The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) 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 Chief Scientist and the Director of the Office of Science provides strategic coordination of science advice that informs the organization’s decisions, policies, interventions and publications. In this capacity, the Chief Scientist and the Director of the Office of Science performs the functions with the support of the Office of Science. The Office for Science provides timely, scientifically credible, policy-relevant environmental assessments, data, analytics, intelligence and information for policysetting, decision-making and action planning for sustainable development. It monitors, analyses and
reports on the state of the global environment, assessing policies and trends and providing support to early warning services on environmental variables and emerging environmental threats. It spearheads UN-wide monitoring and reporting on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.
This position is located in the Office of Science of the UN Environment Programme at the Nairobi duty station. The incumbent will be a member of the UNEP Senior Management Team (SMT). Chief Scientist and the Director of the Office of Science reports to the Executive Director. Within delegated authority, Chief Scientist and the Director of the Office of Science will be responsible for the following:
• Formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Office, determine priorities, and allocate resources for the completion of outputs/results and their timely delivery, in cooperation and coordination with other UN Environment Programme divisions and offices.
• Oversee activities undertaken by the Office as a contribution to the UNEP Programme of Work and Medium-Term Strategy (MTS), including preparation, execution and monitoring of office budget, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators and other administrative
tasks.
• Ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely manner and co-ordinate work in the different areas both within the Office and other UN Environment divisions and offices, in accordance with UNEP’s “delivery model” and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate, working closely with UNEP Regional Offices to support the UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, as per the UNEP Delivery Model and adherence to the principles of “One UNEP”.
• Coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to donors, UNEP Environment Assembly, United Nations intergovernmental bodies and other scientific inter- governmental forums as appropriate.
• Manage, guide, develop, encourage and train staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Office and across UNEP;
• Chair meetings, seminars, on substantive-related issues; represent the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences; provide programmatic/substantive expertise and, when appropriate, hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Report to UNEP Senior Management Team, intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance and on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Work collaboratively with Regional Offices to mobilize resources from global and regional sources for project funding. Clear the allocation of the necessary financial and human resources for the delivery of results related to the strategic objectives set by the UNEP leadership and its senior
management team.
• Ensures close and effective engagement with all UNEP Offices to support the co-design projects that contain regional and national components. Ensures accountability for delivery of project results that fall within their division’s expertise and mandate.
• As the Chief Scientist the Director of the Office of Science serves as a primary advisor on science: setting scientific priorities for the organisation, including advising on emerging issues and science and
ensures credibility and quality of data, information and knowledge and products are aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead on foresight, analysis and intelligence initiatives and delivers updates / research papers and syntheses on new and emerging scientific issues to the Senior Management Team and the organization more generally, as needed.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.