Keywords: Locuri de munca & Internship

Tags: project manager environment

This post is located in UNEP's Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), at the Nairobi duty station.

Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Director, DEPI and the supervision of the Deputy Director and Coordinator, Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch, the incumbent will perform the following functions: 1. Development and implementation of UNEP forest work: a) In the context of UNEP's Climate Change Strategy, Ecosystems Management Programme, lead development and implementation of the UNEP forests programme in cooperation with other Divisions across UNEP; b) Facilitate partnerships for dialogue and implementation with, inter alia, forest experts from national and international organizations, including the Food Agricultural Organization, UN Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the World Bank, UNDP, CIFOR- Center for International Forestry Research, ICRAF - World Agro Forestry Centre and UN Forum on Forests; c) Coordinate UNEP's work on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in support of country's efforts and the continuing dialogue of the UNFCCC. 2. Coordination and development of the terrestrial ecosystems activities within the DEPI ecosystems programme: a) Coordinate activities to facilitate development and implementation of the terrestrial ecosystems programme including the mobilization of resources, including initiating and/or assessing the viability of environmental projects and programme elements in ecosystem management and making recommendations to the Branch Coordinator and Division management; b) Liaise with relevant UN agencies, inter-governmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure collaboration in programme development and implementation; c) Coordinate the preparation of reports for presentation to senior management, governing councils and intergovernmental bodies ensuring quality of technical papers and follow up to Senior Management Team decisions; d) Develop and advocate innovative concepts and tools designed to improve or re-orient implementation of the terrestrial ecosystems with UNEP's policy objectives; e) Lead, organize and/or participate in substantive discussions, meetings and conferences and represent the unit at international, regional or national meetings and provide programmatic and substantive expertise; f) Provide policy and programme guidance to Branch Coordinator and Division management to align unit activities with UNEP's overall mandates and strategic objectives; g) Report on the status of implementation of the work programme regularly as scheduled by the UN reporting requirements; 3) Enhance UNEP's engagement on biodiversity and land degradation: a) Review and analyse UNEP's current work on biodiversity and land degradation and develop potential areas of future DEPI engagement into a comprehensive project portfolio with complementary linkages to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity; b) Liaising and consulting to tap into the strengths of the relevant UNEP Divisions design a cross-divisional project portfolio tapping into the diverse expertise within UNEP; c) Design and develop management tools and capacity building activities to assist countries in reversing the degradation of ecosystems in the biodiversity and land degradation work of the Unit. 4) Management of the DEPI/Terrestrial Ecosystem Unit (TEU): a) Recommend to the Branch Coordinator the allocation of financial resources, justifying administrative and/or results-based budget proposals and work plans; monitor and report on budgetary performance of the Unit; b) Manage staff performance and ensure ongoing professional development, continued learning and the right mix of skills and competencies; under delegated authority from the Branch Coordinator initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions; c) Guide and support professional and general service staff in meeting their objectives and outputs; foster teamwork and communication in the Unit and across organizational boundaries; d) Perform other duties as may be required.

Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrated competence and mastery in forestry management/land management/biodervsity ecosystems. The incumbent should be conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, achieving results and highly motivated professionally especially when faced with difficult problems and challenges. Leadership: Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives and drive for change and improvement. Facilitate understanding of common objectives and vision while delegating to empower others in their areas of expertise. Communication: Ability to communicate distinct organizational directions, maintain effective partnerships and collaborative working relations including the ability to present sensitive issues/positions, while upholding decisions that are in the organization's interest even if they are unpopular. Judgement: Discretion and sound judgement in applying expertise to complex and sensitive issues, with partners, stakeholders and staff under supervision.

Qualifications
Education: Advanced degree in a natural resources (Land, Forestry, Biodiversity) discipline is a requirement or a first university degree in a natural resources discipline and an appropriate combination of relevant professional experience in ecosystems management and elements that impact ecosystems.
Work Experience: At least 10 years of progressively responsible work in Land/Forestry/Biodiversity or ecosystem management/natural resources management including 5 years at the international level with at least 2 years in leadership and supervisory capacity managing performance for at least 5-10 professional/technical staff members. The incumbent should have experience in developing projects and raising funds for environmental programmes/projects.
Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage.
Other Skills: Good negotiation skills, personal management and team building. Demonstrated leadership skills and proven ability to develop long-term international programmes are assets.

www.unep.org/vacancies (Professional positions)

Deadline: 2008/12/15

Country or region: Kenya