funding mechanisms, partnerships strategies and plans to that end.
• Prepare and submit quarterly/yearly work plans of regular budget programmes and extrabudgetary projects as per approved project documents. Establish corresponding budgets, monitor the budgetary and financial status of the projects and decentralized budgets, and ensure financial accountability.
• Ensure appropriate implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Natural Sciences Programme is decentralized to the Office and provide timely quarterly/yearly reports.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the relevant field of natural sciences related disciplines such as Environment, Geology, Earth Sciences, Hydrology and/or Engineering.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of (2) two years of relevant professional experience in programme and/or project coordination and implementation in the field of natural sciences and or related fields, particularly related to biodiversity, environmental sustainability, water security or disaster risk reduction.
• Experience in designing and implementing policies and strategies in the field of natural sciences.
• Experience in programme management, advocacy, resource mobilisation, and partnership development.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of UNESCO’s standard-setting instruments and programs in the field of natural sciences or related fields
• Ability to draft clearly and concisely.
• Ability to build, maintain, and enhance working relations with national/local authorities, scientific and research institutions, academia, and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Discretion and mature judgment.
• Proficiency in IT skills (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).

LANGUAGE

• Excellent knowledge of English and very good knowledge of Spanish.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in the relevant field of natural sciences related disciplines such as environmental sciences, geology, earth systems sciences, water science and/or engineering.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience in UN entities, international organizations and/or in environmental and scientific policy institutions.
• Broad and up-to-date knowledge of UNESCO’s international science programs such as IHP, IGGP, MAB.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Results-oriented approach to completing assigned tasks and an ability to persuade and influence peers and cope with pressure and challenging situations.
• Experience in coordinating inter-institutional platforms on programmes, especially with government bodies.

LANGUAGE

• Knowledge of another UN official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese French, Russian).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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