Mercury Monitoring Analyst

UN Environment is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. The overall objective of UN Environment's Economy Division is to encourage decision-makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use, and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices, and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities

The Chemicals and Health Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme, Economy Division leads UN Environment’s subprogramme on Chemicals, Waste, and Air Quality. UN Environment’s programme of work centers around assistance to countries and multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) secretariats to assist in technical-scientific issues related to priority chemicals. It has been promoting, inter alia, monitoring around the world, existing capacities and providing technical and scientific input to the Minamata Convention on Mercury discussions on effectiveness evaluation.

The scope of support: Knowledge and Risk Unit, Mercury portfolio.

The Contractor will work in the Knowledge and Risk Unit of the Chemicals and Health Branch. This post is located in UN Environment – Economy Division at the Geneva duty station.

The Contractor will support and assist in the development, implementation, and execution of the Global Environment Facility project entitled Global Monitoring Plan of Mercury.

Under the supervision of the Head of Knowledge and Risk Unit, the duties of this assignment are to:

1. Support Knowledge & Risk Management Unit during the final stages of the GEF funded Project entitled Global Monitoring Plan of Mercury being executed by the Chemicals and Health Branch of the Economy Division.
2. Coordinate the correspondence, organization of meetings of the Steering Committee, side events, and mercury lab scheduled to take place during the second session of the Conference to the Parties to the Minamata Convention. 
3. Undertake research, analyze and present information gathered from diverse sources as directed by the supervisor.
4. Provide support with the preparation of documents for consideration of the second session of the conference to the Parties to the Minamata Convention on the Global Monitoring Plan for mercury.  
5. Provide inputs and draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies and inputs to publications as directed by the supervisor.
6. Make presentations on assigned topics/activities and conduct online meetings and training webinars.
7. Maintain and regularly update the webpage on mercury monitoring managed by the Knowledge and Risk Unit.
8. Provide other assistance as requested by the Knowledge and Risk Unit.

• Efficiently support in the organization of Side events and mercury lab events
• Assist in timely drafting documents for consideration of the second session of the Conference to the Parties to Minamata Convention.
• Contribute to the development of dissemination materials to be presented at the second session of the Conference to the Parties to the Minamata Convention.
• Contributions to information documents to be presented at the second session of the Conference to the Parties to the Minamata Convention
• Regular update of the UN Environment pages related to mercury monitoring
• Outreach activities are undertaken.
• Completion of other tasks as requested.

a. Education

• Required: Advanced university degree in one of the following areas: environmental policy or science, or a related technical field, or corresponding suitable experience.
• A first university degree (Bachelor) with 2 (two) additional years of relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced degree

b. Work Experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience, of which at least 1 at international level.
• Knowledge of global environmental issues, in particular on mercury monitoring networks, programmes.
• Relevant experience at the international level related to chemicals management
• Experience in a developing country and countries in transition context
  • Prior knowledge of working in UN System

c. Languages

Key Competencies 
• Good technical understanding of global environmental issues and monitoring programmes  
• Ability to build relationships with key strategic partners
• Planning and organization skills
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Travel: Travel will be processed by substantive officer 

This position is based in Switzerland and the fee is subject to taxes levied by the Swiss authorities.