Environmental/Marine Specialist (Technical Specialist, Environmental), Knowledge Management

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.

A key outcome of the SCS-SAP project will be to facilitate a strengthened and formalised regional cooperation for the sustainable management of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand large marine ecosystems (LMEs). Regional cooperation is essential for the sustainable management of regional seas and LMEs large marine ecosystems. The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is one of the 18 Regional Seas Programmes for the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment in the East Asian Seas region, which includes the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand LMEs. COBSEA efforts are focused on addressing marine pollution, strengthening marine and coastal planning and management, and strengthening regional governance for marine environmental management.

Any regional cooperation in the region should be embedded within, or be an integrated part of, the Seas of East Asia under the Coordinating Body of the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). The SCS-SAP project will recruit a consultant to support the work of the Project Coordination Unit and the implementation of project’s activities on governance, collaboration and knowledge management, in close collaboration with the COBSEA Secretariat to ensure long-term sustainability of SCS-SAP project beyond its lifetime and integration with the COBSEA Secretariat.The next Intergovernmental Meeting of COBSEA (IGM26) is scheduled to take place in Cambodia in October 2024, which will include a specific agenda item on SCS-SAP synergy and longer-term sustainability.

The consultant will be under the overall supervision/direction of the Project Manager, in close coordination with the COBSEA Coordinator and other PCU staff members and project partners. The Consultant’s deliverables, covering three areas, include:

Governance: 

- Review and ensure alignment of SCS-SAP project outcomes with the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027

-  Develop and coordinate the work plan and activities on the sustainability and integration of the SCS-SAP project goals and targets with the overall objectives and activities of COBSEA

-  Coordinate and facilitate the activities of the SCS-SAP consultants with COBSEA member states and national focal points

-        Draft relevant SCS-SAP information and working document/s for presentation in the COBSEA Intergovernmental Meetings.

Collaboration:

- Review and ensure alignment and consolidation of SCS-SAP Regional Working Groups on Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Seagrass, and Coastal Wetlands with COBSEA’s Framework and Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

- Develop and coordinate the work plan and activities on integration of the SCS-SAP Regional Working Groups and COBSEA Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

- Review and ensure alignment of SCS-SAP efforts on marine pollution, specifically on nutrient pollution with COBSEA’s draft nutrient reduction strategy (RENEWSEAs) and other nutrients related/relevant projects

- Coordinate and facilitate the activities of the SCS-SAP consultants and working groups with COBSEA member states and national focal points

- Draft relevant SCS-SAP information and working documents for regional working group meetings

Knowledge Management: 

- Develop and coordinate work plan and activities on integration of SCS-SAP project outputs with the COBSEA knowledge management system

- Participate in and provide inputs to SCS-SAP knowledge management activities and events, including coordinating and facilitating such with COBSEA member states and national focal points

The consultant will be hosted by COBSEA, and co-located with the COBSEA Secretariat, in conjunction with UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

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

• 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.

• A minimum of 5 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 following countries: Cambodia/China/Indonesia/Philippines/Thailand/Viet Nam

• 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; 

• Demonstrated experience in inter-governmental mechanisms and UNEP regional sea programme 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, as well as COBSEA intergovernmental process, 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.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. 

• Fluency in one or more of the following languages is required: Khmer/Chinese/ Bahasa/Filipino/Thai/Vietnamese. 

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

Contract type: International ICA

• 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.