Environment Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Environment Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Environment Officer will work closely with colleagues responsible for protection, site planning, water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, health, community services and livelihoods. The incumbent will support the UNHCR Office on all issues related to environment and climate change, including mainstreaming into all sectors and aspects of the country operation. S/he will lead in coordination of the environment sector, ensuring all UNHCR policies are in line with global and national strategies.

Regular and frequent discussions between the incumbent and the supervisor(s) are necessary to ensure that the latest best practices and procedures are shared and applied consistently on issues related to environment and climate change. The incumbent will undertake missions to the camps and liaise with field offices on the implementation of environment programmes. In addition, the staff member will maintain regular contact with UN technical agencies, development partners, line ministries and agencies, implementing and operational partners as needed.

Refugee operations inherently degrade environments because of changes in land use and increased use of natural resources.  It is imperative to ensure environmental mitigation measures are in place to ensure sustainable natural resource use for wellbeing refugees and host communities.

Proactive coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders, including refugees and host communities, is required to synergise resources.  Interventions are evidence-based to ensure their appropriateness.  Environment and social screening in addition to environmental impact assessments will be required to evaluate the Operation.

The Environment Officer should be capable of working with minimum supervision in project submissions, revisions and reallocations throughout the project lifecycle in the environment programme. S/he will be instrumental in contributing to the development of specific inputs related to the sector and must meet reporting requirements. The incumbent should be part of the Multi-function Team to ensure that environmental concerns are mainstreamed and taken into consideration in any decision making process.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Ensure environmental considerations are systematically included when assessing the needs of PoCs.
– Based on assessments, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, identify sustainable solutions to address the basic needs of PoCs while mitigating the environmental impact of the interventions.
– Actively support site planners to ensure environmental considerations are mainstreamed throughout the settlement design process with due consideration for the environmental conditions in surrounding host areas.
– Work in close coordination with all relevant sectors and clusters in UNHCR, including Protection, WASH, Health, Shelter and Settlements, Livelihoods, Energy, Camp Coordination & Camp Management to ensure environmental concerns and impact mitigation measures are included in operational responses.
– Collect, analyse and update data and information concerning the environmental status of settlements and broader hosting areas.
– Contribute to internal and external reporting commitments, including proposal writing for environment and energy while ensuring new projects are coherent and visibly complement planned interventions at country level.
– Ensure all responses work toward environmental sustainability for both PoCs and host communities.
– Support Programme in the technical oversight of UNHCR implementing partners to ensure environmental considerations are adequately integrated in technical interventions.
– Support quality monitoring of interventions, track and record relevant indicators in UNHCR¿s corporate tools.
– When applicable, represent UNHCR and support coordination meetings 
– Support mobilization of resources for the implementation of environment and climate change interventions.
– Stay abreast of new technologies and relevant partnerships related to environment and climate change to more efficiently respond to the needs of PoCs, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.
– Develop and coordinate training and capacity building activities to address the identified skills and knowledge gaps.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Environmental Studies;
Management of Natural Resources;
Agriculture;
Forestry;
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Minimum 4 years of experience in environmental assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation of integrated environmental programmes/projects in displacement and stable situations. Awareness of and practical experience with refugee-related environmental problems. Familiarity with emerging environmentally sustainable and appropriate technologies. Familiarity with community-based and participatory approaches.
Desirable:
Budgeting, planning and managerial skills, ability to work with various (relevant) computer software. Proven coordination experience with multi-sectorial stakeholders and interlocutors. Broad understanding of climate change narrative and initiatives geared towards mitigation of impacts.

Functional Skills
MS-Analysis;
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation;
MS-Producing Reports;
IT-Computer Literacy;
CM-Cross-Cultural Communication;
MG-Negotiation;
MG-Project Management;
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

C001L3 – Accountability Level 3
C002L3 – Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 – Communication Level 3
C004L3 – Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 – Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 – Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 – Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M003L3 – Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M006L3 – Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 – Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 – Planning and Organizing Level 3

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in the  March 2020Compendium is Thursday 16 April 2020 (midnight Geneva time