Programme Management Officer at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities
PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT:  

• Liaises with internal and external partners to identify relevant and eligible project concepts;  
• Discusses and clears such concepts with the Senior Programme Officer;  Consults with UNEP's Divisions and regional offices as necessary.  
• Advises project proponents on how to revise concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer and other reviews.  
• Monitors Global Environment Facility project milestones to avoid delays and potential project cancellation.  
• Addresses Global Environment Facility Secretariat and Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel reviews and ensures that Project Review Committee recommendations are considered in further project development by the executing agency. 
• Works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the Project Preparation Grant upon approval.  
• Supervises Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and Global Environment Facility policies and procedures.  
• Supports Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and Global Environment Facility policies and procedures.
• Verifies that the project proposals meet Global Environment Facility quality-at-entry standards before submission to Senior Programme Officer and Global Environment Facility Coordination Office for Project Review Committee review.  
• Supports the executing partners in mobilizing Co-financing for the project.  Upon Global Environment Facility Chief Executive Officer approval, works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the project document.  

SUPERVISION OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION:  

• Prepares project supervision plans under his/her portfolio for their entire duration and applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the projects;
• Organizes and manages the project inception meeting.
•  Provides oversight to project execution and prepares reports in accordance with UNEP and Global Environment Facility criteria, rules and regulations.  
• Participates in Project Steering Committees and ensures that Project Steering Committee fulfills its function.  
• Regularly monitors project progress and performance and rates progress towards meeting project objectives, project execution progress, quality of project monitoring and evaluation, and risk.  
• Monitors reporting by project executing partners.  
• Promptly informs management of any significant risks or project problems and takes action and follows up on decisions made.  
• Prepares reports in accordance with Global Environment Facility and UNEP requirements .
• Maintains adequate project-related documentation.
• Applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the project.  
• Assists with the preparation of project revisions.  
• Reviews project outputs, provides technical input and ensures quality standards are met.  
• Manages any mandatory project(s) mid-term review.  
• Supports the project terminal evaluation.
• Takes responsibility to ensure that project is financially closed in a prompt manner after completion of project activities.  

 ECOSYSTEMS DIVISION KNOWLEDGE AND DATA MANAGEMENT:

•  Identifies and codifies lessons emerging from project implementation.
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of project data in the project information system for all projects under his/her supervision.  
• Contributes to project data reconciliation exercises within the Division and with the Global Environment Facility Secretariat.  
• Identifies media and other outreach opportunities and materials and provide project information and materials.  
• Participate in events organized by Global Environment Facility and UNEP to disseminate information on project results and lessons.  

UNEP AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY CORPORATE TASKS:  

• Contributes to the Council document reviews as needed. Represents Ecosystem Division in UNEP and Global Environment Facility – related meetings.  
• Participates in the UN Environment Project Review Committees.  
• Provides input to UNEP and Global Environment Facility policy and information documents as necessary.  
• Provides input to Global Environment Facility corporate evaluations, country portfolio evaluations, thematic evaluations and impact evaluations and to the preparation of the Management Action Record.  
• Keeps abreast of developments in his/her technical field and further develops competencies and skills.  
• Undertakes at least one relevant learning activity each year.  
• Prepares his/her annual work plan for result based management with clear goals and indicators.
• 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.Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism:  Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to project/programme management, environmental management, biodiversity sciences or related area.  
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.
• Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including  familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.  
• Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.  
• 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.
• Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• Communication:   Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.  
• Planning & 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.
• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in biodiversity sciences, environmental sciences, natural resource management, natural resource policy, environmental policy, environmental economics or a closely related field is required.    
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant qualifying 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in biodiversity issues in developing countries / countries in transition is required.    
• Experience with conceptualizing and developing projects and programmes in the ecosystems and biodiversity field is desirable.    
• Experience working with the Global Environment Facility is desirable.    
• A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.