Ukraine nationals: Environmental Specialist

Feb 20, 2022 | United Nations Development Programme
View Original

The United Nations Development Programme is a United Nations organization tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.

Background

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges discussed above built on this earlier engagement, established partnerships, and started in 2015 through the Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP). The RPP is a multi-donor funded framework programme formulated and led by the UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and in cooperation with a number of partnering UN agencies (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA).

The RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. It takes into account, the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is, therefore, fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF).

The Programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key Programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

• Component 1: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure
• Component 2: Local Governance and Decentralization Reform
• Component 3: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of Environmental Specialist.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the assessment of guidelines, tools and resources to support the mainstreaming of Rio Conventions into regional sectoral policies, plans and ongoing programmes;
• Contribute to the identification of the main sets of Rio Convention mainstreaming activities selected from among the sectoral analyses for implementation at the regional or local level; facilitate the development of the Guide on mainstreaming environment at conflict-affected territories;
• Contribute to the creation of the strategic Regional Environmental Plans that should consider current and future environmental trends;
• Provide practical support to the Local Self Governance Bodies (LSGBs) to restore, expand, and automate pollution monitoring, control, and environmental reporting in the conflict area;
• Support public participation in the environmental impact assessments (EIA) at territorial level and raise awareness of LSGBs and CSOs on the legislation regulating EIA at that level as well as on current experience and successes achieved throughout the country;
• Develop participatory innovative strategies, and their budgets, focused on sustainable urban planning using the “Symbiocity” approach, integrated solid waste management, ecosystems management by the regional authorities and ATCs, renewable energy development, improved availability and quality of drinking water;
• Promote effective Public-Private Partnerships for the implementation of the environmental protection strategies in the Project’s pilot territorial units;
• Support LSGBs in ATCs and non-amalgamated communities (especially those along the contact line) to keep and update an inventory of the industrial and municipal facilities;
• Lead the dialogue between the local authorities and the largest industrial enterprises to expand the environmental activities;
• Contribute to increasing the capacities of CSOs and citizens’ groups to effectively initiate, plan and implement initiatives aimed at protecting the environment through focused preparatory training as well as hands-on support to the design and realization of community development projects;
• Contribute to increasing the level of awareness and information of territorial communities’ members on environmental safety with a specific focus on mine risk awareness and education, for communities located near the contact line and the existing legal and regulatory framework for hazard and crisis management.
• Prepare and conduct trainings, seminars, webinars using the international best practices and guidelines for the local authorities, environmental managers, students of colleges/ universities, journalists.  

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

A. Business direction and strategy

1. System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

2. Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

3. Effective Decision Making

Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

B. Business management

1. Partnerships Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2. Resource Management

Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity

3. Communication

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

4. Working with Evidence and Data

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

C. Business development

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

D. 2030 Agenda: Peace

Nature, Climate and Energy

Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy; technologies and practical application

E. 2030 Agenda: Planet

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

• Crisis and environment
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Climate Change Adaptation: urban resilience
• Chemicals and Waste management: practical application

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Environment-related field (preferably), Economics, Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences or other relevant areas.
• Bachelor’s degree with additional two years of extensive progressively responsible relevant experience is accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

• 2 years (with Master's degree) of proven knowledge and professional experience in the fields related to the environmental sector including experience in environmental mainstreaming (planning and/or management, and/or awareness-raising etc.), social policy development and analysis, project/programme coordination or related field. 
• 4 years (with Bachelor's degree) of proven knowledge and professional experience in the fields related to the environmental sector including experience in environmental mainstreaming (planning and/or management, and/or awareness-raising etc.), social policy development and analysis, project/programme coordination or related field. 
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems
• Proven experience in preparing recommendations, compiling materials and/or publications related to the Environment Experience in working or cooperating with international organizations would be an asset. 
• Experience in working or cooperating with international organizations would be an asset. 

Required  skills:

• Proven writing skills (list of (or reference to) publications, joint research works, analytical papers) would be a strong asset.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English, Russian and Ukrainian is required.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Institutional Arrangement

• Under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator of the Local Governance and Decentralization Reform (LGDR) Component, the Environmental Specialist works in close cooperation with other programme staff to provide capacity development support and technical assistance for local authorities and communities on successfully decentralized and participatory environmental protection, promoting a cleaner environment in the conflict-affected areas.
• Nationals or others legally authorized to work in Ukraine are eligible for consideration. (country of citizenship or place of permanent residence).

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.