Environmental Affairs Consultant

Conduct research on indoor air quality standards and develop management guidelines.

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UNESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

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Application deadline 6 months ago: Friday 21 Nov 2025 at 04:59 UTC

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Overview

Conduct research on indoor air quality standards and develop management guidelines.

You have:

  • A master's degree or higher in Environment, Planning, Public Policy, Engineering, or related fields would be desirable.
  • A first-level university degree in combination with three years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree.
  • At least three years of working experience in governmental or the environment & engineering research field.
  • Prior working experience in the UN or a research institute is preferable.
  • Good knowledge and understanding of sustainable development and environmental policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Proven experience in working independently and in planning and coordinating international workshops or meetings.
  • Experience in arranging target-oriented surveys, documenting research reports and policy briefs, and coordinating work among multiple international organizations or governments.
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Environment and Development Policy Section and direct supervision from the NRL expert, the consultant will undertake the following tasks.  Review the standards on the IAQ of selected countries and general standards led by international organizations at the national and regional levels.  Identify innovative techniques and management methods to improve IAQ and mitigate the air pollutants that have negative effects on the health of users and residents.  Develop monitoring methods for indoor air pollutants, IAQ standards, and management guidelines on specific facilities and public spaces that can be applied broadly to applicable member States.  Draft the policy brief on the introduction of the IAQ management policy and regulation for reference of our member States.

Work Location

Online (Seoul, Republic of Korea)

Expected duration

16Jun2025-14Apr2026

Duties and Responsibilities

Air pollution has a significant impact on human health and ecosystems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 90% of the population in Asia and the Pacific regularly breathes air, which is considered unsafe, making it a leading global cause of premature deaths. Economic growth and rapid urbanization in the Asia Pacific region have exacerbated air pollution levels. The Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP), established by ESCAP member States at the seventh session of the Committee on Environment and Development (CED-7) in 2022, aims to improve air quality through cooperative activities among member States. The consultant is expected to deliver a technical assistance strategy to support and accelerate RAPAP’s implementation and mobilize bilateral and multilateral partners' investments for air quality management. This project is expected to produce indoor air quality (IAQ) management guidelines to accelerate setting member States’ IAQ standards and monitoring systems, the management regulations at the specific facilities, and public space. The consultant should have (i) sound knowledge, skills, and experience on issues related to sustainable development, (ii) experience in writing formal documents and working on international environmental issues, and (iii) research skills.

Qualifications/special skills

A master’s degree or higher in Environment, Planning, Public Policy, Engineering, or related fields would be desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with three years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree. At least three years of working experience in governmental or the environment & engineering research field. Prior working experience in the UN or a research institute is preferable. Good knowledge and understanding of sustainable development and environmental policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Proven experience in working independently and in planning and coordinating international workshops or meetings. Experience in arranging target-oriented surveys, documenting research reports and policy briefs, and coordinating work among multiple international organizations or governments.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Additional Information

Not available.

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

Can you describe your experience with developing indoor air quality management guidelines? The interviewer wants to assess your relevant experience in creating guidelines for air quality management. Discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, highlighting your specific contributions and outcomes.
What innovative techniques have you identified for improving indoor air quality? This question gauges your ability to think creatively about air quality solutions. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure effective coordination with international organizations on environmental projects? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenging project related to environmental policy you've worked on and how you approached it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your understanding of the air pollution issues in the Asia-Pacific region? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a policy brief you have written? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay updated with the latest research and development in the field of environmental science? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Explain how you would develop a monitoring method for indoor air pollutants. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 6 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: careers.un.org