Climate Adaptation Specialist (Retainer, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement, and infrastructure services.  A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG). 

Within UNOPS, IPMG’s objectives are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance. IPMG is managed overall by the Director of IPMG. 

UNOPS Organizational readiness

The organizational readiness is focused primarily on the UNOPS mandate in infrastructure, project management, and procurement. It aims to cover the ad-hoc resource needs of the Regional Portfolios to implement the corporate strategy and address the needs of donors.

UNOPS Corporate Retainer Pool

Since November 2019, the Corporate Retainer Pool (CRP) provides ad-hoc resources to UNOPS business units in several expertise areas identified by the HQ business units and in consultation with the regions. It covers a wide range of expertise areas. It is managed by the Portfolio Support team in IPMG.

Background Information – Job Specific 

UNOPS Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 outlines how the institution will contribute to expanding implementation capacity for countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals amid the COVID-19 crisis and the climate emergency. Particularly, climate action is outlined as a cardinal point for UNOPS to address in order to support the achievement of the SDGs and Paris Agreement goals while leaving no one behind. 

Working within the Infrastructure and Project Management Group, the Infrastructure Climate Adaptation Specialist (Retainer) will be expected to provide climate adaptation technical support and guidance for various infrastructure sector programmes and projects globally (with a focus on energy, transport and buildings), in all offices where UNOPS operates. 

This retainer position falls under the UNOPS Corporate retainer pool,  the Strategic Initiatives (SI) will be responsible for the technical onboarding and supervision of the Infrastructure Climate Adaptation Specialist (Retainer).All corporate retainers are invited to participate to a one-hour induction session (or two 30 minutes sessions) where they are guided through UNOPS retainer management tool, the retainer contract modality and their expertise area in the UNOPS context.

The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the requesting office/unit, while the SI will exercise an oversight function. Under this contract type, the assignments will vary in scope and duration - ranging from short term assignments of a few hours at a time to longer blocks of time (e.g. several weeks or months full time, and up to a year). Work may also vary with regards to the time zone / location. Whilst most assignments can be delivered working from home, some may require presence in HQ and/or international travel on occasion, including to remote or post-conflict environments. Whilst the successful incumbent can be based in different time-zones, s/he should be able and willing to ensure a degree of time overlap with the teams ordering the retainer’s services. 

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis a full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum) - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities, pending acceptance of the incumbent of the assignments proposed to him/her.

All retainer assignments will be handled via the UNOPS online retainer management tool, including the request for the retainer’s services and the provision of feedback for each assignment. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

 Purpose and scope of the assignment 

Under the technical supervision of the Head of Strategic Initiatives, the Retainer will provide climate adaptation technical advisory and supervision in the conceptualization and implementation of infrastructure projects (mainly in the energy, transport and buildings sectors)  in different countries in at least one of UNOPS’ regions. The Retainer will provide technical knowledge and will contribute to processes and decisions to facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development and activities such as climate risk identification, vulnerability assessments, mainstreaming climate adaptation measures in infrastructure development and the provision of all adaptation and resilience support and services to different UNOPS partners and client countries. He/She will provide technical guidance on all aspects of resilience of infrastructure to inform effective project programming, management and partnerships. In addition, he/she is expected to provide  technical climate adaptation support in support of ongoing infrastructure  projects in other UNOPS regions as may be required.  As needed, the expert will provide climate adaptation oversight on program design and management, working closely with stakeholders to mainstream climate adaptation actions in projects. 

Functional Responsibilities

The specific tasks for each assignment may vary depending on the needs of the requesting office.  Under the overall guidance and oversight of the Strategic Initiatives Unit and direct supervision of the designated Supervisor within the requesting office, the Retainer will work on a retainer contract and will be called upon for specific projects to fulfill one or more of the following key tasks: 

Technical expertise

• Provide advisory support in addressing climate adaptation and resilience infrastructure needs in developing countries.

• Support the mainstreaming of climate resilience and adaptation actions in technical documents of infrastructure projects, papers and corporate communication materials.

