UNDP Jobs - 63356- Environmental Policy and Legal Specialist

Environmental Policy and Legal Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

14-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

05-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has corporate responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogue initiatives, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

The Cluster on Sustainable Development focuses on integrating UNDP’s economic, social and environmental work into a coherent sustainable development policy and programming framework. It seeks to provide an integrated package of services covering all strands of sustainable development, including on integrated development planning and inclusive and sustainable growth, sustainable livelihoods and economic recovery in post crisis situations and natural capital and the environment.

Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Sustainable development Cluster, the UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit (UNDP – GEF Unit) has as objective to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion by assisting Country Offices in accessing environmental finance for sustainable development. This objective is achieved through five inter-related areas of work: (i) sustainable management of ecosystem goods and services; (ii) scaling up of climate change adaptation and mitigation; (iii) sustainable, affordable and accessible energy services; (iv) sustainable management of chemicals and waste; and (v) improved water and ocean governance. These areas of work are fully aligned with the four environmental outputs of the UNDP Strategic Plan.

UNDP is an accredited implementing entity for the following environmental vertical funds: (i) the funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF): the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF TF), the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF); (ii) the Adaptation Fund (AF); and (iii) the Green Climate Fund (GCF). As an Implementing Agency for these funds, UNDP offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management.

The Directorate of the UNDP –GEF Unit is obliged to competently manage UNDP’s relationship with the Secretariats and Governing Bodies of global environmental funds, and to actively participate in relevant meetings and external processes of these funds. The Directorate is also required to track and engage with a complex variety of different policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and other obligations of UNDP and global environmental funds, ensuring effective compliance and harmonization, as well as keeping a globally distributed staff fully informed and trained in key issues concerning the funds. Specialized technical expertise in areas relevant to UNDP-GEF programming is also needed from time to time. The Environmental Policy and Legal Specialist is responsible for these functions.

The Environmental Policy and Legal Specialist reports to the UNDP-GEF Executive Coordinator, and is expected to liaise on a regular basis with senior management and high-level officials within UNDP, other UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, governments, and governing bodies and secretariats of key financing partners such as the GEF. The Environmental Policy and Legal Specialist will be based in New York, USA and is expected to travel frequently.

Duties and Responsibilities

Compliance and Advisory Services

Track the policies, rules, regulations, procedures, legal, and other requirements of the GEF, GCF, AF, UNDP and other financing partners;
Establish and manage systems for monitoring and ensuring compliance with new or changing policies, rules, regulations, etc., including internal clearance procedures and other mechanisms as appropriate;
Work with senior management to ensure full and timely compliance, taking both pro-active and remedial action as necessary;
Keep all parties informed as appropriate;
Develop internal capacity to comply through appropriate policy, managerial, and process reforms and improvements, including training and guidance notes, etc.;
Guide UNDP-GEF staff on all matters relating to the negotiation of agreements, contracts and instruments, and engaging the UNDP Legal Office and other departments as required;
Maintain up to date knowledge of, and close relationships with, internal UNDP, and external, legal and policy units and processes, in particular the GEF and GCF, including their responsibilities, capabilities and procedures;
Provide advisory services on all policy matters as required, in collaboration with relevant offices and units in UNDP such as the Legal Office. This may include matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law/policies, and participation in negotiations on a wide variety of topics.

Key Results: All UNDP-GEF work is carried out in timely compliance with the requirements of UNDP, GEF, GCF, and other financing partners.

Governance and streamlining

Identify and negotiate opportunities for improving and streamlining operational procedures and processes relating to internal and external policies, rules, regulations, and procedures;
Track internal and external discussions on policy and legal reform relevant to UNDP-GEF, including governance discussions on new financing mechanisms, innovative instruments, and internal policies and procedures that affect UNDP-GEF;
Represent UNDP-GEF in internal and external discussions on policy and legal reforms in the above areas, including attending key meetings of the GEF Council, UNDP Executive Board, Adaptation Fund Board, Green Climate Fund Board and other forums if, and as, appropriate.

Key Results: All processes, procedures, policies, regulations and governance mechanisms with which UNDP-GEF engages in, and has related compliance obligations, are simple, clear and efficient with minimal overlap or duplication.

Management communications and liaison

Coordinate input into and draft high quality briefing notes and other management communications for UNDP-GEF Directorate senior management as required;
Serve as focal point in UNDP-GEF Directorate for management communications with the UNDP Executive Office and BPPS Directorate as appropriate.

Key Results: UNDP-GEF provides high quality and timely briefing notes and other management communications.

Technical support

Track key developments in substantive policy or legal areas relevant to the work of the UNDP-GEF Unit, such as climate finance, environmental law/policy, and international law/policy as appropriate;
Provide technical policy or legal services upon request and as appropriate in areas relevant to UNDP-GEF programming;
Develop networks and relationships with other UN agencies and organizations working with environmental law and/or policy, and serve as UNDP-GEF focal point in these areas.

Key Results: UNDP-GEF has access to technical policy or legal support in areas relevant to the work of the Unit.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional

People Management

Ability to motivate and inspire internal resources.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in law, international relations, finance, or other field related to environmental issues.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in legal related or high level policy formulation field involving extensive writing, technical drafting and negotiation of agreements and other instruments;
Of these 7 years, at least 1-years’ experience working in an intergovernmental organization, preferably at a headquarters or management level;
Of these 7 years, at least 2 years of working in a law firm, environmental services firm, financial institution, or other entity providing advice or support on climate finance, environmental finance, environmental law and/or international law;
Familiarity with international environmental governance issues and proven experience working with global environmental vertical funds such as the GEF, GCF, or AF would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
Working knowledge in other UN languages is an asset.