SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

UN Environment Programme; Paris; Sur place; EUR 110 000 - 150 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking an experienced professional to support the Industry and Economy Division in Paris. The role focuses on life-cycle approaches, materials management, and circular economy policy, delivering science-based advice to decision‑makers.

You will lead data-driven analyses, coordinate with international partners, and supervise staff and budgets to strengthen UNEP’s knowledge networks and policy impact.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in natural resources science, environmental science, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Data analytics, business analytics, or data science background desirable.

Responsabilités

• Support preparation and review of scientific studies and knowledge products.
• Provide methodological guidance on life-cycle approaches and metrics.
• Ensure research considers stakeholder priorities across the life cycle.

Connaissances

Science-based policy advice

Data analytics

Life-cycle approaches

Formation

Advanced degree in natural resources/science

Bachelor’s degree with qualifying experience

Description du poste

Internationally recruited role, DDL 2nd of October

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development across the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The overall objective of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to support government decision-makers and engage with industry and the finance sector to promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production. The Division uses strong scientific evidence to support the development and adoption of policies, strategies, practices, and technologies that advance the circular economy, improve the efficient use of natural resources, ensure the sound management of chemicals, and strengthen the alignment between industry and environmental policies.

The Division also promotes policies, technologies, economic instruments, investment decisions, business practices, and other approaches that address the environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution, while advancing economic and social objectives.

This position is based at the UNEP duty station in Paris, within the Industry and Economy Division and the Materials and Systems Innovation Unit.

The Materials and Systems Innovation Unit leads the formulation and implementation of UNEP’s work programme on sustainable materials management, circular economy, and life-cycle thinking. The Unit brings together data, science, and knowledge networks to support governments and engage industry and finance actors in developing relevant policies and practices.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Industry Innovation Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

• Supports the preparation and review of scientific studies, assessments, and knowledge products of the International Resource Panel on the sustainable use and management of natural resources and materials, including their environmental impacts.
• Provides methodological advice on life-cycle approaches, including the development and use of material footprint and circularity metrics, to engage stakeholders across industry and the finance sector.
• Ensures that research and analysis undertaken within and outside the Unit consider competing priorities across stakeholders and throughout the entire life cycle, strengthening their relevance to practical policy contexts.
• Strengthens the science-policy interface on resource and material production and consumption within global, regional, and national policy processes.
• Identifies opportunities to shape policy and business discourse on sustainable consumption and production, circular economy, and sustainable management of resources and materials through UNEP knowledge networks and global and regional partnerships.
• Provides Secretariat support to scientific bodies, networks, and partnerships to strengthen the science-policy interface on sustainable resource and materials management, sustainable consumption and production, and circular economy. This includes overseeing Secretariat support to the International Resource Panel, the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, and the Life Cycle Initiative.
• Increases the accessibility and usability of scientific data, analytics, and knowledge products related to sustainable materials management, circular economy, and life-cycle approaches.
• Strengthens the Unit’s and Branch’s knowledge-management capacities in circular economy and sustainable consumption and production, while contributing to UNEP-wide and UN-wide knowledge-management efforts.
• Ensures the implementation of gender-mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for women and men of planned actions under initiatives supported by the Unit.
• Oversees the implementation and coordination of budget and funding activities, including programme and project preparation, submissions, progress reports, and financial documentation.
• Ensures the effective utilization, supervision, and development of staff; guides, evaluates, and mentors team members; and strategically leverages partnerships.
• Leads team efforts to collect and analyse data, providing insights to identify trends and patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentations, and reporting. Ensures that users can discover, access, integrate, and share the data they need.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in natural resources science, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field is required.

A first-level university degree combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Successful completion of degree or non-degree programmes in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is desirable

Professional Experience

A minimum of 10 years of proven and demonstrable experience providing science-based and policy-relevant advice at the country level on sustainable consumption and production and circular economy, based on life-cycle approaches, is required. At least 5 years must be in an international role.

Experience in resource mobilization for projects with budgets exceeding USD 5 million is required.

Experience managing international teams of five or more people is required.

Experience in data analytics or managing large scientific datasets is desirable.

A demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals on scientific analysis related to natural resource use and management is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

For this job opening, English is required and French is desirable.