Climate Mitigation Advisor (Retainer, Multiple positions)

Contract

This is a IICA-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-3 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

General Background

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce - a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work-life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information – IPMG

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement, and infrastructure services. A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Within UNOPS, IPMG’s objectives are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent technical streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance, that are supported by the Portfolio Support team. IPMG is managed overall by the Director of IPMG.

UNOPS Organizational readiness

The organizational readiness is focused primarily on the UNOPS mandate in infrastructure, project management, and procurement. It aims to cover the ad-hoc resource needs of the Regional Portfolios to implement the corporate strategy and address the needs of donors.

UNOPS Corporate Retainer Pool

Since November 2019, the Corporate Retainer Pool (CRP) provides ad-hoc resources to UNOPS business units in several expertise areas identified by the HQ business units and in consultation with the regions. It covers a wide range of expertise areas. It is managed by the Portfolio Support team in IPMG.

Background Information – Job Specific

UNOPS Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 outlines how the institution will contribute to expanding implementation capacity for countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals amid the COVID-19 crisis and the climate emergency. Particularly, climate action is outlined as a cardinal point for UNOPS to address in order to support the achievement of the SDGs and Paris Agreement goals while leaving no one behind.

Working within the Infrastructure and Project Management Group, the Infrastructure Climate Mitigation Expert (Retainer) will be expected to provide expert climate mitigation technical advice and guidance for various infrastructure sector programmes and projects globally (with a focus on energy, transport and buildings), in all offices where UNOPS operates.

This retainer position falls under the UNOPS Corporate retainer pool, and the Strategic Initiatives (SI) team under IPMG will be responsible for the technical onboarding and supervision of the Climate Mitigation Experts (Retainer). All corporate retainers are invited to participate in a one-hour induction session (or two 30 minutes sessions) where they are guided through UNOPS retainer management tool, the retainer contract modality and their expertise area in the UNOPS context.

The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the requesting office/unit, while the SI team will exercise an oversight function. Under this contract type, the assignments will vary in scope and duration - ranging from short term assignments of a few hours at a time to longer blocks of time (e.g. several weeks or months full time, and up to a year). Work may also vary with regards to the time zone / location. Whilst most assignments can be delivered working from home, some may require presence in HQ and/or international travel on occasion, including to remote or post-conflict environments. The successful candidate can be based in different time-zones. She/he should be able and willing to ensure a degree of time overlap with the teams ordering the retainer’s services.

The contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis a full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum), in the context of technical surge capacity - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities.

All retainer assignments will be handled via the UNOPS online retainer management tool, including the request for the retainer’s services and the provision of feedback for each assignment.

Purpose and scope of the assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Strategic Initiatives, the Retainer will provide climate mitigation technical advisory and supervision in the conceptualization and implementation of infrastructure projects (mainly in the energy, transport and buildings sectors) in different countries in at least one of UNOPS’ regions, and aligned with the general guidelines and strategies on climate change adaptation and mitigation to be generated by UNOPS over time. The Retainers will provide technical knowledge and will contribute to processes and decisions to add value and to facilitate green infrastructure development and activities such as data collection and analysis, procurement, design, construction, operational guidelines, and the provision of all climate mitigation support and services to different UNOPS partners and client countries. The Retainer will provide technical guidance on all aspects of climate mitigation to inform effective project design, programming, management and partnerships. In addition, they are expected to provide technical climate mitigation expertise in support of ongoing infrastructure projects in other UNOPS regions as may be needed. As needed, the expert will provide climate mitigation oversight on program design and management, working closely with stakeholders to mainstream climate mitigation actions in projects.

