Technical Specialist- Environmental

Technical Specialist – Environmental Role

The Technical Specialist – Environmental is envisioned as a linchpin to provide technical support to the PMU and its technical coordination with the AMS stakeholders, bridging technical gaps. This ensures that regional actions are well-coordinated, aligned with AMS needs, and effectively integrated into broader project goals. By focusing on technical aspects, the Specialist strengthens the quality assurance process and complements the team’s capacity for seamless project execution. The International Project Technical Specialist will report directly to the International Project Coordinator and work closely with the PMU, AMS stakeholders, and other technical advisors.

The role involves supporting the Project Coordinator in various areas, including providing technical inputs across the project portfolio and closely supervising and supporting contractors. Responsibilities include, among others: a) collaborating with relevant stakeholders and consultants; b) providing technical advice to the PMU on project activities and deliverables; c) bridging the gap between technical expertise and project management and ensuring that the PMU and the RISU are aligned on the project’s technical needs; d) contributing technical expertise to project deliverables ensuring technical and quality standards are met; e) offering strategic oversight, advice, and guidance on the technical aspects of project activities; f) coordinating across deliverables and guiding efficient and effective use of AMS time during consultation and dissemination;  g) ensuring regional-level capacity building activities are tailored to the needs of the AMS; h) conceptualizing and implementing mentoring, hands-on guidance, coaching, and advisory services to support contractor teams in coordination with the Technical Advisory Organization and retainer experts. Additionally, the role entails supporting coordination and communication with stakeholders, focusing on technical aspects – including supporting the PMU in communicating technical matters with the AMS; collaborating with the PMU to monitor and ensure the technical consistency of project implementation with assignment and project objectives; and preparing technical reports, briefs, and presentations that summarize research findings, progress, and recommendations for stakeholders.

Functional Responsibilities

Technical Expertise and Oversight:

• Deliver high-level technical inputs across SEA-MaP’s portfolio, with a focus on marine plastics and circular economy solutions.
• Provide quality assurance for technical deliverables, ensuring alignment with global best practices and project goals.
• Supervise and mentor contractors, ensuring adherence to technical standards and timelines.

Strategic Guidance and Coordination:

• Offer strategic oversight and advice on technical aspects of project activities.
• Collaborate with the PMU to monitor project implementation, ensuring consistency with assignment objectives.
• Facilitate effective technical communication and coordination with AMS stakeholders.
• Coordinating across deliverables and guiding efficient and effective use of AMS time during consultation and dissemination.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management:

• Provide technical support and capacity development to AMS and institutional stakeholders.
• Develop and implement mentoring, coaching, and hands-on guidance programs for contractors.
• Support the dissemination of project findings, ensuring accessibility and alignment with ASEAN priorities.
• Ensuring regional-level capacity building activities are tailored to the needs of the AMS.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Foster collaboration between RISU, the PMU, and external partners to address technical challenges.
• Represent SEA-MaP in technical discussions, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
• Prepare technical reports, briefs, and presentations summarizing project findings and recommendations.

Impact of Results:

• The effective and successful achievement of results by the International Technical Expert (Marine Plastics) directly impacts on the development and performance and image of SEA-MaP and of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and consequently strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country served.
• Assure the high-level technical quality of the activities developed by the SEA-MaP Regional Project and their products.
• Provide strategic inputs in the discussions among the RISU (UNOPS), the PMU, the ASEC and the World Bank.
• Validate from the technical point of view the knowledge products of the project (documents, background papers, analyses, publications, etc.).
• Provide high-quality technical advisory inputs and advice to UNOPS on any marine plastics technical issues and queries as requested from stakeholders to ensure strong buy-in on proposed methodologies related to the project implementation.
• Provide high-level technical input and presentations on assigned topics/activities and the RISU at meetings, conferences, consultations, etc.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• A minimum advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher degree is required, preferably in relevant disciplines such as Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Natural resource management, Sustainability Studies, or another relevant discipline.
• A first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), preferably in the above-mentioned fields with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree or higher degree.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in marine plastic pollution, environmental sustainability, or related research areas.
• Experience in marine plastics-related projects/programs is required, which include working on relevant regulations and policies related to waste management; recycling, and plastic pollution prevention; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks for reducing plastic pollution; implementation of single-use plastic ban frameworks, plastic life cycle assessment methodologies; waste characterization techniques; and waste management infrastructure.
• Experience in managing stakeholder relations while working for an international organization or related experience is required.
• Experience in producing high-quality documents (technical ToR. Guidance notes, editing policy documents, manuals etc.) is required.
• Proven experience in managing technical aspects of complex, multi-stakeholder projects is an asset.
• Expertise in capacity-building and stakeholder engagement within an international or regional context is an asset.
• Familiarity with World Bank projects and ASEAN institutional frameworks is highly desirable.
• Regional experience in the ASEAN region is a distinct advantage.
• Experience in working with the UN, normative bodies, government, non-government actors, private sector, academia, and the community is desirable

Skills:

• Strong technical expertise in marine plastics and circular economy solutions.
• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies is required
• Experience in quality assurance and mentoring for technical deliverables is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge (Fluency) in written and oral English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29681#3