Job Summary:

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant Director-General for the Natural Sciences Sector (ADG/SC), and direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels and UNESCO Representative to the European Union, the incumbent will be responsible for liaising with the European Union (EU) institutions to strengthen UNESCO’s partnership with the EU in the field of natural sciences, notably Science Diplomacy, Freshwater, Biodiversity, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Open Science, and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy.

In particular, the incumbent shall perform the following tasks:

• Contribute to a closer policy dialogue between UNESCO and the EU in the field of natural sciences by: (i) monitoring relevant policy developments and advancements of the EU, in (ii) providing advice, as relevant, to EU institutions, Member States and other stakeholders on policy alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and other internationally agreed goals; and (iii) participating in relevant EU expert working groups.
• Identify and monitor cooperation and partnership opportunities with the EU in the field of natural sciences, and facilitate ongoing partnership negotiations with the EU, by providing intelligence on EU strategies and programmatic priorities, facilitating active exchange between EU counterparts and UNESCO Headquarters and Field Offices, and contributing to the formulation of extrabudgetary programmes and projects of interest to the EU.
• Facilitate the implementation of EU-funded projects in the field of natural sciences, by ensuring liaison between relevant EU counterparts and UNESCO’s implementing teams at UNESCO Headquarters and in the field.
• Design, implement and coordinate Brussels-based outreach and advocacy events and other initiatives related to UNESCO’s natural sciences activities that highlight shared priorities with the EU.
• Facilitate interaction between the EU and UNESCO’s scientific networks in the EU and beyond related to the natural sciences programme, including UNESCO Chairs and Category 2 Centres, to promote knowledge-sharing and cooperation.
• Contribute to the development of interdisciplinary approaches in UNESCO’s partnership with the EU, by fostering teamwork with other Liaison Officers at the UNESCO, Liaison Office in Brussels and contribute to the overall UN-EU partnership by participating, on behalf of the Office, in relevant working groups and activities of the UN Brussels Team.
• Prepare inputs for the Programme and Budget documents (C/5) and related work plans and cooperate with other Programme Sectors and contribute to the report of the Director-General of UNESCO on the activities of the Organization (C/3) and its Medium-Term Strategy document (C/4).

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the relevant field of natural sciences (Environment, Ecology, Hydrology, Earth Sciences and Basic Sciences) and/or Engineering.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 4 (four) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of natural sciences, of which preferably 2 (two) years acquired at international level.
• Professional experience in international scientific cooperation in the area of natural sciences, including the development of programmes and projects.
• Working knowledge of the EU and institutions.
• Experience in fundraising and other resource mobilisation mechanisms and building partnerships for international science programmes.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills to advocate for UNESCO’s natural science priorities.
• Ability to quickly understand new concepts, approaches, and practices in the field of natural sciences.
• Ability to provide technical and thematic contributions to expert meetings and working groups, as well as to consultative processes related to EU policymaking in the field of natural sciences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a multicultural environment, to foster and contribute to teamwork.
• Ability to work under pressure in a complex and changing environment.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Ph.D degree or equivalent) in the relevant field of natural sciences and/or engineering.

Work Experience

• Experience in the organization and coordination of international workshops, meetings and events.
• Experience within government in the field of natural sciences.
• Experience with specialised agencies of the UN system and/or professional Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and/or organisations for international technical cooperation.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining professional networks.
• Experience in promoting South-South cooperation in capacity building in natural sciences applications at the national and regional levels.

Skills and Competencies

• Experience in communication and raising visibility through different medias.
• Experience in working in the UN system.
• Knowledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the UNESCO Natural Sciences Programmes.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).