Senior Programme Management Officer

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. The Incumbent will lead the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Saudi environment sustainability programme and support the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in enhancing environment governance and environment policy development. This position is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The incumbent will report to the Regional Director of UNEP/ROWA and they will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

1. Takes the lead in developing, implementing and evaluating UNEP Strategic Cooperation Programme with Saudi Arabia as further elaborated in the signed agreement and the project document; Directs technical and administrative project personnel in programme development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; Leads in-country missions as needed and authorized, to strengthened implementation of the Saudi project.
2. Serves as effective UNEP liaison and establish collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels with the Saudi Government as well as within UNEP; Liaises with relevant parties including the Ministry of Environment, UN System in Saudi Arabia to identify and initiate follow-up actions as appropriate.
3. Directs research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources; Coordinates environment policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations and research activities and studies; Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepare conclusions.
4. Identifies environment priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes policy options and corrective actions; Provides substantive guidance to external consultants, implementing partners, government officials and other parties on aspects of environmental policy development and implementation.
5. Prepare policy-oriented quality briefings and presentation; Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings & conferences, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations; Makes presentations on technical topics and activities as deemed appropriate within the framework of the programme; Manages outreach activities; Designs and conducts training workshops, seminars.
6. Directs review of relevant documents and reports; Supervises the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications; Clears reports submitted by the consultants and implementing partners as to ensure high quality before submitting to the Ministry and UNEP Regional Office.
7. Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in diverse areas and at all levels.
8. Coordinates activities related to budget and funding of the programme. Prepares, submits and presents progress reports and financial statement.
9. Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff. Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
10. 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.
11. Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to environmental governance and environment policy development; Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks related to environment. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. 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. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. 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.

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 improvement; 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.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.