Environmental/Marine Consultant (Technical Specialist, Environmental), Retainer

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements,  such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The South China Sea region and the UNEP/GEF SCS-SAP Project

The South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are two of a total of 66 Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) recognized by the GEF. They are semi-enclosed seas, which support a number of unique habitats and ecosystems that are amongst the most biologically diverse shallow water marine ecosystems globally. The richness and productivity of the South China Sea and associated environments are, however, seriously threatened by high population growth, pollution, overharvest and habitat modification, resulting in high rates of habitat loss and impairment of the regenerative capacities of living resources. The socio-economic impacts of environmental deterioration are significant for the economies of this region. 

Recognising that actions were urgently needed to halt degradation of the environment of this marine basin, the UNEP/GEF project “Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” was implemented from 2003-2008. A key output of this project is the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) which was inter-governmentally adopted in 2008. To implement the SAP, the UNEP/GEF project “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea (SCS-SAP)” was approved by GEF in November 2016 with UNOPS as the executing agency.

One of the key milestone outcomes of the SCS-SAP project will be the development of an updated Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and associated Strategic Action Programme that incorporate all the recent international agreements and developments like the Paris Agreement on climate change, the global adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the emergence of the concept of the Blue Economy and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The updating will include an assessment of options for anchoring the updated TDA and SAP within a regional entity, such as the Coordinating Body for the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) with a view to increase long-term sustainability and regional/national ownership  of the SAP.

The SCS-SAP regional Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will provide: project management services, communication, knowledge management, support/oversight and direct implementation services for the project’s activities, as well as the geographic and thematic coordination of those project activities that are to be implemented by the different participating countries and/or project Executing Partners (e.g. other UN Agencies and IGO’s, national governments, NGO’s, CSO’s, private companies, as applicable). 

In the above context, UNOPS seeks to engage a Consultant to lead the TDA and SAP updating (TDA/SAP Consultant), which is one of the key milestone outcomes of the project.

This position will be expected to bring in substantive technical expertise on marine science in general and on the current status of the TDA and SAP processes in the context of blue economy thinking and source-to-sea connectivities.

Design and implement a process plan for the development of the TDA and SAP following a modular implementation and delivery

Geographic scope: 
Updating of the TDA will focus on the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand LMEs. Where appropriate, interactions with surrounding LMEs (Indonesian Seas, Sulu-Celebes, East China Sea) within the COBSEA mandate, will be mentioned, but full-blown TDA analyses of these are not included in the current assignment.

Overall content deliverables: 

• TDA Reports (national, thematic, synthesis): Analysis of transnational environmental issues resulting from and impacting social, environmental and economic wellbeing under changing climate

• SAP Report: Endorsed negotiated policy document with priority actions with clear transboundary/ global benefits; and institutional mechanisms at regional and national levels for implementing priority strategic actions

The process plan follows a modular design in developing project deliveries through a facilitated and participatory process among stakeholders, including forging private-public partnerships:

• Module 1: Desk Review of original TDA and SAP using global data sets on governance, socioeconomic wellbeing, ocean health and blue economy components such as fisheries, nutrient pollution, and tourism among others. The analysis of data from global sources will serve also as examples for deriving patterns of risks (e.g. ocean environmental states, socioeconomic wellbeing, governance capacity) using quantitative indicators. National TDAs and Thematic TDAs will be produced by national teams and thematic consultants, respectively, and will serve as building blocks together with findings derived from global data sets, for a synthetic TDA report.

