Project Officer

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre of the Culture Sector (CLT/WHC), as the Secretariat of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is responsible for supporting States Parties to the Convention in the implementation of the Convention which includes processes related to the nomination of sites to the World Heritage List as well as the national Tentative Lists that must be regularly updated. The Nominations Unit (NOM) is responsible for providing technical expertise and guidance to States Parties in developing World Heritage nominations and Tentative Lists following processes clearly laid out in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention and in full compliance with it. Many of the activities of the NOM unit are carried out in close collaboration with the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee. Furthermore, working documents related to these items need to be prepared for World Heritage Committee sessions as well as support provided for other statutory meetings including the General Assembly and Open-Ended Working Groups of States Parties.

The work of the NOM Unit is carried out under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), and the direct supervision of the Director of World Heritage (DIR/WH) in collaboration with the Head of the Nominations Unit and the Policy and Statutory Meetings Unit (PSM).

The incumbent shall support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, by providing technical expertise and capacity building with regard to processes related to the nomination of sites to the World Heritage List including the Tentative Lists processes and preparing working documents for the World Heritage Committee sessions.

In particular, the incumbent shall:

• Ensure compliance of Tentative Lists submissions from States Parties officially submitted to the World Heritage Centre with the requirements of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
• Develop and manage the NOM archives and databases including those for Tentative Lists, Nominations, maps and boundaries, as well as retrospective inventories, ensuring the quality of the information presented.
• Determine the type of statistical information to be collected, compile and analyse various inputs, information on World Heritage nominations and Tentative Lists processes and provide a variety of statistics/tables, etc. as required.
• In close collaboration with the PSM unit, provide professional support for the sessions of the World Heritage Committee and General Assembly, including assisting the Rapporteur for the preparation of the decisions report, and preparing working and information documents.
• Regularly liaise with States Parties, and provide technical advice concerning World Heritage procedures with regard to nomination processes including Tentative List processes, boundaries and buffer zones, transmitting and following up on decisions of the World Heritage Committee, ensuring full compliance with the Operational Guidelines.
• Develop and deliver capacity-building activities for States Parties related to the nomination and Tentative List processes in close collaboration with the Advisory Bodies.
• Contribute to the preparation and effective management of documentation for meetings of the World Heritage Committee, its Bureau and the General Assembly, in particular, to enable easy access to information and documentation, including the creation of specific webpages, providing content and appropriate design and proposing new conceptual developments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a field of natural and/or cultural heritage conservation, humanities, social sciences or other related fields.

Work Experience

• A minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in the field of culture, heritage conservation and management or related fields, of which preferably two (2) years acquired at the international level.

Skills and competencies

• Good drafting skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, coordination and interpersonal skills, team player. Ability for networking and public relations with tact and diplomacy in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to take initiative and to manage competing priorities, organize and prioritize heavy workload to meet established deadlines, with a strong capacity for accuracy, close attention to detail and quality of work.

 Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French (written and spoken) and good knowledge of the other language.

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Project-Officer-(Culture)/792471502/