UNOPS

The Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) provides policy, standards guidance and support in three UNOPS service lines of Project Management, Infrastructure and Financial Management Services (Grant Support and Fund Management). IPMG leads the design and implementation of a project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) system centered around the needs of UNOPS partners, beneficiaries and frontline personnel. IPMG also drives UNOPS efforts to leverage sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure and maximize local capacity through grant support management to achieve sustainable development. Through thought leadership, we aim to position UNOPS with its partners, foster innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes speeding up the implementation of urgent infrastructure and scaling up infrastructure service delivery, particularly in relation to climate action and energy. Our delivery approach to project management, infrastructure and grant support management prioritizes development needs, empowers institutions and communities, builds partners’ capacity, champions gender equality and social inclusion and reduces environmental impact. IPMG translates policy into practice by providing strategic direction, standards and oversight, while facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity-building for UNOPS teams globally.

The Environmental and Social Sustainability Unit (ESS): 

UNOPS is committed to the development and implementation of projects that are environmentally and socially sustainable. To achieve this goal UNOPS ESS teams assess and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts of projects and services.

Through its environmental and social standards (ESS), UNOPS avoids, minimizes, reduces or mitigates the adverse environmental and social risks and impacts of projects. UNOPS Environmental and Social Sustainability Unit (ESS) is mandated to ensure the effective implementation of the ESSs. The ESS Unit is responsible for  

• Managing the development and implementation of UNOPS ESS framework and management system. This includes the ESS policy, processes and procedures

• Setting standards and minimum requirements for UNOPS projects within the ESS management system 

• Conducting oversight and verification of ESS approaches and assessments

• Overseeing  and managing ESS data collection and data management

• Leading  the environmental and social risk assessments and management

• Overseeing the ESS coordination, monitoring and reporting mechanism 

The newly established ESS Unit is composed of three teams: 

• The Occupational Health and Safety team (OHS), 

• The Environmental and Social Standards team (ESS), and the 

• Safeguards Framework (SF) functions 

The Head of Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) is a high-visibility leadership role responsible for the strategic direction and technical integrity of UNOPS’ global safeguard frameworks. 


The incumbent will be part of the IPMG Management Team and will lead 3 specialized units— the Occupational Health and Safety Unit (OHS) and the Environmental and Social Sustainability Unit (ESS), as well as the Safeguards Framework unit responsible for providing coherence and coordination across units—ensuring that every project UNOPS undertakes meets or exceeds the ESS requirements of major international partners.

The Head of Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for UNOPS' global safeguard frameworks, ensuring that all projects meet or exceed the ESS requirements of major international partners. This role involves leading three specialized units, developing and implementing ESS policies, providing advisory support, fostering capacity development, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to promote ESS implementation.

Core Responsibilities include:

• Strategy & Framework: Leading the overall ESS strategic framework. Designing the internal Environmental and Social (E&S) management system and aligning with the World Bank ESF and other international development partners, such as KFW, ADB Safeguard Policies.

• Technical Oversight: Providing leadership, advisory support and technical oversight across HQ units and field offices on aspects related to ESS implementation, monitoring, reporting and due diligence in UNOPS projects.

• Capacity development, knowledge and Learning: Leading ESS knowledge generation and the development of knowledge products and tools leveraging technology and digital tools for capacity building, learning, ESS implementation and in support of evidence-based decision making

• Coordination, communications, advocacy and outreach: Coordinating and collaborating internally and externally to promote ESS implementation; Advocate for UNOPS ESS policy in global events, and ensure alignment with international partners  and stakeholders.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental management, public policy, social sciences, development studies or related fields with 12 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 10 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience (a minimum of three years must be in international leadership positions) across environment, climate change, social sustainability with a focus on environmental and social standards (ESS), monitoring and evaluation, and/or ESS risk management within International Finance Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, UN or International Development Organizations is required.

• Substantial experience in the development and quality assurance of environmental and social safeguards instruments, including conducting oversight visits as necessary, addressing capacity and compliance gaps, or providing advice on managing grievance cases is required. 

• Demonstrated experience in the development of ESS policies, procedures, and management systems. This includes knowledge generation, the development of policy briefs, reports, or background papers for evidence-based policy making and ESS institutional integration is required.

• Experience in leading ESS internal and external communication and outreach efforts and partnership building is required. 

• Proven track record in leading multi-disciplinary and diverse technical teams is required. 

• Field experience in developing countries is required. 

Desired

• MDB Expertise: Extensive experience implementing World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS1-10) is a strong asset. 

• Work experience in fragile and conflict-affected countries is an asset. 

• Experience in translating complex technical safeguard data into compelling narratives for external partners and donors is a strong asset. 

• Knowledge of international good practices in environmental, social and climate standards & guidelines (e.g. the World Bank’s ESF, the IFC Performance Standards, Paris Agreement alignment, ILO labor conventions, and other IFI, MDBs and International development organizations) is an asset. 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.