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’. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division (SSSF) at the Montreal duty station. Under the overall guidance of the Principal Management Officer of the Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer of the People and Biodiversity Unit (PB) the incumbent will perform the following duties:
Responsibilities
A. Leads the Convention’s joint work programme on biodiversity and health with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the objectives of the joint work programme and activities of the Convention on biodiversity and health, including monitoring and analyzing project development and implementation; reviewing relevant documents and reports; identifying relevant issues to be addressed; liaising with relevant parties and partners of the joint work programme. B. Leads and undertakes scientific research, develops and provides scientific advice on biodiversity and health and its interlinkages, in particular those addressed in the State of Knowledge Review, Connecting Global Priorities Biodiversity and Human Health and related Guidance. C. Organizes and prepares written outputs on biodiversity and health and its interlinkages (e.g. food security nutrition and noncommunicable diseases, the impacts of ecosystem alteration on human health, One Health, Ecohealth, microbial diversity, etc.), including draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, and organizes events to support in the implementation of the Convention’s joint work programme on biodiversity and health with WHO and their partners. D. Coordinates the activities of the Interagency Liaison Group on biodiversity and health, co-chaired by WHO, organizes meetings of the group, prepares relevant technical documents, briefing papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, and related education materials on biodiversity and health and its interlinkages, and provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include providing substantive input, proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents, presentations, etc. E. Conducts capacity-building and training workshops, seminars, and flagship events on biodiversity and health and its interlinkages; prepares and delivers presentations on biodiversity and health and supervises, initiates and coordinates education and outreach activities on biodiversity and health. F. Strengthens partnerships under the Convention’s joint work programme on with WHO on biodiversity and health, to support the inclusion of biodiversity and health considerations in relevant strategies of the Convention such as the post-2020 Global Framework for Biodiversity, as well as Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. G. Performs other duties as required by the Convention and WHO in line with the objectives of the Convention’s objectives joint work programme on biodiversity and health.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Advance the work of the Convention’s joint work programme on biodiversity and health and the Interagency liaison group on biodiversity and health to mainstream biodiversity and health linkages at all levels. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter within the Unit. 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.
• 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 risk and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
• 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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science, environmental health, environmental impact assessment or biological sciences is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the area of biodiversity and human health and their interlinkages is required. Please explain in examples how you meet this requirement.
Experience within an international organization and/or the United Nations is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available until 20 July 2021. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
