PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

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. The overall objective of UNEP's Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. The Division promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. The position is located at UNEP's Industry and Economy Division under the Finance Policy Unit of the Finance and Economics Branch. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Finance and Economics Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

• Leading UNEP's work on private finance policy and regulation, including outreach to major financial institutions, policy makers and multilateral policy platforms for the purpose of directing private finance into transitioning high impact sectors of the economy and supporting a sustainable and stable financial system.
• Formulating and implementing outreach strategies to policy makers and multilateral policy platforms, that includes for example outreach to financial sector institutions, Ministries of Finance, central banks, and real economy policy makers to steer private capital.
• Leading analytical and technical assistance to countries on sustainable finance policy frameworks and other policy frameworks that are conducive to steering private finance towards sustainable development, such as taxonomies, disclosure frameworks or risk-related frameworks, in partnership with relevant international programs, private and public finance institutions, among others.
• Supporting with the operationalization and interoperability of policy frameworks in the regions, countries, to facilitate cross-border private financial flows, and support uptake of policy frameworks by the finance industry.
• Ensuring coordination and complementarity with private finance initiatives including voluntary frameworks and work done by the UNEP Finance Initiative with private finance institutions.
• Ensuring coordination with the Economic and Fiscal Policy Unit for a coherent UNEP approach to public and private financing of the transition, through a complementary set of economic, fiscal and financial policy tools and recommendations.
• Leading and developing UNEP's analytical, outreach and advocacy efforts on financial policy as key enablers of environmental and financial system sustainability.
• Strategizing, developing and implementing analytical, outreach and advocacy activities on economic and financial policies for environmental sustainability.
• Spearheading recommendations to align financial and other finance-related policy frameworks with climate, nature and pollution outcomes the UNEP medium term strategy.
• Oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks including budget preparation, reporting on budget/ programme performance, evaluation of the supervised staff's performance, interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates, and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Manage, guide, and train staff under supervision and foster teamwork and communication among supervised staff and across organizational boundaries.
• Mobilize resources to implement the substantive programmes and ensure that the outputs produced from the substantive work programmes maintain high-quality standards and that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data, in compliance with the relevant mandates.
• Advise Branch Chief, Division Director and Deputy Director, and Senior Management and develop strategies and policies with regard to the substantive work programmes under his/her responsibility.
• Assist the Branch Chief in preparing the Branch's work programmes, determining priorities, and allocating resources for completing the defined outputs in a timely manner.
• Consult with international/regional/national institutions especially other United Nations organizations to interpret the needs, opportunities, and requirements for UNEP, provide programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by other institutions, and provide programmatic and substantive reports for review by Branch Chief, Division Director and UNEP Senior Management.
• Coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to inter-governmental bodies such as the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy making organs, as appropriate.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform other duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.

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.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Advanced university degree (Master's or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in finance, resource economics, environmental economics or international economics, international relations, sustainable development or a related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional work experience involving sustainable finance, environmental/resource economics, finance and economic policy, of which five years should be at the international level is required. Experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder groups to meet a common objective in the sustainable finance and private finance policy space is required. Experience working with the private finance sector, including with banks, institutional investors is desirable. Experience in developing work programs for a variety of private or public stakeholders are desirable. A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. A publication record in peer-reviewed journals is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Chinese (Mandarin) or Arabic is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.