UNEP-CCC Director

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), formerly known as the UNEP DTU Partnership - UDP

UNEP-CCC is a leading international research and advisory institution on energy, climate and sustainable development. As a collaborating center of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP-CCC works with a wide range of international institutions, national governments and research organizations to assist developing countries in their efforts to move toward low carbon, climate resilient and sustainable development. UNEP-CCC has a staff of approximately 60 professionals from over 20 countries and currently implements project activities in more than 60 countries.

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) based in UN City, Copenhagen is a UN Environment Collaborating Centre actively engaged in implementing UNEP’s Climate Change Strategy & Energy Program.

UNEP-CCC offers science-based advisory services to emerging markets and developing countries in their transition towards a climate resilient, low carbon future. 

Specific Responsibilities:

Responsible for a team of 60+ staff members, a yearly budget of 13 MUSD and a project portfolio of 80 MUSD. The main responsibilities of the Executive Director are:

I. Provide strategic leadership for the management of the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre 

• Establish with UNEP's Division Director, Deputy Director and Branch Chiefs, UNEP priorities for targeted investments in growth and innovation in support of organizational excellence and world-class performance.

• Lead the development of a joint programming UNEP CCC/UNEP Climate Change Division strategy in alignment with the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy on the Climate Pillar; in consultation with the Chief, Mitigation Branch; Chief Adaptation and Resilience Branch, UNEP’s Climate Change sub-Programme Coordinator, UNEP-CCC Steering Committee; and under the approval and supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of the Climate Change Division.

• Develop, implement, course correct, and monitor progress of an annual joint workplan and resource mobilization approach to roll out the above-mentioned joint strategy in full consultation with the Climate Change Division senior management team and under the leadership of the Deputy Director of the Climate Change Division.

• Actively engage in fundraising and resource mobilization in support to the Climate Change Division resource mobilization efforts and taking into account the specificities of UNEP CCC from UN agencies, bilateral donors, climate finance institutions, research funding bodies, and philanthropic institutions.

• Engage in selected project activities, especially on emerging or politically sensitive issues.

• Monitor implementation, oversee progress in reaching annual objectives, and take decisions to ensure the delivery of planned results.

• Plan and manage the resources required (human, financial and administrative) to ensure financial sustainability of UNEP-CCC, and compliance to the regulatory framework.

II. Thought leadership, Alliance building, networking, outreach, and advocacy

• Guide the curation and production of the two UNEP flagship Global Stock taking reports - The Emissions & Adaptation Gap Reports - that inform UNFCCC parties, policy makers, media, and the public about the gap for enhanced climate action.

• Lead UNEP-CCC UNFCCC COP participation and ensure: the sharing of UNEP-CCC knowledge, experience, and science-based analyses; coverage of specific negotiation tracks; support to the UNEP Executive Director, the UNFCCC Secretariat, and various COP country delegations.

• In consultation with UNEP Climate Change Publication focal point, plan, guide, produce and review all publications to enhance the UNEP-CCC role as a thought leader within climate, energy, and sustainable development.

• Provide agenda-setting leadership on new and emerging issues on climate, energy, carbon markets, and      sustainable development.

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships aligned with the UNEP-CCC agreed strategy and under the leadership of the Division Director, in the climate community through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication of UNEP and UNEP-CCC competencies in climate advisory services, project service delivery and management to develop opportunities and engagements with new partners.

• Present work in relevant international fora including at meetings and conferences.

III. Management of the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center 

• Undertake recruitment in full coordination with the UNEP Deputy Division Director and Branch Chiefs, and upon agreement, appoint, lead, and take the responsibility for a team of 60+ consultants, a yearly budget of approximately $13 million and a project portfolio of $80 million.

• Develop and set with UNEP, annual objectives and targets, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely, partner-oriented services aligned with the UNEP quarterly reporting framework, as and where appropriate, and conduct follow-up meetings to monitor progress.

• Establish a coordination and collaboration framework between UNEP CCC Section Heads and relevant UNEP subject matter experts to ensure programmatic and operational coherence and alignment.

• Ensure and actively promote cross-fertilization and knowledge-sharing amongst the respective UNEP-CCC strategic areas.

• Monitor and supervise the overall timely and cost-effective delivery of the UNEP-CCC programmes, according to UNEP and partner expectations, approved budgets, and full cost recovery.

• Take overall responsibility for financial decisions, and exercise financial control to ensure the fiscal health/sustainability of UNEP-CCC, including compliance with both UNEP and UNOPS financial report submissions.

• Implement internal performance and quality control systems for UNEP- CCC including tracking, monitoring, and reporting on project delivery and financials, in line with UNEP’s standards and requirements.

• Evaluate UNOPs performance on UNEP CCC service delivery to measure efficacy and compliance with UNOPS standards of accuracy, transparency, and accountability and to ensure that service delivery reinforces business development objectives.

• Plan, recruit, manage, and develop a world class and agile workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity of UNEP-CCC staff.

• Recommend and/or determine priorities and supervise the implementation of workplans to manage the strategic and operational risks associated with the UNEP-CCC programme of engagements.

• Foster an open and positive work environment, respectful of diversity, inclusion and belonging, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct and professional behavior are observed.

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. 

• Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UN values, policies, standards, and commitments.

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, environmental science, climate change, or related field; or 
• First level university degree or undergraduate degree (bachelor or equivalent) plus two years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of an advanced University degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience in leadership positions with solid experience in change management, preferably in an international context is required.
• Deep understanding of climate science, international climate policy, and intergovernmental agreements on climate change is required.
• Experience in engaging with the scientific and policy communities on climate change is required.
• Experience in leading fundraising efforts, preferably with major international donors and foundations is required.
• Experience in managing large teams (more than 50 people) and large financial resources (more than USD 10 mi per year) is desirable.
• Experience in programming climate change mitigation, adaptation and transparency projects and programmes under the UNFCCC  means of implementation framework (policy, technology, capacity building and finance) is desirable.
• Experience in working with developing countries and/or at the national level with government is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required

• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset. 

Contract type: Temporary Appointment (TA - Staff Contract)
Contract level: D1
Contract duration: Six months initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.