• Conduct assessments of the potential risks that the project implementation will increase the vulnerability of human populations and natural systems to climate variability and change, and to contribute to maladaptation.

• Recommend Climate Risk Management Plans (CRMP) for the implementation of proposed measures to reduce climate-related risks and adapt to climate change.

• Provide advice and assistance in the development of strategies, regulatory frameworks, guidelines, and  enabling the environment to promote climate adaptation and resilience in infrastructure sectors.

• Provide technical climate adaptation advice to project teams and partners at any life cycle stages of infrastructure project development in compliance with UNFCCC climate adaptation guidelines. 

• Provide climate adaptation inputs and support at events and meetings with stakeholders and partners. 

• Collaborate with environmental scientists, economists, and engineers across UNOPS to design and implement high-quality analysis and technical solutions for infrastructure projects.

 Capacity development and training

• Support the design, development and / or implementation of infrastructure climate adaptation  training programmes and capacity building initiatives for both internal and external participants

• Support the delivery of training tools and techniques to mainstream climate adaptation and resilience in UNOPS infrastructure and project management services.

• Enhance and strengthen the enabling environment for the development of climate-resilient infrastructure

Practice contribution and Knowledge Sharing

• Support  climate adaptation best practice guidance is disseminated and communicated throughout the relevant programmes and country offices and departments

• Contribute to UNOPS knowledge management by capturing case studies and best practice examples of climate adaptation in infrastructure projects/programmes throughout UNOPS 

• Provide substantive contribution to UNOPS Climate Change practice focusing on continuous improvement of climate adaptation and resilience; support the development of policy, guidance and tools.

• Support and contribute to the body of knowledge to mobilizing public and private investment for climate-resilient infrastructure

Business development

• Advise UNOPS country offices on opportunities for resilient infrastructure development in addition to sharing  with clients institutional and industry knowledge of climate adaptation options  in infrastructure.

• Provide climate adaptation support in formulation of new initiatives, projects and programmes related to sustainable and resilient inclusive infrastructure 

• Provide climate adaptation support to enable the delivery of resilient Infrastructure projects and provide support to UNOPS project teams and partners in line with the climate aspirations in the UNOPS corporate strategy.

• Serve as a technical contributor for business development activities through conceptualisation of technical approaches, teaming strategies, partner negotiations. 

• Present results from in-depth technical research and analysis on key infrastructure sectors to support business development and thought leadership such as on climate resilience, nature-based solutions, market systems, private sector participation, financing and others.

Education

• A Master’s Degree or equivalent preferably in Engineering, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, International Development, Public Administration or a related field from a recognized university. 

• Applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree with additional 2 years of relevant working  experience may also be considered in lieu of the Master’s Degree. 

Required Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years experience of climate adaptation and resilience in the infrastructure sectors preferably in one or more of the  following sectors: energy, transport and buildings sectors.

• Experience in how to adapt infrastructure projects to optimize the exploitation of opportunities arising from climate change, to promote wider climate resilience, adaptation and adaptive capacity.

Desired experience:

• Experience in identifying potential climate-related risks to infrastructure projects implementation and the successful realization of the projects’ intended benefits.

• Experience in conducting climate vulnerability assessments and implementing climate adaptation measures.

• Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues in the context of climate change risk and infrastructure  management;

• International experience in developing countries is highly desirable.

• Previous assignments with the UN system will be an added advantage. 

• Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks and other donors would be considered an asset.

• Experience in mainstreaming climate adaptation actions in other sectors of infrastructure e.g Water, Digital development, waste management would be a plus.

• Familiarity with the Joint MDB climate Co-Benefits methodology on adaptation, and the Paris Alignment frameworks for adaptation

Language

• Fluency in English  or  French or Spanish is required.

• Intermediate English is required for the candidates with fluency in French and Spanish

• Please note that:

  • the shortlisted candidates will be invited to indicate in which language they want to take the written tests (English or French or Spanish). 

  • however, the competency based interviews will be held in English.

Contract type: ICA retainer
Contract level: ICS-10, ICA-2
Contract duration: 1 year, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and business needs

• 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 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.