Senior Adviser- Climate Transparency and Communications

Job categories Communications

Vacancy code VA/2024/B5002/29325

Level ICS-11

Department/office GPO, GVA, Water, Environment & Climate (WEC)

Duty station Bonn, Germany

Contract type International ICA

Contract level IICA-3

Duration Open ended contract subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

Application period 04-Dec-2024 to 05-Jan-2025

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

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Background Information - Job-specific

Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT)

The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) was established in 2015 at the COP that adopted the Paris Agreement to support the implementation of the Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework.

ICAT provides countries with tailored support and practical tools and methodologies to build robust transparency frameworks needed for effective climate action in sync with national development priorities. The projects ICAT supports relate to: building or enhancing transparency frameworks for mitigation; building a monitoring and evaluation approach for adaptation; building or enhancing frameworks to track progress in implementing nationally determined contributions; assessing the impacts of climate policies; estimating or enhancing projections of greenhouse gases; integrating and/or aggregating climate actions at the subnational level and by non-State actors; building a tracking system for just transition processes; establishing or enhancing a climate data system; and putting in place a framework to track climate finance.

To support these areas, ICAT offers a suite of practical, open-source tools and methodologies to provide effective support to the transparency efforts of countries around the world.

ICAT is an unincorporated multi-stakeholder partnership steered by the Donor Steering Committee (DSC), conformed by its donors, Austria; Canada; Germany; Italy; and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and includes the UNFCCC Secretariat as the dedicated UN body with a climate change policy mandate, and UNOPS as an ex-officio member. The Initiative is managed by UNOPS on behalf of the DSC. Within UNOPS, the ICAT Secretariat manages ICAT day-to-day activities, coordinating and guiding the work of the implementing partners.

The Water, Environment and Climate Portfolio

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 USD 500 million (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.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions The Senior Adviser will...

Summary of Key Functions

The Senior Adviser will guide the further development of the ICAT toolbox and lead ICAT's communications, outreach and knowledge sharing efforts, in particular:

Provide technical guidance, expertise and support to the knowledge development and sharing activities of the ICAT Secretariat and manage the sharing of learnings among ICAT partner countries;
Design, develop and oversee the implementation of ICAT’s communications and partnership strategy and related products; and
Supervise the further development of ICAT’s toolbox and its training programme.

1. Provide technical guidance, expertise and support to the knowledge development and sharing activities of the ICAT Secretariat, including:

Coordinating the planning for ICAT knowledge sharing activities to maximize the reach of learnings and experiences from ICAT’s country and regional activities, ensuring good understanding of ICAT’s approach and objectives, and giving good visibility to ICAT’s tools and methodologies;
Engaging ICAT’s implementing partners to leverage their support and collaboration in implementing ICAT knowledge sharing activities, ensuring consistency in message and approach across all ICAT activities;
Organizing regular knowledge exchange events to build the capacities of the ICAT partner countries. Modalities of exchange may include face to face, virtual meetings, webinars, communities of practice, per-to-peer events, etc. covering all topics that form part of ICAT’s mandate;
Designing and rolling out of ad hoc knowledge exchanges and trainings for presentation at regional/international fora on selected topics taking inspiration and practical lessons learned from implementation of the ICAT projects;
Compiling knowledge, best practices and emerging issues of relevance to ICAT partners both from global processes and from ICAT projects;
Leading the knowledge management activities for ICAT publications, outreach material and partner engagement, and propose tools for implementing it; and
Managing ICAT’s tools and systems used for knowledge sharing and creating new ones as needed for activities to engage communities of practice at global level and with thematic focus.

2. Design, develop and oversee the implementation of ICAT’s communications and partnership strategy and related products in support of ICAT’s strategic priorities and ongoing activities.

This includes:

Communications strategy:

Leading on the development of the ICAT communications and partnership strategy to ensure coordinated, targeted and coherent communications with existing partners, future prospects and external audiences in line with ICAT’s strategic objectives, covering all relevant components and action areas, and coordinate its implementation;
Leading and coordinating the ICAT communications group with a view to engaging representatives of the ICAT Implementing Partners; and
Developing ICAT’s web and social media strategies to support and strengthen work by partners and initiatives in order to promote ICAT activities and objectives.

External communications:

Managing all ICAT external communications in line with the communications and partnership strategy;
Leading the content preparation for ICAT website ensuring quality and uptodate content for its overall structure, and main messaging, and sound drafting of ICAT case studies to clearly communicate ICAT success stories and impact;
Managing ICAT external communications to ensure that key messages and content used in outreach material, statements by the ICAT Director and presentations highlight ICAT offers, achievements and impact and advance the communications strategy;
Managing and providing creative inputs to ICAT communication activities and events, including follow-up with partners through the planning and execution of integrated multi-channel communication (website, social media, email marketing, webinars, side events to global climate conferences, etc.);
Leading the preparation of outreach material, such as flyers, brochures, power-point presentations, regular newsletters etc.;
Leading the preparation of ICAT webinars to promote ICAT tools and methodologies;
Specifying appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders;
Developing and maintaining ICAT branding guidelines for ICAT partners ensuring these are in line with the ICAT donor agreements and UNOPS corporate requirements;
Managing timely response to external information requests;
Preparing media releases and liaising with media for interviews, identifying opportunities and pitching stories as needed;
Liaising with communications colleagues in the United Nations, especially the UNFCCC secretariat, UNRIC, UNEP, UNDP, and UNOPS to keep aligned with system-wide communications and campaigns and exchange information;
Supporting partnership and relationships management with other initiatives and organizations; and
Supporting donor relationship management, by developing proposals for a donor outreach and fund-raising strategy and support its implementation.

Internal communication

Supporting the ICAT Director in ensuring effective ICAT internal communication flows, in particular with the Donor Steering Committee, the Advisory Committee and the Initiative Coordination Team;
Developing the preparation of project and programmatic documents for expanding ICAT;
Guiding and advising Secretariat colleagues on knowledge management and communications to ensure overall consistency and effectiveness of outreach activities; and
Providing any additional support as required.

3. Supervise the further development of ICAT’s toolbox and its training programme:

Oversee the development of a strategy and action plan in coordination with the ICAT Secretariat’s technical personnel for the ICAT’s toolbox expansion and training activities.

This includes:

Managing the development of the ICAT toolbox in line with ICAT’s overall strategy, including the necessary evaluation of tools and methodologies with a view to identifying priority gaps and needs that ICAT should address, including through updates of what is already in the toolbox;
Overseeing the development of ICAT’s capacity building approach and guiding colleagues in the ICAT Secretariat and among implementing partners to maximize effectiveness and ensure coherence in ICAT’s approach;
Overseeing ICAT’s training activities to ensure the develop in line with ICAT’s strategy, build on experience gained and reflect a state-of-the-art approach; and
Guiding the organization and roll out of the ICAT’s training programme ensuring integration with knowledge sharing and communications.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education An advanced university d...

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Environmental Management, Communications or any other relevant subject is required;
A Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with additional two years may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience

A minimum of 7 years (9 years if combined with a Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience with climate change and communication activities is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in climate change is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in Communications is required.
Experience related to climate policy is also required.
A deep understanding of national and international climate policy processes and the role of climate transparency is required.
Experience in communications is required.
Experience of working within the international development sector is a significant asset.
Experience in web design and of working with social media and website management (including content creation) is desirable.

Language Language

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: ICS 1...

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.

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