United Nations Environment Programme is looking for a Green and Sustainable Chemicals Expert

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme

Location: GENEVA

Level: CON - CON

Job Family: ENV

Application Deadline: 09 September 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-United Nations Environment Programme-283640-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Result of Service

The ultimate result of this consultancy is the development of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines on the application of green and sustainable chemistry principles across the life-cycle of electric vehicles (EVs), including materials sourcing, battery design, production, vehicle manufacturing, use phase, and endof-life management. The guidelines will support policymakers, industry stakeholders, and relevant institutions in integrating sustainable chemistry approaches into EV value chains, thereby reducing environmental and health impacts, promoting resource efficiency and circularity, and contributing to a more sustainable and low-emission transportation system.

Work Location

Home-based / Working remotely

Expected duration

110 days over 8 months period

Duties and Responsibilities

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 governments, local authorities and industries to develop and adopt policies, strategies, 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 Chemicals and Health Branch is supporting the Mobility Unit in executing some of the activities under the UNEP/GEF project “Global Project to Support Countries to Upscale Integrated Electric Mobility Systems”. Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Chemicals and Health Branch, Industry and Economy Division, and direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, Chemicals and Health Branch, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Conduct a comprehensive literature and policy review

• Review existing scientific literature, technical reports, and policy frameworks related to green and sustainable chemistry in the electric vehicle (EV) value chain.
• Analyse current practices, innovations, and standards related to EV battery chemistries, sustainable materials management, and environmentally sound manufacturing and recycling technologies.
• Review relevant international agreements, standards, and regulatory frameworks related to chemicals, waste, and EV battery management.

2. Assess environmental and chemical risks across the EV life-cycle (building on UNEP report UNEP Technical Report on End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Battery Management and Recycling – Chemical risk analysis)

• Analyse environmental and health impacts associated with key stages of the EV life cycle, including raw material extraction, battery production, vehicle manufacturing, use phase, and end-of-life management.
• Identify critical chemicals, hazardous substances, and pollution risks associated with EV components and battery systems.
• Assess opportunities for applying green and sustainable chemistry principles to reduce toxicity, improve resource efficiency, and minimize environmental impacts.

3. Map EV material flows and life-cycle stages

• Examine material flows of key EV battery materials (e.g., lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite) and associated chemicals.
• Identify priority intervention points where sustainable chemistry principles can be integrated to improve safety, sustainability, and circularity.

4. Identify best practices and case studies

• Gather insights on emerging technologies, good practices, policy needs, and implementation challenges related to sustainable EV value chains.
• Compile and analyse international best practices, technological innovations, and policy approaches related to green and sustainable chemistry in EV manufacturing, battery design, and recycling.
• Highlight practical examples from different regions, including experiences from low- and middle-income countries where relevant.

5. Develop practical guidelines

• Prepare comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines outlining the application of green and sustainable chemistry principles across the EV life-cycle.
• Provide clear recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and technical practitioners on integrating sustainable chemistry approaches into EV design, production, use, and end-of-life management.
• Identify strategies to support circular economy approaches, safer chemical substitution, improved resource efficiency, and environmentally sound management of EV batteries and components.

6. Draft and finalize the guidance document

• Prepare the draft guidelines for review by UNEP and relevant stakeholders.
• Incorporate feedback received from consultations and technical reviews.
• Deliver final guidelines and support references.

7. Development of training materials

• Prepare a set of training materials in ppt format, which UNEP can use for training policy makers in LMICs, equivalent to 1-2 hours of training. This should be based on the deliverables developed under point 1-6.

8. Integration of the guideline’s recommendations into a format compatible with the online Regulatory Toolkit for Used EVs and Battery End-of-Life

• Organize the content into a clear and user-friendly format suitable for integration into the Toolkit, including identifying relevant regulatory, institutional, technical and implementation elements.
• Test the proposed format and functionality, as appropriate, and incorporate feedback from UNEP and relevant technical experts to ensure consistency with the Toolkit structure and usability by policymakers in LMICs.
• Prepare the finalized content and specifications required for integration into the online Regulatory Toolkit.

9. Coordination and reporting

• Regularly liaise with UNEP project team to provide updates on progress and address queries.
• Incorporate UNEP feedback at each stage to ensure outputs meet technical, policy, and operational expectations.
• Deliver all outputs in a timely manner according to the agreed work plan and deadlines.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering, green chemistry, environmental science, materials science, waste management, sustainable materials, or a closely related discipline is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable chemistry, chemicals management, environmental management, or closely related fields is required. Demonstrated expertise in the application of green and sustainable chemistry principles to industrial processes, materials management, or product life-cycle design, preferably in the electric vehicle (EV) or battery value chain, is required. Experience with EV battery chemistries, battery manufacturing, and recycling technologies, as well as end-of-life management of EV batteries and related components, is required. Experience applying life-cycle approaches, material flow analysis (MFA), or similar methodologies, to assess environmental impacts and resource efficiency in EV or battery value chains is required. Proven knowledge of chemical risk assessment and management, including issues related to heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and other hazardous substances associated with EV components, battery materials, and manufacturing processes, is required. Experience assessing or advising on collection systems, dismantling practices, recycling technologies, and environmentally sound management of EV batteries, electronic waste, or hazardous waste streams is required. Familiarity with international chemicals and waste management frameworks (including the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions) and national or regional regulations relevant to chemicals, batteries, and e-waste management, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is desirable. Demonstrated experience in developing technical guidance, policy recommendations, or best practice guidelines for governments, industry, or international organizations is desirable. Experience working in multicultural and international environments, including collaboration with governments, international organizations, research institutions, or industry stakeholders, is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of any other UN language is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

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