Environmental Experts

Location : Home and field based
Languages required : English essential. Knowledge of French would be an asset
Duration : From 2 – 12 weeks depending on assignment

Introduction

PCDMB is looking to add experienced environmental professionals to its roster of experts to be contracted on short-term assignments aimed at 'greening' of the UN peacekeeping operations. The consultants should have a minimum of 7 years of professional experience within the environmental sector, with particular emphasis on environmental management and assessment.

Project Details

Under its Disasters and Conflicts Programme, UNEP has been providing technical assistance to UN Departments of Field Support and Peacekeeping (DFS and DPKO) since 2006. This assistance included development of policy and guidelines, environmental and technical assessments, training and implementation of pilot projects in the field.

In the coming months, the nature of this assistance will increasingly shift from policy and pilot work towards systematic implementation of the DPKO/DFS Environmental Policy in the field.

Typical projects will include:

• Environmental Baseline Studies (EBS)
• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
• Establishment of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
• Feasibility of green practices and technologies
• Development and implementation of waste management strategies
• Awareness raising and Training

These and other similar projects may be implemented in any DPKO-led and DFS-supported peace operation. Currently, there are 16 operations across four continents with over 110,000 personnel.

Majority of peacekeeping camps are in locations with poor and damaged infrastructure, extreme weather conditions, extensive environmental degradation and complex security and political climate.

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Minimum requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in engineering, environmental engineering, applied environmental technology, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 7 years of relevant working experience, with increasing levels of seniority and responsibility over time.
• Extensive experience and ability to lead EIA and EBS assessments, and train others
• Extensive experience of environmental sampling
• Experience of implementation of EMS systems such ISO 14001 or similar
• Knowledge of key environmental topics such as pollution, waste management, energy and water use, transport, green building practices, environmental health, climate change and ecology
• Familiarity with international environmental legislation
• Fluency in oral and written English
• Outstanding report writing skills

Desirable:

• Knowledge of French language is desirable and knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
• Experience of working in post-conflict and/or post-disaster sectors
• Experience of large scale ‘off-grid’ developments

Remuneration

To be negotiated – with reference to UN rates based on the TOR and consultant experience.

Link: http://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/?q=en/vacancies/environmental-ex...

How to apply:

Candidates should respond by email in the first instance to ivan.blazevic@unep.org , providing a copy of their CV and a cover letter, 2 references and confirmation of availability for short term assignments over the next 12 months. Deadline for submissions: 15th July 2013. All submissions will be assessed immediately after this deadline and UNEP will contact only the shortlisted candidates.