ASSOCIATE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Overview

Assist in managing environmental operations and compliance.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental management, environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental law or related area.
• At least 2-3 years of progressively responsible experience in the environmental management field with a national government, a large firm or international organization.
• Experience in evaluation and oversight of environmental compliance is required.
• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
• A working knowledge of French is desirable.

Contract

This is a NO-B contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 3,388 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is within the Liquidation Entity of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), at GAO. The incumbent will be responsible for assisting the Chief, Environmental Unit, and the Regional Administrative Officer, in coordinating and managing the drawdown and liquidation environmental actions, including camp cleanup, soil remediation, hazardous waste management, inspections and reporting (ECOAs, ESCAs, FESI reports), documentation, and relevant contributions to handover documents.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Environmental Affairs Officer, NO-B will be responsible for supporting the coordination and the management of actions on environmental issues in the mission:

Environmental Monitoring and Risk Management: • Undertake regular environmental inspections in all mission's sites as well as contractors' disposal sites, identifying priority potential risks and possible improvement of performance, and provide recommendations accordingly. • Monitor site environmental cleanup activities, including general cleanup, contaminated soil treatment, non-hazardous and hazardous waste management and disposal including electronic waste. • Assist in maintaining a record of environmental issues and actions taken at the mission, such as monitoring and keeping a list of potentially hazardous installations within the mission (e.g. petrol station, warehouse storing flammables) in cooperation with fire marshals or other staff at the mission designated to deal with emergencies; liaising with relevant sections and Military and Police Environmental Focal points to get a regular update on inventory of hazardous substances. • Prepare initial drafts on investigations of complaints or reports of pollution, contamination, health hazards and other environment-related incidents, keeping detailed records of the incidents and actions taken by the parties involved. • Draft and participate in writing periodic reports on environmental issues at the mission, to the Director of the Liquidation Team, and UNHQ. • Draft and contribute to relevant camp closure and liquidation documents (e.g. ECOAs, ESCAs, FESI reports) • Assist in advising relevant officers or offices on environmental issues arising from liquidation and site closure activities. • Implement audit recommendations as required

Policy and Guidance: • Support the Environmental Affairs Officer in implementing the DOS Environmental Policy for peacekeeping operations and field-based special political missions, and MINUSMA Guidelines on Environmental Actions for Closure and Handover of Sites.

Awareness and Training/Mainstreaming: • Assist the supervisor in mainstreaming environment into mission-level SOPs, and other relevant guidance and processes. • Assist the supervisor in engaging with contractors, in close coordination with contract management colleagues, on responsibilities when relevant.

Coordination and Partner Relations: • Liaise and coordinate environment related activities with relevant local and national authorities and the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies present in the country or region hosting the mission, as well as regional organisations and diplomatic community when relevant using knowledge of own country environment and culture. • Carry out any other tasks required to support the DOS Environmental Policy for peacekeeping operations and field-based special political missions and the environmental objectives of the mission as guided by the Supervisor.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of environmental management. Ability to conduct environmental inspections. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental management, environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental law or related area. • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

• At least 2-3 years of progressively responsible experience in the environmental management field with a national government/administration, a large firm or international organization is required.

• Experience in evaluation and oversight of environmental compliance is required.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. • A working knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available within the MINUSMA Liquidation Team until 30 September 2024. 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 position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the National Professional Officer and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. • 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.

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.

Potential interview questions