Functional Responsibilities

The specific tasks for each assignment may vary one assignment to another. Under the overall guidance and oversight of the Strategic Initiatives Unit and direct supervision of the designated Supervisor within the requesting office, the Advisor will work on a retainer contract and will be called upon for specific projects to fulfill one or more of the following key tasks:

Technical expertise

• Provide technical expertise and advisory services in addressing decarbonisation and low carbon infrastructure needs in developing countries to ensure compliance with the SDGs, Biodiversity Convention and the Paris Agreement targets.
• Advice in the development of strategies, regulatory framework, guidelines, and enabling environment to promote climate mitigation and decarbonisation actions in infrastructure sectors.
• Advice on the mainstreaming of climate mitigation actions in technical documents of infrastructure projects, papers and corporate communication materials.
• Provide technical climate mitigation advice to project teams and partners at any life cycle stages of infrastructure project development in compliance with UNFCCC climate mitigation guidelines.
• Provide climate mitigation advice and expert inputs at events and meetings with stakeholders and partners.
• Promote data collection and conceptualize new technological tools and mechanisms oriented to enhance climate change mitigation standards of the UNOPS project portfolio.
• Work collaboratively (when requested) with UNOPS experts in the area of climate change adaptation and others, to achieve comprehensive infrastructure solutions aligned with the SDGs, Biodiversity Convention and with Paris Agreement targets.

Capacity development and training

• Lead the design, development and / or implementation of Infrastructure climate mitigation training programmes and capacity building initiatives for both internal and external participants
• Deliver training tools and techniques to mainstream climate mitigation in UNOPS infrastructure and project management services.

Practice contribution and Knowledge Sharing

• Ensure climate mitigation best practice guidance is disseminated and communicated throughout the relevant programmes and country offices and departments
• Contribute to UNOPS knowledge management by capturing case studies and best practice examples of climate mitigation in infrastructure projects/programmes throughout UNOPS
• Provide substantive contribution to UNOPS Climate Change practice focusing on continuous improvement of climate mitigation and decarbonisation; support the development of policy, guidance and tools.
• Create and strengthen technical support mechanisms for the dissemination of best practices to governments and other clients in the area of climate change mitigation.

Portfolio development

• Advise UNOPS country offices on opportunities for low carbon infrastructure development in addition to sharing with clients institutional and industry knowledge of climate mitigation options in infrastructure.
• Similarly, to warn about risks in the development of potential business opportunities that compromise the achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement goals, as well as the UNOPS corporate strategy.
• Provide expert climate mitigation advice and support in formulation of new initiatives, projects and programmes related to sustainable and inclusive infrastructure
• Provide expert climate mitigation advice to enable the delivery of low carbon Infrastructure projects and provide support to UNOPS project teams and partners in line with the climate aspirations in the UNOPS corporate strategy.
• Provide high-level strategic climate mitigation advice to further UNOPS position as a climate change thought leader and value add partner to governments and other clients.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree or equivalent in energy planning/economics, Engineering, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, International Development or a related field from an accredited university.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree with additional 2 years of relevant working experience may also be considered in lieu of the Master’s Degree.

Experience

Required Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years experience of climate mitigation in the infrastructure sectors preferably in one or more of the following sectors: energy, transport and buildings sectors.
• Deep experience in the mainstreaming of climate mitigation measures in infrastructure projects.
• Experience with renewable energy projects plus their linkages to national or transnational energy systems and energy efficiency optimization is required.

Desired experience:

• Experience in resource efficient design and delivery of green buildings
• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in transport projects
• Experience working with IPPs and leading PPP negotiations would be considered an asset.
• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in other sectors of infrastructure e.g Water, Digital development, waste management, etc.

• In-depth knowledge of the Paris Agreement and its framework for action will be an asset.

• International experience in developing countries is highly desirable.

• Previous assignments with the UN system will be an added advantage. Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks and other Donors would be considered an asset.

Language:

• Proficiency in English or French or Spanish is required.
• Intermediate level of English is required.

• Please note that:

  • the shortlisted candidates will be invited to indicate in which language they want to take the written tests (English or French or Spanish).
  • however, the competency based interviews will be held in English.

Other:

• Please attach a cover letter highlighting the experience, knowledge and qualifications relevant for the position.

• Mandatory trainings to be completed within the first three months following the contract signature, at no cost for UNOPS (also see the terms and conditions below): (1) Ethics and Integrity, (2) the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and (3) Security awareness while on official mission.

Additional Information

• Please note that in case of discrepancies between the EN and the translated version, the English prevails.
• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Additional information