Posting Title: Environmental Affairs Officer, P4
Job Code Title: ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER
Duty Station: MULTIPLE

Responsibilities:
Within delegated authority, the Environmental Affairs Officer will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring actions on environmental issues in field missions, chiefly overseeing and advising for revision as necessary the missions’ Environmental Management System (EMS) and coordinates with partners. The duties listed below are part and parcel of the EMS and coordination tasks:
Policy and Guidance
• Participate in the drafting and/or review of the DPKO/DFS environmental policy and objectives (including directives, Annual Mission Environmental Statements, Standard Operating Procedures, etc.);
• Review environmental assessments and surveys of operations in the missions, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA);
Review missions’ Environmental Baseline Study (EBS);
Review missions’ Environmental Action Plan (EAP);
• Produce the template for field missions of the Environmental Emergency Preparedness Plan with relevant offices;
• Assist in policy development including the review of all DPKO and DFS Policies, and providing inputs to mainstream environment in all guidance documents;
• Prepare various written outputs, e.g. input to publications, briefing notes and talking points for senior management.
Environmental Action Plan – Implementation
• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the missions’ EAP, including data collection and reporting;
• Maintain a record of environmental issues and actions thereon at the missions, including, for example, a list of potentially hazardous installations within the missions (e.g. petrol station, warehouse storing flammables) in cooperation with fire marshals or other staff at the mission designated to deal with emergencies;
Investigate complaints or reports of pollution, contamination, health hazards and other environment-related incidents;
• Submit periodic reports on environmental issues of the missions, to the Senior Environmental Affairs Officer including policy compliance status reports as required for the DPKO/DFS Environmental Policy;
• Recommend to the Senior Environmental Affairs Officer and management to undertake such measures as may be required to prevent or mitigate environmental problems;
• Advise relevant officers or offices on environmental issues arising from the assessments, studies and plans, including environmental information relevant to the operations of the mission;
Awareness and Training
• Undertake outreach activities, promote awareness on environmental issues;
• Liaise with DPKO/DFS DPET Integrated Training Services to develop a strategy of environmental briefing to all mission personnel including police and military contingents during their induction training;
• Facilitate the network of Missions Environmental Focal Points by sharing best practices and lessons learned from missions and/or organizations, and by managing the online Peace Ops Environment Community website;
Coordination and Partner Relations
• Provide support in liaising on environmental issues with Permanent Missions and member states r and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies;
• Support the coordination and management of the DPKO/DFS-UNEP partnership under the Rapid Environment and Climate Technical Assistance Facility (REACT);
Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants and other parties and drafting mission summaries;
• Prepare DFS responses and inputs (and representing DFS as necessary) for interagency working groups on environmental/sustainability management such as the Environment Management Group (EMG) and the Senior-level Steering Group on Environmental Sustainability Management of the UN Secretariat;
• Perform any other tasks required to support the DPKO/DFS Environmental Policy for UN Field Missions and the environmental objectives.

Competencies
Professionalism: High degree of personal initiative and willingness to accept wide responsibilities; ability to provide technical and procedural advice in a broad range of environmental areas to different types of audience; ability to develop, maintain and supervise accountability systems for materials and services; ability to teach and conduct research; strives to incorporate the gender perspective in programmatic and operational work; 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.
Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, -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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in environmental management, science, engineering, law or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the environmental management field with a national government/administration or international organization is required. Experience in coordinating environmental management in an international organization is desirable. Experience with representation in an environment-related interagency network is desirable. Experience in project planning, evaluation or oversight of environmental compliance is desirable.
Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.