Programme Management Assistant, G6

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development. A key agreement opened for signature at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. This post is located in the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) within the Access and Benefit-Sharing Protocol Unit (ABS) in Montreal, Canada. Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Access and Benefit-Sharing Protocol Unit (ABS) and the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (ABS) the incumbent will carry out the following functions:

Responsibilities

A. Provides planning and implementation support, in collaboration with relevant programme managers, for capacity-building, awareness-raising and technical support to governments and other stakeholders with respect to the ABS Clearing-House: a) Provides technical assistance to government officials and other stakeholders to resolve issues related to capacity-building and technical support on the ABS Clearing-House. b) Monitors status, tracks and analyzes progress related to national implementation of the Protocol and the work done on capacity-building, awareness raising and technical support for the ABS Clearing-House. c) Ensures all communications, outputs, and services provided are properly categorized, updated and recorded and that the requisite follow-up actions have been initiated with a view to ensuring all issues are resolved in a prompt and organized manner. d) Develops and maintains productive collaboration with government officials, and other users of the ABS Clearing-House, by identifying their needs and matching them with the appropriate support, keeping them informed on updates and changes to the system, and by anticipating problems and suggesting improved solutions. e) Performs review and analysis of official submissions from governments, as well as other stakeholders and proposes adjustments and improvements to improve the quality of and information submitted when needed. f) Assists in the preparation and drafting of capacity-building, technical support, correspondence and related communication material. g) Provides reliable assistance in the coordination, preparation, organization of face-to-face trainings presentations and webinars for government officials and other stakeholders. B. Support Secretariat’s work in the administration and implementation of the ABS Clearing-House: a) Contributes to and assists in the preparation of relevant official documents, reports, proposals, budgets, notifications and other relevant materials. b) Contributes to the preparation of reports and reviews by generating a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes. c) Performs user testing of the functionality of the ABS Clearing-House and related IT systems, suggests improvements, identifies and initiates follow-up on the resolution of issues. d) Coordinates and supports the translation of the website (importing/exporting of translation packages, coordinating translations with other websites, managing issues related to budget, contracts and procurement of translation services). e) Provides reliable assistance in the coordination, preparation, organization of relevant meetings and capacity-building activities. f) Prepares, maintains and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases (for example on national focal points, publishing authorities, and offline submissions and contacts). g) Drafts correspondence and communications related to the ABS Clearing-House, including work plan and budgets, notifications, statements, as well as prepares contributions for a variety of periodic reports. C. Manages the system to monitor and track government and stakeholder progress and engagement related to information-sharing and the ABS Clearing-House: a) Maintains and manages the system to track bugs, issues, supports requests and all interactions with government officials and other stakeholders related to the ABS Clearing-House and the technical support helpdesk. b) Provides statistics, reports, analysis and review of the issue tracking knowledge base and the information on the ABS Clearing-House. c) Supports the monitoring and evaluation of the ABS Clearing-House and related activities and materials by carrying out targeted surveys and compiling feedback. D. Assists in the overall capacity-building, awareness-raising, technical support and communication work for the Nagoya Protocol and related SCBD activities. a) Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. b) Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. E. Performs and carries out other activities and duties as assigned by the supervisor or Head of Unit or OES.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their utilization and use of the ABS Clearing-House. Proven analytical capacity and in-depth knowledge of the various complex dimensions of the environment and sustainable development; good research skills and ability to coordinate the production of reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit documents. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Commits to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Supplementary training in administration, programme and project management or related field is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project management, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development or related areas is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to two (2) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience working with Microsoft Office applications, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, is required Experience in communications, user experience, or related functions within an international or multicultural organization is desirable. Experience in web development, business analysis, requirements gathering, web design, user acceptance testing, or related areas is desirable. Experience with Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) processes, including practical use of the ABS Clearing-House platform, is desirable. One (1) year or more experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice The appointment against this post is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension. External candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited ("FTA-limited") in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. Renewal of appointments is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.