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.

UNEP's Corporate Services Division (CSD) is the guardian of UNEP's corporate interest, mitigating its exposure to risk and supporting the organization with management tools, plans and related capacity building. It oversees UNEP's efficient and effective management, in line with UNEP's accountability requirements, rules, regulations and UN core values.

This position is located in the Operations and Risk Management Section which focuses on operations and risk management within CSD at the Nairobi duty station.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Operations and Risk Management Section, the Environmental Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Policy and Guidance:
• Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Support CSD in implementing UNEP Environmental Management System (EMS) and implementing internal environmental policy and in identifying needs for drafting new or for modifying relevant specific guidance.
• Provide guidance on travel and programs to reduce travel emissions.
• Undertakes survey initiatives, designs data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Delivery of Guidance on Emissions Reductions to UNEP headquarters and regional offices.

2. Management of UNEP Environmental Management System (EMS) and High Level Steering Committee:
• Manage the environmental activities and coordinates team towards the achievement of objectives.
• Complete the UNEP annual environmental inventory.
• Identify the achievements of the UNEP EMS cycle for each of the five (5) environmental aspects, specifically: climate/energy, water, waste, staff sensitization, and sustainable procurement.
• Manage the Steering Committee Meetings: agenda, compilation of presentations, logistics and communication with members; draft meeting minutes and reports.
• Compile supporting documentation that can help discussions.
• Respond to technical queries in liaison with the relevant team experts.
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).
• Finalise and present the EMS report for senior management inclusive of recommendations to accelerate UNEP’s internal sustainability efforts.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

3. Awareness and Training/ Mainstreaming:
• Promote awareness on environmental issues.
• Undertakes outreach activities, conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Outreach to regional offices, assist them in implementing emissions reduction measures and report back to the Steering Committee.
• Manage sustainability aspects in the UN reform offices and assist other offices when needed including for Business Operations Strategy (BOS).

4. Coordination and Partner Relations:
• Liaise on environmental issues with local authorities and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as regional organisations and diplomatic community when relevant.
• As required, support other UN agencies in reaching their sustainability targets, including providing trainings and advising on EMS plans and providing technical expertise when requested.
• Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change. This includes managing projects related to the enhancement of UNEP’s remote meetings culture.
• Ensures that the section maintain high-quality standards and provides client-oriented services that are innovative, effective and efficient.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the section and across organizational boundaries.
• Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development and environment. Ability to perform a broad range of functions related to general aspects of environment management and evaluation including conceptual and analytical skills and the ability to understand technical documents and review valuation reports. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

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.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law or related area is required.

A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Additional university level or technical qualification in environmental management and related areas is desirable.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the environmental management or related field with a national government/administration, a large firm or an international organization or related field is required.

Experience working with Microsoft Office package is required.

Work experience with procedures of Environmental Sustainability including evaluation and oversight is desirable.

Work experience with drafting reports and guidance documents/policies/standard operating procedures is desirable.

Work experience in providing training on subject matter such as environmental data and/or environmental risk assessment is desirable.

Experience in project planning is desirable.

Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

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 (read, write, speak, understand) and ''Knowledge of'' equals a rating of ''confident'' in two of the four areas.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.

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.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

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.