PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 113,690 USD and 148,869 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 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for 'sustainable development'. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), Biosafety Protocol Unit, at the Montreal duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Biosafety Protocol Unit, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities A. Plans, designs and coordinates the implementation of the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) as the most authoritative global repository of information and knowledge on biosafety that facilitates the exchange of information on living modified organisms, including: (i) Manages the central portal of the BCH, including by ensuring its continuous development and completeness of information, and improves access to information contained therein in a manner consistent with the modalities of operation of the BCH, the decisions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol (COP-MOP) and the Secretariat’s overall strategy, taking also in consideration the guidance provided by the BCH Informal Advisory Committee (BCH-IAC); (ii) Ensures that human, technical and financial resources are applied effectively and efficiently to the development of the BCH (including supervision of staff as well as any interns, consultants and contractors, as applicable); (iii) Communicates and coordinates, as necessary, with other members of the Biosafety Unit and the CBD Secretariat who are involved with the BCH and the other clearing houses managed by the Secretariat and collects their inputs for the overall management of the BCH in coordination with the other clearing houses; and (iv) Delivers periodic reports on BCH content, related activities and stakeholders' use. B. Coordinates and provides assistance in the use of the Biosafety Clearing House, including: (i) Supports Parties to submit and retrieve information through the BCH with a view to assist them to comply with their obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (ii) Assists all stakeholders to use the BCH with the aim of facilitating the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information on, and experience with, living modified organisms; (ii) Communicates and coordinates, as necessary, activities with relevant subsidiary bodies, environment committees and groups, UN agencies, and other international organizations, and fosters effective working relationships in relation to the operation of the BCH with other relevant bodies; (iii) Develops and designs capacity-building materials, and delivers training and demonstrations on the Biosafety Clearing-House and related obligations under the Protocol at relevant meetings, in cooperation with partners and in collaboration with implementing agencies such as UNEP-GEF (Global Environment Facility); (iv) Coordinates and collaborates with a network of global, regional and national institutions on relevant issues to facilitate the development of consistent global standards; and (v) Represents the SCBD at international meetings and conferences on matters relating to the Biosafety Clearing House. C. Contributes to effective organization and servicing of meetings, including (i) Prepares pre-session and in-session documents, and relevant reports for consideration by COP-MOP, its subsidiary bodies and the BCH Informal Advisory Committee; (ii) Organizes meetings of the BCH Informal Advisory Committee, including by liaising with the host government/organization; and (iii) travels to service these meetings. D. Provides technical expertise on the design, development and implementation of monitoring and reporting tools and formats, including (i) Prepares pre-session and in-session documents on national reports for consideration by the COP-MOP and its subsidiary bodies, including draft reporting format for national reports on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol and analyses of reports submitted; (ii) Coordinates the design of online reporting formats and relevant web services for submission, display and statistical analysis of national reports on the BCH, including by liaising with IT staff; (iii) Coordinates with other units in the Secretariat and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements, as necessary, regarding the alignment of national reporting mechanisms; and (iv) Oversees the submission of national reports and liaises with national authorities, as necessary. E. Performs any other duties assigned by the Executive Secretary or the Head of Unit, as appropriate.

Competencies - Professionalism: Advances the work of the Secretariat in support to the information exchange mechanisms of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety including by undertaking and coordinating work on the Biosafety Clearing House and monitoring and reporting tools for Parties to the Protocol. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter within the Unit. 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.

• Planning and 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 risk and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.

• 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 Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in information science, information systems, biological, environmental or social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience A minimum of five years of working experience, of which two years is at the international level working in scientific information, including database architecture and knowledge-management is required. . Working experience with the Biosafety-Clearing House is desirable. Working experience in the UN system or similar organization is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Good working knowledge of French or other UN languages is desirable.

  Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

  Special Notice This position is temporarily available until 21 August 2021. 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 temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• 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.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/ Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.