Background and organization setting

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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Office of Science is responsible for providing authoritative, integrated and coherent scientific input to inform policy and address interconnected environmental challenges, with an emphasis on evidence-based solutions and measurable impact. The Office strengthens UNEP’s scientific capacity, capability and science-policy interfaces by enhancing processes for generating, synthesizing, and applying robust, interdisciplinary evidence to drive effective action for environmental sustainability. This consultancy is managed by UNEP’s Office of Science. The mission of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is to safeguard the global environment by supporting developing countries in meeting their commitments under several multilateral environmental agreements. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) provides independent scientific and technical advice to the GEF on its policies, strategies, programs, and projects. STAP (https://www.stapgef.org) is hosted by UNEP’s Office of Science and comprises a Chair and six Panel Members, each aligned with a GEF focal areas: biodiversity, climate mitigation, climate adaptation, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste. The roles and responsibilities of the Chair, Panel Members, and STAP Secretariat are formally set out in STAP’s Terms of Reference (March 2012), which are currently under review. STAP is seeking a Chair with exceptional academic and technical credentials; a strong commitment for addressing global environmental and sustainable development challenges; and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary manner, integrating natural and social sciences with policy to tackle complex environmental and socio-ecological issues.

Responsibilities of the STAP Chair

The main responsibilities of the Chair are to provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the Panel, Scientific Leadership to the GEF Partnership, and to oversee the Panel’s work. Acting as a science-policy manager, the Chair bridges the gap between the GEF’s operational needs and the broader global scientific community. In addition, Chair will:

• I. Ensure that the best available, high quality and relevant scientific and technical advice is provided to the GEF.
• II. Mobilize scientific and technical networks and partnerships to support the work of the GEF.
• III. Develop and implement STAP’s Work Plan.
• IV. Hold monthly STAP teleconferences and STAP in-person meetings.
• V. Develop and present a report to the biannual GEF Council Meetings and STAP’s quadrennial report to the GEF Assembly.

Qualifications/special skills

Education:

A doctoral degree (PhD) in a relevant field including but not limited to environmental science, ecology, chemical sciences, natural resource management and atmospheric sciences is required.

Experience and expertise:

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the senior level in environmental science, sustainability, or closely related fields.
• Recognized scientific leadership with an international reputation in global environmental issues or sustainability disciplines, and a thorough understanding of environmental systems and their inter-linkages across sectors are required.
• Thorough knowledge of the state of the environment, emerging issues, and key response pathways, with specialization in at least one relevant field in the GEF focal areas of Biological Diversity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, International Waters, Chemicals and Waste, and Land Degradation is required. Thorough knowledge and expertise in two or more relevant fields is an advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems thinking, integrated approach, innovation, and sustainability transformation is required.
• Strong interdisciplinary understanding, with the ability to integrate natural sciences, social sciences, economics concerns, and develop policy-relevant knowledge is required.
• Ability to translate complex scientific insights into clear, accessible, and actionable terms is required.
• Extensive and well-recognized scientific and professional networks across topics of relevance to the GEF are required.
• Knowledge of, and practical experience working with one or preferably more GEF Agencies and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) for which the GEF serves as a financing mechanism; as well as understanding of the scientific processes supporting the implementation of one or more of the MEAs is desirable.
• Experience working in countries where GEF projects and programs are implemented is desirable.
• Experience working in, and leading, a multicultural international team of experts at a senior management level, with the ability to foster consensus across disciplines and regions is required. Director level experience leading teams of experts is desirable.
• A strong publication record, including peer-reviewed and technical publications is required.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage scientific research with multiple stakeholders in different geographical settings is required.
• Strong and extensive understanding of the GEF and its role within the environmental financing landscape and multilateral institutions is desirable.

Skills/Profile

• Ability to communicate effectively scientific findings of global significance to senior policymakers.
• Ability to mentor and support inclusive, balanced participation including gender, regional, and disciplinary diversity.
• Effective leader and organizer of multi-cultural scientific and technical teams.
• Ability to inspire, envision, formulate and influence the work of others as demonstrated through their expertise in devising policies and strategies which have led to well-recognized and significant impact.
• Effective listener and negotiator, able to sustain and defend positions based on objective and balanced information.
• Able to question established assumptions/ conventional thinking where necessary and provide intellectual

• Ensure that the best available, high quality and relevant scientific and technical advice is provided to the GEF.
• Mobilize scientific and technical networks and partnerships to support the work of the GEF.
• Develop and implement STAP’s Work Plan.
• Hold monthly STAP teleconferences and STAP in-person meetings.
• Develop and present a report to the biannual GEF Council Meetings and STAP’s quadrennial report to the GEF Assembly.

• Ability to communicate effectively scientific findings of global significance to senior policymakers.
• Ability to mentor and support inclusive, balanced participation including gender, regional, and disciplinary diversity.
• Effective leader and organizer of multi-cultural scientific and technical teams.
• Ability to inspire, envision, formulate and influence the work of others as demonstrated through their expertise in devising policies and strategies which have led to well-recognized and significant impact.
• Effective listener and negotiator, able to sustain and defend positions based on objective and balanced information.
• Able to question established assumptions/ conventional thinking where necessary and provide intellectual

• A doctoral degree (PhD) in a relevant field including but not limited to environmental science, ecology, chemical sciences, natural resource management and atmospheric sciences is required.
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the senior level in environmental science, sustainability, or closely related fields.
• Recognized scientific leadership with an international reputation in global environmental issues or sustainability disciplines, and a thorough understanding of environmental systems and their inter-linkages across sectors are required.
• Thorough knowledge of the state of the environment, emerging issues, and key response pathways, with specialization in at least one relevant field in the GEF focal areas of Biological Diversity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, International Waters, Chemicals and Waste, and Land Degradation is required. Thorough knowledge and expertise in two or more relevant fields is an advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems thinking, integrated approach, innovation, and sustainability transformation is required.
• Strong interdisciplinary understanding, with the ability to integrate natural sciences, social sciences, economics concerns, and develop policy-relevant knowledge is required.
• Ability to translate complex scientific insights into clear, accessible, and actionable terms is required.
• Extensive and well-recognized scientific and professional networks across topics of relevance to the GEF are required.
• Knowledge of, and practical experience working with one or preferably more GEF Agencies and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) for which the GEF serves as a financing mechanism; as well as understanding of the scientific processes supporting the implementation of one or more of the MEAs is desirable.
• Experience working in countries where GEF projects and programs are implemented is desirable.
• Experience working in, and leading, a multicultural international team of experts at a senior management level, with the ability to foster consensus across disciplines and regions is required. Director level experience leading teams of experts is desirable.
• A strong publication record, including peer-reviewed and technical publications is required.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage scientific research with multiple stakeholders in different geographical settings is required.
• Strong and extensive understanding of the GEF and its role within the environmental financing landscape and multilateral institutions is desirable.