Vacancies at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

Provide support on Division’s Human Resources Management.

•  Initiates, processes, monitors, reviews and follows-up on actions related to the staff contract extensions and special post allowance ensuring consistency in the application of regulations and procedures.
•  Provides advice and guidance to staff with respect to administrative procedures, processes, and practices, liaising with Administrative Officer as necessary.
•  Enters, maintains, and certifies administrative data and records on staff lists in electronic information systems such as SharePoint, Teams etc.
•  Maintains and reviews organizational office space allocation including analyzing and physical office planning.

Provide support for the Division’s General Administration.

•  Back up the Division’s focal point for IT and office consumables related functions.
•  Support all requests from colleagues on IT related functions including licenses, access, user manual and day to day support.
•  Performs other related administrative duties, as required, e.g., physical space planning, identification of office technology.
•  needs and maintenance of equipment, software, and systems; organizing and coordinating administrative arrangements for seminars, conferences, and translations.
•  Coordinate reservation of Division’s Meeting room and provide technical support during and after the meetings.
•  Maintains files of rules, regulations, administrative instructions and other related documentation.
•  Determines appropriate space allocation required to meet the requests of the requesting department in terms of meeting room, workstations, equipment, mail room, copier room.
•  Prepares presentation of proposals for efficient space distribution to the head of unit and the director for approval.
•  Coordinate with UNON Facilities Management and Transport Section for the Division’s office facilities maintenance services, e.g., light fixtures, defective windows and doors, and fumigation.
•  Coordinate with the Divisional Property Management and IT focal point to ensure movement and reconciliation of all furniture and equipment at the new location and undertake necessary procedures for disposal.
•  Coordinate with UNON Facilities Management and Transport Section to request for staff name plates for identified or assigned office space.
•  Coordinate with Information & Communication Technology Section (ICTS) and relevant contractors, printing and copy services, cleaning and electrical services on transfer or movement of staff and reinstallation to assigned offices.
•  Maintains and updates floor plans and drawings used as reference information by the head of unit.
•  Assists with day-to-day administration of contracts between the UN and external contractors for outsourced services.
•  Prepares and processes all UN forms and permissions for contractual and work Unit, Section or Service UN staff, including:
•  UN grounds passes, property passes, UN parking permits, swipe-card access and door keys.
•  Drafts routine correspondence.
• . Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
•  Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
•  Perform any other duties.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Completion of High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Training in administration, general office support or related area is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, administrative services or related areas is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two years for candidates who possess a first level University degree.
• 1 year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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Responsibilities
Budget:

•  Assists in the preparation of supporting documents (narrative and supporting tables) with respect to finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
•  Supports the Finance & Budget Officer in extracting information and generating expenditure reports from computerized information system databases; assists in preliminary analyses of the extracted information and the reports generated, and highlights areas of concern for the attention of the Finance & Budget Officer.
•  Assists in the development of resource requirements for budget submissions and in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
•  Research/compiles data and other information required by the Finance & Budget Officer in the review and analysis of relevant proposals.
•  Consolidates data and provides support to Finance & Budget Officer with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
•  Assists the Finance & Budget Officer in the preparation/finalization of finance and budget performance reports, performing preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
•  Prepares fund commitments and pass-thru grants in Umoja and reviews them to ensure that funds are available, and the correct account has been used.
•  Assists in drafting the initial versions of the Financial Reports for submission to Scientific Technical Advisory Panel (STAP)
•  Assists the Finance & Budget Officer with tabulation and data input for project documents.
•  Assists in the financial backstopping of trust funds, including monitoring the status of voluntary contributions, generating expenditure reports from Umoja and monitoring reporting requirements by donors.
•  Assists the Finance & Budget Officer in the issuance of allotments and related staffing table authorizations.
•  Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
•  Reviews draft reports, verifying overall accuracy, consistency and uniformity in the presentation, and ensuring comprehensiveness and compliance with the prescribed formats; cross-checks consistency of figures in tables with the text of the reports, and verifies references to other reports and documents, bringing errors to the attention of the Finance & Budget Officer concerned; ensures that all necessary corrections are incorporated in the reports; co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.
•  Verifies and prepares payments to third parties, commercial entities, and Partners as well as assists in the processing of payments to Governments and vendors for good and services. This includes calculating, inputting, and checking payments for correctness and communicating discrepancies to supervisors.
•  Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
•  Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
•  Records and reconciles more complex accounting transactions.

