Environmental Sustainability Officer - Environmental Management Systems (Consultant)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

Environmental Sustainability Officer – Environmental Management Systems

Are you an Environmental Management specialist interested in using your professional experience and skills to join WFP teams working towards ending global hunger?

We are looking for an Environmental Management professional, for asap until the end of 2022 (with the option to extend) to join our Environmental Sustainability team. This is a great opportunity to become an integral member of a diverse and passionate team that works on implementing environmentally sustainable solutions for global WFP projects. This is remote-based with frequent travel to field locations.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, July 10, 2022 (11:59 PM CET)

WHO WE ARE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, operating in more than 120 countries and territories, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies, building pathways to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods for a world with zero hunger.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high-performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: UN World Food Programme (WFP) and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN US?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment
• An exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe

THE ROLE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

About this role

WFP strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability within the UN system. In pursuit of this goal, WFP adopted a new Environmental Policy in February 2017, which commits the organization to avoiding unintended harm to the environment, its beneficiaries, or any other affected populations as a result of our operations and programmes, and to maximise environmental benefits. The policy contains three tools: a set of environmental and social standards, risk screening of activity design, and an environmental management system (EMS) consistent with the international standard ISO 14001. Collectively, these three elements are known as WFP's Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF).

WFP has a team of regional, Rome headquarters-based and remote environmental officers to facilitate the implementation of the EMS in WFP country operations, further develop environmental guidance and awareness materials, and report on progress made. This remote Environmental Management Officer position will provide additional support for these activities, and in particular to countries not yet covered by a regional environmental advisor. They will also support country offices in researching and delivering local actions to reduce environmental impacts on a continuous improvement basis, develop and deliver training to colleagues, and support global environmental mainstreaming efforts across WFP, within the UN system and in collaboration with the wider humanitarian community.

The role will report to senior staff within the Environmental Unit, part of WFP's Management Services Division in the Rome headquarters, but will be based remotely. The post holder is expected to coordinate with the regional environmental advisors as well as HQ/Regional Bureau/Country Office counterparts in Administration, Supply Chain, TEC and other relevant units as necessary.

It is expected that the Environmental Management Consultant may be travelling to WFP Country Offices up to 50% of their time.

Responsibilities:

• Capacity building and training of country offices:
  • Promote awareness of WFP's ESS Framework among senior management and staff; promote understanding of the organization's environmental impacts and of EMS as a tool for systematically managing those impacts.
  • Contribute to the development and lead delivery in selected countries of specific training for key functional areas (within Administration, Supply Chain etc.).
  • Contribute to the continuing development and review of guidance materials, SOPs, data collection tools and other EMS documentation.
• Technical support to country offices:
  • in line with WFP's EMS Manual, undertake and document environmental assessment missions and support country operations to secure senior management approval for priority actions. Within the framework of WFP's EMS, support WFP staff from diverse functions to research, plan and implement environmental improvement solutions to address significant environmental aspects and impacts and deliver continuous improvement in environmental performance.
  • Advise country operations during an emergency response to promote adherence to WFP's environmental and social standards.
  • Collect and share best practices and seek opportunities to promote regional and global solutions to common environmental challenges, where applicable.
• Contribute to the strategic direction and guidance to country offices:
  • Support country offices to identify and comply with national environmental regulations, specific requirements from donors and other stakeholder obligations.
  • Support the application of sustainable procurement principles in procurement processes (develop guidance, conduct market research, draft specifications, suggest minimum requirements etc.).
  • Seek opportunities to collaborate with other UN agencies in the same locations, and as part of UN Reform processes; contribute proactively to UN and humanitarian networks to promote mainstreaming of environmental sustainability practices and collaborative solutions.
  • Work to identify regional and country-specific funding sources to support the implementation of improvement projects.
• Management oversight:
  • Support country operations to monitor and report periodic progress of implementation of the EMS action plans, and compile indicator data for WFP's annual environmental footprint and meet UN and WFP corporate reporting commitments.
  • Support country operations staff in preparation for EMS spot checks and reviews as required.

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Who are we are looking for?

Education:

• A university degree relevant to the field-based application of Environmental Sustainability efforts (Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Natural Resource Management, or other related field)
• Knowledge of the ISO 14001 standard and its application, including auditing and development of supporting documentation is desirable

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of related postgraduate experience: including environmental management, site assessments, environment/climate-related project implementation and environmental reporting;
• Experience in delivering training is required;
• Professional experience must include implementing, or supporting implementation, in developing country contexts, in environments similar to WFP field operations;
• Prior experience working within, or in connection with, a UN system organization or in the humanitarian sector will be highly regarded;

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of at least two of the following disciplines: waste management, energy/GHG management, water management, environmental compliance, and sustainable procurement, preferably in a developing country/humanitarian context
• Proficiency in MS Office software, particularly Excel and communication tools
• Ability to expertly write and translate complex concepts for a variety of audiences, with the ability to facilitate training workshops/meetings and write reports for internal and external audiences.
• Persuasive public speaking skills and proven ability to coordinate and effectively communicate across multiple units and departments (including headquarters, regional, and country office levels) and with external private and public parties/stakeholders
• Ability to work and coordinate with multiple teams and with offices in remote locations
• Proven ability to successfully operate within the different geographic and cultural contexts in which WFP operates. In-depth understanding of environmental and social sustainability and links with food security.

Languages:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Proficiency in a second UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, or WFP's working language, Portuguese) to at least an intermediate standard is highly regarded

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.