Chief of Branch, Programme, D-1

Position description

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 capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This position is in the Regional Seas Branch of the in Ecosystems Division, located at the Nairobi duty station and will work in close collaboration with the Marine and Freshwater Branch. Under the overall guidance of the Division Director and the direct supervision of the Division Deputy Director, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Branch, coordinating the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans;
• Ensures that the outputs produced maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data in coherence with the individual programmes of work of the Regional Seas, the overall UNEP Programme of Work, and in coordination with the Marine and Freshwater Branch;
• Executes the changes identified by the fit-for purpose reviews guided by intergovernmental processes, including the changes to the organizational structure of the Secretariats;
• Refocus tasks in the Branch to deliver impactful results in identified priority areas;
• Represents the Branch in preparing the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery;
• Leads on Ecosystems Division’s policy and activities in the context of the UN Reform Agenda, in consultation with relevant branches/divisions, and UNEP regional and liaison offices;
• Leads coordination of the Regional Seas work within the Ecosystems Division to ensure synergy and coherence across the Division and with other areas of UNEP including other Multilateral Environmental Agreements;
• Enhance the visibility and impact of the Division’s Regional Seas work through a joint information and outreach strategy among relevant partners;
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Branch;
• Prepare various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, amongst other;
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance;
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision;
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff;
• Overseas the organization of the Regional Seas intergovernmental meetings and conferences of parties, and other Regional Seas related meetings, seminars, on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars;
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings in collaboration with the Marine and Freshwater Branch and provides programmatic/substantive expertise and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions;
• Represents the Branch at international, regional or national meetings;
• 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.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge in project/programme management in the context of Ecosystems management or related area. 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. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision- making and convey resulting information to management. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations;
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empower 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 improvement; 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;
• 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;
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailor’s language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
• JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gather relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences, management or discipline related to the work of ecosystems management is required. A first- level university degree in combination with two additional 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

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in project/programme management in the context of Ecosystems management or related area is required. Five (5) years’ experience at the international level and in a supervisory capacity is required. Demonstrated experience in managing performance of teams and staff with specialist expertise is required. Experience in mobilizing resources in an international environment is required. Seven (7) years’ experience in intergovernmental processes, multilateral environment agreements (MEAs) and collaborating centers is required. Five (5) years’ experience in the organization of intergovernmental meetings at the global and regional level is desirable. Experience overseeing teams and projects/programmes under multiple funding 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 post advertised, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of other UN official languages 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.

Application instructions

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