Closing date: Monday, 31 August 2015
Posting Title: SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER (Portfolio Manager International
Waters), P5
Job Code Title: SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER
Department/ Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station: NAIROBI
Posting Period: 2 July 2015-31 August 2015
Job Opening number: 15-PGM-UNEP-39169-R-NAIROBI (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity,
Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Appointment against this position is for an
initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. 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.
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. On-line applications will
be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.
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
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Organizational 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. Its mandate is
to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the
global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention
of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Division of
Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) 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 post is located in UNEP DEPI, at the Headquarters duty
station, in Nairobi.
Responsibilities
- Takes the lead in International
Water (IW) corporate strategy development and programme coordination by:
- Drafting UNEP/GEF IW focal area
strategy and business plan and coordinate its implementation;
- Providing input into the UNEP/GEF
Fee model as needed and reporting progress against agreed targets on a
quarterly basis;
- Representing UNEP in the GEF
Focal Area Task Force meetings;
- Contributing to UNEP's
programming and ensuring that the UNEP/GEF IW portfolio is reflected in
the PoW;
- Undertaking council document
reviews and preparation of comments and briefings for management;
- Participating in the UNEP Project
Review Committee (PRC) and providing input to UNEP and GEF policy and
information documents and to GEF corporate evaluations.
- Contributes to UNEP & GEF
corporate knowledge management, data management, communications and
outreach by:
- Identifying and codifying lessons
emerging from the IW portfolio implementation;
- Overseeing portfolio data entry
into the project information system and monitoring team compliance with
data entry and quality of entry;
- Identifying media and other
outreach opportunities and contributing portfolio and project information
and written materials to be used by communications and outreach officers.
- Supervises portfolio development
and implementation by:
- Managing the Focal Area team and
supervising and mentoring staff;
- Providing technical guidance to
IW focal area Task Managers concerning project design and implementation
and coordinating project concept peer reviews as needed;
- Coordinating responses to GEF
Secretariat project review sheets and STAP comments;
- Reviewing quality of the yearly
Project Implementation Reviews (PIR) prepared by Task Managers and
preparing focal area reports;
- Identifying projects-at-risk and
monitoring implementation of remedial actions.
- Develops projects and supervises
project implementation of selected projects by:
- Liaising with national
organizations and international partners for identifying GEF-eligible
project ideas within UNEP's comparative advantage;
- Overseeing project concept
development and project preparation, providing technical advice to the executing
agencies;
- Liaising with GEF Secretariat
focal area staff to ensure projects meet GEF requirements;
- Responding to Council, STAP and
GEF Secretariat project reviews;
- Assisting in mobilizing
co-financing for the projects and obtaining letters of endorsement from
GEF National Focal Points;
- Participating in Steering
Committee meetings;
- Regularly monitoring project
progress and performance and other tasks associated with project
implementation in accordance with UNEP/GEF's Project Operations Manual.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge and
understanding of International Waters issues and discussions, knowledge and
understanding of environmental and resource status of various water resources;
Practical experience in programme/project management and oversight; Good
analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and
participate in the resolution of issues/problems; Ability to apply good
judgment in the context of assignments given; Ability to plan own work and
manage conflicting priorities. 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.
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; Tailors language, tone, style and
format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and
keeping people informed
Client Orientation: Considers all those
to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see things from
clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with
clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and
matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and
outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for
delivery of products or services to client.
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.
Managing Performance: Delegates the
appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes
sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff
member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish
a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and
deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching
to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative;
Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises
performance fairly.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's
degree or equivalent) in fields such as Marine or fresh water biology, ecology,
Hydrology or Chemistry, Coastal zone and river basin management; environmental
engineering, economics, law, or related fields, with specialization in issues
related to the protection and management of international waters issues. A
first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of
qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university
degree.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of relevant and
progressively responsible experience, including at least 5 years at the
international level with key international organizations related to the issues
covered in this TOR. Experience in project management/oversight as well as in
project development is required. Working experience at any UN agency is an
asset. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of
the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.
Languages
English and French are the working
languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency
in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official
language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates for
this position may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a
competency-based interview.
United Nations
Considerations
Candidates will be required to meet the
requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the
requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest
standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources,
including but not limited to respect for international human rights and
humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these
standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are
alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international
human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The United Nations shall place 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.
(Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations
Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow
carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform,
inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on
'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants,
which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right
side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the
system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis
of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements
of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information
pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience,
and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of
incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for
consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of
applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted.
Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious
consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to
verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers
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No Fee
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.