TDA/SAP Consultant Tasks and Deliverables: Partial Draft of TDA using global data sets and draft roadmap (menu) of strategic actions, 2024 Q3

• For Modules 2 and 3,  conduct a series of three Workshops to develop a TDA and SAP that is transparent and building on the contribution of all stakeholders through the national teams, regional partners, both public, private and from civil society, as follows:

• Workshop I: Data assembly and analyses for TDA issues and mitigation steps at national scale, 2024 Q2 – National TDA Teams
• Workshop II: Sharing TDA Findings and Identifying Strategic actions at national and regional scales including thematic interactions, 2025 Q2
• Workshop III: Formulating a Participatory SAP, 2026 Q1

• Module 2: Conduct and facilitate two Workshops on national and thematic TDA Analysis and Identifying priority actions using national and regional data sets produced in Module 1:

Required inputs for Workshop 1 are:

• Assemble National data sets on status of marine resource capital, blue economy potential (states of governance, social equity, environmental sustainability, economic viability)

• Identifying quantitative Indicators and their assessments for use in transboundary diagnostic analyses

• A framework for stakeholder mapping for national consultation in formulating national TDA and SAP reports

TDA/SAP Consultant Tasks and Deliverables: 

• Workshop concept design and facilitation in coordination with thematic consultants and PCU

• Workshop Report by SCS TDA-SAP PCU

Required inputs for Workshop 2 are:

• Draft TDA at national scale and potential actions including policy gaps – National Reports by 2025 Q1, by national teams

• Draft Thematic TDAs and regional actions – Thematic consultants by 2025 Q1

TDA/SAP Consultant Tasks and Deliverables:

• Workshop concept design and facilitation in coordination with thematic consultants and PCU

• Workshop Report by SCS TDA-SAP PCU

• Synthesis of TDA inputs into a final TDA report with national and thematic TDAs as authored appendices. 2025 Q4

• Module 3: Conduct and facilitate Workshop 3 on Participatory SAP Formulation based on TDA Synthesis Report, 2026 Q1

Required inputs for Workshop 3: 

• National consultations on National SAPs, 2025 Q3

• Thematic consultations on Regional SAP, 2025 Q4 

• Government investments and public-private partnerships for Regional SAP, 2025 Q4

TDA/SAP Consultant Tasks and Deliverables:

• Workshop concept design and facilitation in coordination with thematic consultants and PCU

• Workshop Report by SCS TDA-SAP PCU

• Draft report on updated Strategic Action Programme based on prioritized actions to address multi-scalar TDA results, following the convening of Workshop III

• Finalise SAP report for SCM approval, 2026 Q2, for presentation to IGM on 2026 Q3

• Master’s Degree, or equivalent, in Marine Sciences, Marine Governance, Environmental, Natural Resources or Marine Ecosystems Management, Natural Resources Economics, Marine Fisheries, or a similar/related field(s) directly relevant to the project’s scope and objectives 

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

• Complementary training/certification in project management, multi-stakeholder processes, knowledge management, communications and/or other topics of potential relevance for the assignment will be positively evaluated

• A minimum of 5 years of successful experience in transboundary diagnostic analysis and strategic action programme process, supporting the implementation or evaluation of technical project activities, environmental consultancies, related advisory, or multi-stakeholder processes, ideally at both national and international levels is required

• Practical experience supporting the activities of complex, multi-year, multi-country sustainable development projects, in particular within the context of the UN system/UNEP/UNOPS and/or the GEF International Waters Focal Area, or similar, will be considered important assets

• Expertise in/sound knowledge of marine/natural resources governance/management, in fields/on topics relevant to this assignment

• Familiarity with the goals and regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices of international organizations (GEF, UNEP, UNOPS, others…) will be considered an important asset

• Practical work experience covering/in the Wider East Asian Sea and South China Sea regions, in a function(s) relevant to the announced position(s) will be positively considered 

• Familiarity with the ongoing regional ocean/marine resources governance processes in the Wider East Asian and South China Sea  region, with the SCS SAP Project and/or with related global, regional and national-level initiatives will be positively considered

• Prior exposure to and familiarity with diplomacy and protocol, and experience with its practical application in the context of regional or global multi-country processes, will be positively considered

• Fluency in (written and oral) English;

• Knowledge of other languages (Khmer/Chinese/ Bahasa/ Filipino/Thai/Vietnamese) from the region would constitute an additional asset.

Contract type: ICA retainer modality. A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work.

• 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. 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.