General:

•  Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as the UN Financial Regulations and Rules.
•  Drafts routine correspondence with respect to inquiries related to relevant financial and budget matters of Scientific Technical Advisory Panel (STAP)
•  Maintains up-to-date work unit files.
•  Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.
•  Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
• 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.
• 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

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Supplementary training in the field of accounting and finance or related fields is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three(3) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree such as finance, budget or accounting.
• A minimum of 3 years of practical experience in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), SAP (Umoja), accounting and finance system and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is desirable.
• At least 2 years’ experience in the United Nations System or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), established in 1972, 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. UNEP's Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2025 sets an ambitious course to harness data and digital technologies and innovations to better serve Member States and partners in their efforts to tackle the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss, and pollution. Through a process of scanning, testing, and scaling relevant digital technologies, UNEP aims to become an increasingly data-driven, agile, transparent, and effective organization.

Digital technologies are a key enabler for UNEP that provide unprecedented opportunities to: (i) support organizational change processes towards enhanced agility, results-orientation and collaborations; (ii) to identify new and innovative solutions to the most pressing climate, nature, and pollution challenges; (iii) to strengthen our capacities to effectively engage and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society: (iv) enhance accountability, results-orientation, and inclusiveness of development programs, empowering citizens by establishing by direct feedback loops. UNEP's digital transformation vision focuses on developing the organization's capability to leverage existing, emerging, and future data and digital technologies and the opportunities they offer to profoundly improve the way UNEP creates and delivers value and benefits for those we serve. The vision is based on an open innovation approach enabling the effective co-design of innovative solutions with strategic partners, civil society and citizens.

The selected consultant shall carry out the following activities:

• Environmental and Socio-economic Data Needs Research: Research and define UNEP's environmental data requirements based on the Mid-Term Strategy (2022-2025), Programme of Work (POW), and Programme and Collaboration Platform (PCP) documents. Conduct similar research to identify UNEP's social-economic data needs.
• Data Source Identification and Consolidation: Identify primary and secondary data sources utilized in the existing UNEP and external thematic data platforms. Plan and execute the consolidation of data into a federated data system aligned with WESR architecture solutions.
• Data Provider Relationship Management: The Data Coordinator will be responsible for supporting and nurturing relationships with data providers. This involves identifying potential data sources, engaging in collaborative partnerships, maintaining effective communication to secure the necessary data inputs, and proposing a strategy to maintain existing partners, engage new data partners, and govern the data partnerships.
• Identification of New and Relevant Data Sources: As part of enhancing WESR's data repository, the Data Coordinator will actively search for new and relevant data sources (including geospatial data). This includes staying abreast of emerging data providers and innovative data-sharing initiatives.
• Coordination of Data Quality Assurance (QA): The Data Coordinator will liaise with relevant stakeholders to oversee data QA processes. This involves validating data accuracy, consistency, and reliability, thereby ensuring that the data accessible through WESR meets the highest quality standards.
• Data Collection Workflows and Processes: Developing efficient data collection workflows and processes is essential. The Data Coordinator will establish clear procedures for data acquisition, storage, and dissemination, ensuring an organized and streamlined approach.
• Support for Data-Driven Initiatives: Collaborating with the WESR team, the Data Coordinator will assist in the implementation of data-driven initiatives and projects. This includes providing insights into data availability, potential data limitations, and innovative data integration methods.
• Data Gap Analysis and Reporting: The Data Coordinator will conduct regular analyses to identify data gaps and deficiencies. These analyses will inform strategic decisions about data acquisition priorities and potential collaborations.
• Data Privacy and Compliance: The Data Coordinator will ensure that all data acquisition and sharing processes align with relevant data privacy regulations and compliance standards.
• Strategic Alignment with UNEP Objectives: Ensure that data acquisition and consolidation strategies are aligned with UNEP's Mid-Term Strategy (2022-2025), Programme of Work (POW), and Programme and Collaboration Platform (PCP).

This post reports to the Data Specialist.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Computer Sciences, Information Technology, Data Science, Information Management, or a similar field is required.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience working with data sources, data platforms, and related standards, in public or private sectors is required.
• Extensive experience with database administration and management, proficiency with database languages such as SQL is required.
• Experience in working with data partners and establishing data agreements is required.
• Experience in geographic information systems and environmental data repositories is considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with the United Nations, European Commission, or national governments is considered a strong asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.