United Nations Environment Programme is looking for a Chemical Footprint Expert

Position title: Chemical Footprint Expert

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme

Location: GENEVA

Level: CON - CON

Job Family: ENV

Application Deadline: 26 March 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-United Nations Environment Programme-274356-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Result of Service

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. The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. The Chemicals and Health Branch in UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division gathers, compiles and analyses state-of-the-art information and data, including through monitoring activities, inventories and assessments, to allow policymakers to make informed decisions on the sound management of chemicals and waste. The Branch also addresses issues of concern highlighted by governments, such as lead in paint. With the support of the Life Cycle Initiative, hosted by Industry Innovation Branch of the Industry and Economy Division, the Chemicals and Health Branch seek to advance the work on Chemical Footprint approaches within the context of the Global Framework on Chemicals. The purpose is to advance toward a robust, science-based international standard clarifying (a) what a Chemical Footprint refers to, (b) which approaches and data are relevant to assess it, and (c) how the assessment should be performed, and its results be interpreted in the different relevant decision contexts, including Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Alternatives Assessment. In this context, UNEP is looking for a consultant to support tasks related to the delivery of relevant outputs to initiate the process for developing an international standard on chemical footprint, facilitating stakeholder engagement and consensus-building, supporting the review and analysis of relevant background documents, designing capacity building opportunities and materials in the context of ongoing projects, and contributing to the necessary methodological alignment and terminology into an industry guidance developed separately from these ToR. The consultant will delivery a finalized, consensus-based guidance document on chemical footprint terminology and methodology, developed through coordinated stakeholder consultations and integrating scientific and stakeholder inputs, which provides a recognized technical foundation for initiating the development of an international standard and supports awareness-raising and capacity-building among key stakeholders.

Work Location

Home-based / Working Remotely

Expected duration

100 days in a 10-month period.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, Industry and Economy Division, and the direct supervision of the Chief of Chemicals and Health Branch and the Head of the Life Cycle Initiative Secretariat, the consultant will perform the following task:

1. Lead the development and publication of the report
   Deliverable 1 (a): Draft report on chemical footprint terminology and methodological framework, including definitions, possible metrics, system boundaries, data and methodological requirements, and reporting formats.
   Deliverable 1 (b): Final report on chemical footprint terminology and methodological framework, including definitions, possible metrics, system boundaries, data and methodological requirements, and reporting formats. Split in different sub-documents if relevant for delivery as working OR INF documents to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals.

• Reviewing and analyzing the inputs from members of the WG1 of GFC workstream on Chemical Footprint approaches.
• Developing a structured document.
• Coordinating the stakeholder consultation process, consolidating inputs from independent experts, and resolving comments in collaboration with relevant parties.
• Supporting the finalization and formatting of the final report in line with standards for the International Conference.
• Performing other related duties as required.

2. Support the Development of industry guidance
   Deliverable 2: Inputs to Guidance on Chemical Footprint “Approaches for the Industrial Sector”, on aspects related to terminology, methodological framework, and process towards developing an international standard

• Contributing inputs related to terminology, methodological framework, and standard-development process, into the industry guidance being developed in the relevant WG.
• Act as focal point on matters related to chemical footprint terminology and methodology.
• Performing other related duties as required.

3. Liaise with ISO to ensure necessary documents are in place to initiate process
   Deliverable 3: Draft Form A4 to initiate ISO process (New Work Item Proposal)

• Identifying relevant ISO Technical Committee representatives in consultation with UNEP.
• Liaising with ISO to clarify needs of standardization process, to inform the discussions in the context of the GFC.
• Supporting the development of necessary documents (Form A4) to initiate ISO process.
• Coordinating with technical experts from national standard-setting bodies to maximise chances of success of new ISO standardization process.
• Performing other related duties as required.

4. Contribute concept notes and training materials to support awareness raising and capacity building on Chemical Footprint approaches
   Deliverable 4 (a): Generic concept note for capacity building / awareness raising on Chemical Footprint approaches, based on documents prepared for GFC.
   Deliverable 4 (b): Delivery of 4 webinars on Chemical Footprint approaches, for GFC sector / thematic programmes, including on link with green and sustainable chemistry.
   Deliverable 4 (c): In-person contributions on Chemical Footprint approaches in the First International Conference of the GFC (Nov’26).
   Deliverable 4 (d): Delivery of 1 webinar (Sept’26, TBC) and one in-person session (Dec’26, TBC) on Chemical Footprint approaches, for ISO members.

• Designing concept notes for awareness raising and capacity building opportunities identified.
• Preparation of training materials (e.g. slide decks).
• Leading webinars and/or in person capacity building events and coordination with additional resource people if necessary (for in-person events, additional resources will need to be identified).
• Performing other related duties as required.

All deliverables will be submitted electronically in appropriate editable formats (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), using UNEP templates where applicable.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Advanced university degree (PhD. degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, engineering, life cycle assessment, sustainability, natural resource management, or a related field.

Experience: A minimum of ten years demonstrated experience in project management, research and coordination, including demonstrated experience in life cycle assessment, toxicity analysis, chemical alternatives assessment and chemical substitution, or related environmental assessment methodologies, ideally with a strong foundation in applying a life-cycle perspective, is required.

Demonstrated engagement with multi-stakeholder, global consensus-building or international standard-setting processes, including experience working across sectors such as academia, industry, governments, or civil society, is required.

Strong analytical and coordination skills, with experience supporting collaborative processes involving diverse expert and stakeholder input, is required.

Strong communication skills, especially in technical documents and scientific publications, are required.

Previous experience working with international organizations, expert committees, or international consensus-building initiatives is an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

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