Sr. Technical Advisor - Environmental

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. 

Background Information - UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster (WEC)

UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster (WEC) supports the design and management of multi-stakeholder initiatives by providing services in financial and grant management, procurement, human resources, and project management. The cluster has supported projects in the areas of water resource management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and transparency, energy access and distribution and environmental conservation under the Paris Agreement. The WEC has also supported operations and financial management services, in Vienna, the rest of the ECR region and beyond. The main partners include UN agencies such as UNEP and UNDP, bilateral donors (Nordic countries, Germany and Italy), the Green Climate Fund and several NGOs (such as CIFF and CWF). 

Background Information – South China Sea SAP (SCS SAP) Project

The South China Sea is a strategic body of water surrounded by nations that are currently at the helm of industrialization and rapid economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent reports identified coastal communities bordering the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand as being among the most at risk globally from coastal and marine environmental degradation. This issue has been acknowledged by the countries of the South China Sea, who have committed to a 20-year process of cooperation to reverse environmental degradation trends. This is evidenced by the intergovernmental endorsement of the Strategic Action Programme for the South China by Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This commitment was further reinforced in 2016 when the abovementioned countries signed a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to cooperate with one another to implement the Strategic Action Programme (SAP). 

This commitment provided a clear signal to the International community to support the financing of the SAP through various projects, including the project entitled “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP Project)”. The project objective is to assist countries in meeting the targets of the approved Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the marine and coastal environment of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand through implementation of the National Action Plans in support of the SAP, and strengthening regional co-ordination for South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand SAP implementation. The project aims to address habitat degradation, land-based pollution and regional cooperation. This will be achieved through the following Components:

• Component 1. Reducing habitat degradation and loss via national and local reforms to achieve Strategic Action Programme targets for coastal habitat management in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand

• Component 2. Strengthening knowledge-based action planning for the management of coastal habitats and land-based pollution to reduce environmental degradation of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand

• Component 3. Facilitating regional and national level integration and cooperation for implementation of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand Strategic Action Programme

The Project Inception Phase aims to fully elaborate and detail activities, workplans and budgets as well as to identify the execution arrangements, partners and stakeholders for each output and/or activity for execution of activities. The Inception Phase is an opportunity for countries and project partners to collectively review, discuss and adjust the project outputs and activities to ensure that the project is align with new global, regional and national initiatives, commitments and reporting to global conventions and processes, given the period of time between the SAP adoption in 2008, the CEO endorsement in 2016 and the present. 

At the national level, the inception phase will focus on the further development and finalization of the National Implementation Report (NIR) which is regarded as the national project documents with fully developed workplans and budgets ready for national execution. Draft NIRs have been prepared but would require further inputs from participating countries, taking into consideration new and emerging issues such as SDGs, CBD Post 2020 framework, climate change, blue/green growth and circular economy, technology in monitoring and assessments, and regional and national strategic priorities and initiatives, among others. 

Under the guidance of the Head of Programme for WEC, UNOPS (with day to day management by the SCS SAP Inception Consultant), the Consultant will have the following responsibilities:

• Technical and scientific backstopping support to participating countries in the development of their NIRs, in particular activities related to Component 1 on management and restoration of habitats (coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses and wetlands)  including providing guidance, reviewing and editing and ensuring a common approach is taken with clear and detailed information, in line with the SCS SAP project outcomes, national priorities and best available science, knowledge and experiences from similar projects and initiatives, in and beyond the region

• Ensure national level project activities are developed based on latest scientific and technical information, are clearly presented, realistic, integrate best practices as appropriate, include concrete targets, and are designed to fully engage key stakeholders (including local communities) and to be sustainable beyond the project lifespan;

• Ensure budgets and workplans are fully detailed and accurately costed;

• Participate and support countries in their national consultation meetings, in particular the first Inter-Ministry Committee and National Technical Working Group meetings, and ensure meetings are fully reported with minutes, main conclusions/recommendations and lists of participants;

• Prepares and submit monthly report of inception phase implementation to UNOPS;

• Provide scientific and technical guidance to the SCS SAP Project Inception Team on best practices and suggestions for regional and/or national activities under Components 2 and 3 as requested, in particular where actions are to be developed on joint pollution and habitat management 

• Perform other functions as required.

Education:  

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in marine biology, oceanography, coastal ecology, environmental sciences/engineering, or other science areas is required;

Experience:  

• A minimum of 7 years of working experience in environmental management, including experience with projects related to the management of marine and coastal habitats and pollution in one or more of the South China Sea countries is required.

• Thorough understanding of the problems related to marine and coastal habitats (mangroves, seagrass, corals and wetlands) and pollution in the South China Sea and current best practices in restoration and effective management of habitats and pollution is desirable.

• Demonstrated experience in the management and/or development of national and/or regional environment, coastal and marine related projects is desirable.

• Demonstrated experience in large multi-country and multi-disciplinary projects, such as GEF-funded projects, is desirable. 

• Experience and familiarity with the South China Sea region and country’s geopolitical, cultural, social and economic setting, including international treaties and environmental agreements, is desirable.

• Knowledge of global and other regions initiatives and best practices in the management of marine and coastal habitats and pollution is an asset

• Knowledge of the United Nations system and/or Global Environment Facility, including their administrative processes, is an asset.

Language Requirement:  

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. 

• Working knowledge of other United Nations languages and/or regional languages is an asset. 

1. Contract type ICA
2. Contract level : IICA3 
3. Contract duration: Up to 100 days

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.