Programme Management Specialist (National Coordinator) Thailand, Retainer

Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) 

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.

South China Sea SAP (SCS SAP) Project

Summary Facts:

Participating Countries:  Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam

Implementation Agency: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Executing Agencies: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)

GEF Funding:15 million USD (with approximately 83 million USD in co-financing)

Timeline: 2018-2024

Web-links: https://scssap.org

The Challenge:

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, which supports 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. Recognizing that actions were urgently needed to halt degradation of the environment of this marine basin, the countries of the region sought the assistance of UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in preparing a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis of the issues and problems and their societal root causes as the basis for development of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) which was inter-governmentally adopted in 2008. The SAP established a series of objectives and priority costed actions for coastal habitats, land-based pollution management, and the over-exploitation of fish stocks in the South China Sea.

The Solution:

The objective of the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP Project) 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 (SCS) through implementation of the National Action Plans in support of the SAP, and strengthening regional co-ordination for SCS SAP implementation.” This will be achieved through the cooperation of participating countries, intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, public-private sectors partnerships, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), leading scientists from the region. The project will also contribute to global targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework.

Actions will be taken from the local to the regional level through three main components to achieve the following:

●       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

Under the overall guidance of the Senior Project Manager, the National Coordinator, will closely report and coordinate with the national lead agency who will provide direct supervision and guidance, will have the following responsibilities:

1. Guide the planning and execution of national activities (Outcomes 1.1 to 1.4) at the identified sites, including the application of best-practices, ensuring national teams and full stakeholder involvement;
2. Support National Lead Agency in the integration and alignment of key national priorities, also including national implementation of global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Convention of Biological Diversity post 2020 framework and others as appropriate;
3. Ensure that the design and execution of activities will achieve the agreed project targets, and flag any challenges to the Senior Project Manager;
4. Compile data on the agreed ecological and socio-economic indicators and contribute to the regional database; and
5. Conduct site visits and organize meetings with key partners and stakeholders.

1. Coordinate and prepare detailed yearly workplans and budgets in line with standard agreed formats;
2. Draft a national report on the status of SAP implementation from 2008-2020 in line with agreed guidance;
3. Coordinate the update of the national reports on seagrass, mangroves and wetlands, and land-based pollution, building upon previous reports and latest publications;
4. Draft Quarterly progress and finance reports, and report on key challenges to project execution and propose solutions;
5. Coordinate and prepare yearly report on co-financing with the support of the SCS SAP Project Coordination Unit; and
6. Draft publications, reports, lessons learned and best practices for dissemination nationally and through the SCS SAP project web-site.

1. Support the IMC Chairperson in the creation and/or organization of regular National Inter-Ministry Committees (IMC) on a biannual basis, in line with adopted TORs. Prepare meeting agenda, ensure participation of all key ministries and other national partners, and ask as secretary to the meeting. Draft short report in English;
2. Support the NTWG chairperson in organizing regular National Technical Working Groups (NTWG) on a biannual basis, in line with adopted TORs. Prepare meeting agenda, ensure participation of all key ministries and other national partners, and ask as secretary to the meeting. Draft short report in English;
3. Maintain up to date lists of all IMC, NTWG, National Committees and project key contacts and stakeholders, and provide regular updates to national contacts;
4. Recommend and/or organize and support ad-hoc coordination meetings with national partners as required, including Fisheries Refugia, Small Grants Program, CBD and SDG focal points and with key national initiatives and projects; and
5. Recommend and/or organize relevant training workshops to enhance capacity building to implement the SAP.

1. Participate and support in key regional meetings: SCS SAP Steering Committee, Regional Scientific and Technical Committee and Regional Working Group and Task forces, as well as specific thematic regional meetings (i.e., for the updating of the TDA and SAP and others); Ensure national participation and contributions to reports submitted in time;
2. Act as national focal point with IW:LEARN;
3. Support activities with regards to private sector engagement and fund mobilization for future actions beyond 2024;
4. Coordinate national inputs to the update of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and SAP; and
5. Contribute to other regional actions under Component 2 and 3 to be further elaborated in a national workplan.

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required preferably in 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.

Experience: 

• 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 Thailand and with the National Lead Agency (responsible for SAP Implementation);
• Experience and knowledge of the problems related to marine and coastal habitats (mangroves, seagrass, corals and wetlands) and pollution in Thailand and current best practices in restoration and effective management of habitats;
• 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, 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.
• Fluency in written and spoken Thai is required.
• Working knowledge of other United Nations languages and/or regional languages is an 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.