Programme Management Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme 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 and associated traditional knowledge. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal, Canada, and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary, Office and the direct supervision of the Head of Access and Benefit-Sharing Unit (ABS), the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities

A. Provides secretarial services for meetings under the Nagoya Protocol on ABS. including technical and logistical support: (a) contributing to the preparation of meeting documents, including collecting, organizing, analyzing, and summarizing substantive information to draft documents (e.g. agendas. pre-session and in-session documents, recommendations, meeting reports, meeting minutes. official statements ) (b) assists with the overall logistical arrangements of the meetings. B. Provides support for the implementation and management of the work programme on the Nagoya Protocol on ABS: (a) drafting inputs for a wide range of correspondence and documents related to ABS. such as official notifications and letters for governments and partners as well as public requests for information; b) contributing to the preparation of project proposals and reports, including financial reporting and budget management; (c) filing, storing and managing internal data and information relevant to ABS. C. • Provides support for capacity-building activities on ABS: (a) assists with workshops and briefings held on ABS, including drafting preparatory documents and meeting reports, preparing PowerPoint presentations, taking notes during the discussions and helping with logistical arrangements (b) liaising with colleagues in other divisions of the SCBD and external partners to organize the activities; (c) on a few occasions, giving presentations on the Nagoya Protocol to stakeholders. D. Contributes to the development of awareness-raising materials on ABS: (a) drafting substantive inputs and coordinating the production of communications materials with consultants (translation, design and printing); (b) maintaining and updating the Nagoya Protocol online portal and updating internal databases related to ABS. E. Contributes to the recruitment and appointment of new staff members on ABS, including drafting terms of reference, reviewing applications received, summarizing qualifications of candidates, participating in selection committees. Executes any other duties as required by the supervisor.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Proven analytical capacity and in-depth knowledge of the various complex dimensions of 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. ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures. 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. Commitment 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, vision and programs; Identifies priority activities and assignments and 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. 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

Completion of secondary school education is required. Training courses in environmental, social or political sciences, business administration, public administration, environmental management or equivalent is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of responsible working experience in the field of sustainable development or related environment programmes, environmental law, public administration and environmental conventions is required. The minimum year of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience with MEAs or any international organization is desirable. Work experience in applying UNEP/CBD policies and UN rules and regulations is desirable. Experience working for senior management is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is desirable. NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

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 30 July 2025. 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. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line 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. 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.