Senior Programme Management Officer, P-5

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Nairobi, Kenya

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. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The overall objective of the UNEP's Ecosystems Division is to support countries in conserving, restoring and sustainably managing their terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, the biodiversity they contain and the products and services they provide for human well-being and prosperity. Ecosystems Division's Marine and Freshwater Branch delivers science, governance, and strategic communications expertise to catalyze action across the marine, coastal and freshwater continuum and respond to the triple planetary crisis of - climate, biodiversity, and pollution. In co-operation with other units of UNEP and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, Ecosystems Division's Marine and Freshwater Branch catalyzes and promotes action-oriented activities aimed at developing and strengthening global, regional and national programmes and action plans for assessing, valuing, conserving and maintaining ecosystems, and sustainable management and use of resources. Within this framework the incumbent will undertake the development and implementation of policy and technical approaches to facilitate and support UNEP's work on water management with a focus on integrated ecosystem approach to water resources and related ecosystems. The incumbent will be responsible for leading and coordinating the work of the Freshwater Wetlands Unit, including resource mobilization and performance management of the staff of the Unit and reporting requirements. Under the general guidance of the Director or Deputy Director of UNEP's Ecosystem Division and under the direct supervision of the Principal Coordinator of the Marine and Freshwater Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Operationalize the UNEP Water Policy & Strategy and all other UNEP mandates on water:

In the context of UNEP's Water Policy and Strategy, Freshwater Ecosystems Management Programme and other relevant UNEP sub-programmes and initiatives, lead development and implementation of the UNEP water programme in cooperation with other Divisions across UNEP.
Facilitate partnerships for dialogue and implementation with, inter alia, water experts from national and international organisations.

Coordination and development of the Freshwater Ecosystems activities within the ecosystems programme:

Coordinate implementation of the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy within the UNEP ecosystem management programme and in cooperation with partners formulate methodologies, guidelines, and capacity building initiatives criteria for application of relevant technologies, and tools, for improving institutional capability, globally as well as regional and national programmes and action plans for monitoring, assessing, valuing, conserving, and maintaining water ecosystems.
Coordinate activities to facilitate development and implementation of the freshwater ecosystems programme including the mobilization of resources, initiating and/or assessing the viability of environmental projects and programme elements in ecosystem management and making recommendations to the Branch Coordinator and Division management.
Liaise with relevant UN agencies, intergovernmental, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to ensure UNEP collaboration in water programme development and implementation nationally, regionally, and globally.
Coordinate the preparation of reports for presentation to senior management, governing councils and intergovernmental bodies ensuring quality of technical papers and follow up to Senior Management decisions related to freshwater ecosystems.
Facilitate and advocate innovative concepts and tools designed to improve or re-orient implementation of the freshwater ecosystems with UNEP's water policy objectives and strategy:
- Improved awareness of water issues;
- improved management of basins (including trans boundary basins), and linkage to coastal and marine waters, and
- improved cooperation in the water sector.
Lead, organize and/or participate in substantive discussions, meetings, and conferences an represent the unit at international, regional, or national meetings and provide programmatic and substantive expertise to promote ecosystem-based approaches for water management and impacts to water security and ecosystem services.
Provide policy and programme guidance to Branch Coordinator and Division management to align unit activities with UNEP's overall mandates and strategic objectives as they emerge in integrated water resource management (IWRM), water security and ecosystem services.
Provide technical guidance at the national and regional level on freshwater/coastal linkage within the context of the UNEP Water Policy Strategy; and assist countries to develop regional or sub regional plans for the integrated management of trans-boundary water resources.
Report on the status of implementation of the work programme regularly as scheduled by the UN reporting requirements or as and when ca1led upon by the Division Management.

Enhance UNEP's engagement on freshwater ecosystems:

Review and analyse UNEP's current work on water, global and regional trends and develop potential areas of future Ecosystems Division collaboration/cooperation into a comprehensive project portfolio with complementary linkages to the work of integrated water resources management (IWRM), within the ecosystem management and governance sub programmes in UNEP.

Management of the Freshwater Ecosystem Unit:

Recommend to the Branch Coordinator the allocation of financial resources, justifying administrative and/or results-based budget proposals and work plans; monitor and report budgetary performance of the Unit.
Manage staff performance and ensure ongoing professional development, continued Learning and the right mix of skills and competencies; under delegated authority from the Branch Coordinator initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions.
Guide and support professional and general service staff in meeting their objectives an outputs; foster teamwork and communication in the Unit and across organizational boundaries.
Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
Perform other duties as may be required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
PLANNING & 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.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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 improvements; 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.
BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in freshwater ecosystems, ecology, environmental studies or management is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale project or programme management in ecosystems management is required. At least five (5) years of experience at international level is required. Experience addressing environmental issues through multi-disciplinary approaches and partnerships related to freshwater ecosystems and water resources management is required. Experience in policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues, particularly on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Water and Sanitation and with SDG 14 Life Below Water, is required. Experience with intergovernmental processes is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations Official 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.

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