Economic Commission for Europe is looking for an Environmental Affairs Officer (Russian-speaking)

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (temporary job opening), P3

Organization: Economic Commission for Europe

Location: GENEVA

Level: PD - P-3

Job Family: ENV

Application Deadline: 27 February 2026 at 04:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-Environmental Affairs-ECE-272715-J-GENEVA (X)

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Environment Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Under the direct supervision of the P-5, Chief, Environment for Europe and Sustainable Development Section, the incumbent will assist the secretariat in servicing the official processes related to the follow-up on the decisions of the 9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Nicosia, Cyprus, 05-07 October 2022), including the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

Responsibilities

Economic or sector analysis

• Drafts specified inputs for briefing notes, background documents, technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of environment, education, and economic development.
• Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on environment, education, and sustainable development issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental support

• Prepares inputs for organizing meetings of intergovernmental bodies including the 21st Meeting of the UNECE Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development (SC ESD) (20-22 May, Geneva) and its Bureau.
• Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
• Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
• Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. for intergovernmental processes, including the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE region (21-22 April 2026, Geneva).
• Assists in the activities related to the follow-up of the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, including the Third High-level Meeting of Education and Environment Ministries (Nicosia, the Republic of Cyprus, 5-7 October 2022).
• Facilitates and supports regular communication with the members and observers of SC ESD as well as with relevant parties and partners in the ESD process.

Technical cooperation

• Participates in missions on education for sustainable development issues, usually as a member of a team.
• Organizes training seminars for national experts.
• Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects.
• Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects.
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
• Supports the development and maintenance of the ESD website.

General

• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit's services.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to apply environment and economic theories and concepts in different sectors of environment, economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on environment and economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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 economics, natural or environmental sciences or international law. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic and/or environmental research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.

A minimum of three years of experience working on intergovernmental processes within the UN common system is desirable.

A minimum of two years of experience in implementing environment programme strategies within the UN common system is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Russian is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

• English: Reading: UN Level II, Writing: UN Level II, Listening: UN Level II, Speaking: UN Level II
• Russian: Reading: UN Level II, Writing: UN Level II, Listening: UN Level II, Speaking: UN Level II

Desirable Languages

• French: Reading: UN Level I, Writing: UN Level I, Listening: UN Level I, Speaking: UN Level I

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

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