Notification to the Parties

CONCERNING:

Vacancy announcement

1. The Secretariat hereby transmits to the Parties the vacancy announcement for the post of Head of the Scientific Support Unit.

2. The Management Authorities of the Parties are urged to provide copies of the attached document to potential candidates for this important post.

 

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Head of Scientific Support Unit, P-5

CITES Secretariat

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 2 June 2003

DATE OF ISSUANCE: 3 April 2003

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: United Nations Environment Programme

DUTY STATION: Geneva

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 03-PGM-UNEP-800267-R-GENEVA

Remuneration: Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered (see the CITES website for more information, English only).

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Responsibilities

Within the limits of delegated authority, the Head of the Scientific Support Unit will be responsible for the following duties: Organize the provision of all needed scientific and Secretariat assistance to the Animals Committee, Plants Committee, Nomenclature Committee and the Identification Manual Committee, to enable these committees to carry out their tasks with the mandate provided by the relevant Resolutions and Decisions of the Conference of the Parties; Plan and formulate priority objectives for the work programme to ensure optimal assistance to Parties in determining whether trade in particular species may be or is detrimental to survival; Ensure that Resolutions and Decisions, in particularly those related to species that are traded in significant quantities and referred to the Scientific Support Unit, are handled efficiently and that all actions agreed by the Standing Committee and referred to the Scientific Support Unit are completed in the timeframe specified; In response to the needs specified by individual Parties or a particular CITES Region, design, develop and ensure proper implementations of projects on the biological status and sustainable use of species in the trade; ·Provide advice to Parties to assist them and the Conference of the Parties in applying the Biological Criteria to determine whether or not certain species should be listed in the CITES appendices and analyse and develop scientific assessments of species in international trade to assist Parties in their implementation of the Convention; Encourage and provide advice to Parties to assist them in the development and implementation of recovery plans for Appendix-I species; Plan, organize and clear documentation related to the work of the Scientific Support Unit required for the meetings of the Conference of the Parties to ensure quality and policy consistency; Establish contacts with the Management Authorities in the region and act as the CITES focal point and provide direct assistance to the Management Authorities, in particular regarding documentation or information relevant to CITES implementation; Identify, assess and advise on CITES problems relevant to the countries of the region; Provide advice to facilitate the identification of needs of Parties in the region, such as training, enforcement and legislation, species projects and, within the Secretariat, communicating and co-operating with the other relevant function units to ensure provision of appropriate assistance; Keep under continuous review the evolution and execution of the work programmes in the Scientific Support Unit to ensure their conformity with the priorities established by the Conference of the Parties; ·Manage human and financial resources allocated to the Unit; Represent CITES at meetings.

Skills

Professionalism – Advanced technical qualification, including authoritative knowledge and wide exposure to the CITES issues – Effective communication (spoken, written and presentational) skills including ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to senior officials. Teamwork – Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance. Managerial – Seasoned management and decision-making experience; ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives and translate it into a results-oriented work programme; proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment including the ability to effectively lead, supervise and evaluate staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced university degree in environmental or biological science or a related field.

Work Experience

Minimum of ten years relevant working experience, of which four to five years should have been at international level. Substantial international or national experience with CITES is highly desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential as is a good working knowledge of another of the official working languages of the Convention (French or Spanish).

Other Skills

Excellent managerial skills.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

How to apply

There are two ways you can apply to vacancies available at the United Nations Human Resources Site.

1. Online – If you consider applying for the United Nations online now or in the future you have to register with the United Nations Human Resources (see the CITES website).

2. Offline – fax or mail paper application.

Online (see the CITES website)

1. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as early as possible after the vacancy has been posted, and well before the deadline. All online applications will be acknowledged immediately, if an email address is provided.

2. To start the online application process, applicants will be required to register by opening a "My UN" account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password.

3. After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be modified as necessary for future applications.

4. In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed.

5. For UN staff members, after submission of an application, they will receive an email reminding them to provide copies of their last two Performance Appraisal System evaluations to the appropriate office. These copies may be submitted by email, fax or regular mail with a clear indication of the vacancy announcement number.

6. Once an application has been submitted, it will be transmitted to the appropriate office for review.

Offline

1. If applicants cannot submit an application online, they may send paper applications to the address, email or fax number indicated below before the deadline.

LPO UNON
Room No.: Recruitment & Classification Section Human Resources Management Services
P.O. Box 67578
Nairobi, Kenya

E-mail: Recruitment@unon.org

Applications must be submitted using the United Nations Personal History form (P-11) (available through the CITES website, English and French only).

The applications should indicate the vacancy announcement number on the application and on the envelope, email or fax.

2. Applicants may wish to retain copies of their completed P-11 form for use for future applications.

3. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of offline paper applications cannot be acknowledged individually.

4. UN staff members must attach copies of their last two Performance Appraisal System evaluations to their applications.