United Nations Environment Programme is looking for a Senior Programme Management Officer

Position: SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER, P5
Organization: United Nations Environment Programme
Location: GENEVA
Level: PD - P-5
Job Family: PGM
Application Deadline: 06 March 2026 at 04:59 UTC
Job Opening Number: 26-Programme Management-UNEP-270541-J-GENEVA (X)
Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

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. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries including those in crisis-affected situations. This post is located in the Disasters and Conflicts Branch based at the Geneva duty station and reports to the Head of the Branch. The incumbent will perform the following functions:

Responsibilities

• Takes the lead and directs UNEP’s environmental response and recovery interventions in fragile and crisis-affected countries and regions in close collaboration with the other parts of the Disasters and Conflicts Branch and with wider UNEP teams;
• Leads and coordinates rapid response in environmental emergencies to address Member States’ requests for the provision of environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by crises—including rapid deployments, environmental assessments, environmental recovery planning and implementation;
• Plans and oversees the management of activities undertaken by the response and recovery team; carries out programmatic/administrative tasks, including programme planning, implementation and evaluations, preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance;
• Identifies programmatic priorities, problems, and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions in consultation with relevant UNEP offices; liaises with relevant parties, including crisis-affected countries and UN partners; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Leads field missions to crisis-affected countries, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries and coordinates technical reports, including provision of recommendations on remedial actions.
• Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Directs research on the environmental impacts of conflicts and disasters and the design and trialing of recovery interventions, programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Lead strategic partnership development and resource mobilisation efforts for the Response and Recovery Unit.
• Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses; identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications.
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings and conferences, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and preparing documents and presentations.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) of the response and recovery portfolio and ensures preparation of related documents /reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).
• Leads team members' efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate, and share the data they need.
• Serves as an effective spokesperson in crisis response situations and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Ensures effective utilisation, supervision, and development of staff; guides, evaluates, and mentors staff.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of environmental peace and security. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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.

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.

TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in, environmental science and management, political science, international development, law, economics or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in programme management in environmental management is required.

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis, environment security, or international relations in conflict or disaster affected situations is required;

A minimum of five years of experience in United Nations field operations, special political missions, or similar international organizations or non-governmental organizations or contexts in an emergency, conflict, disaster, post-disaster or post-conflict setting is required.

Experience supervising and managing diverse teams is required.

Work experience at international level or within the United Nations System in assessing and responding to environmental issues in complex crisis-affected situations is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English 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

• Language: English
• Reading: UN Level II
• Writing: UN Level II
• Listening: UN Level II
• Speaking: UN Level II

Desirable Languages

• Language: French
• Reading: UN Level II
• Writing: UN Level II
• Listening: UN Level II
• Speaking: UN Level II

Assessment

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

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