BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

In April 2024, UNDP launched a 5-years Green Energy Recovery Programme in Ukraine, which is an integrated initiative designed to diversify the country’s energy mix and address the impact of the war on its outdated energy systems. Developed through extensive consultations with the Government of Ukraine, local and regional authorities, the Programme aims to respond urgently to targeted attacks on the energy sector and support its green energy recovery.

The Programme supports the National Energy Strategy of Ukraine, contributing to energy security and independence, promoting a green recovery and transition of the energy sector, and facilitating further synchronization with the EU energy markets. This effort builds on UNDP’s engagement in energy system reconstruction and recovery, leveraging partnerships and lessons learned from the “Winterization Support to Ukraine” project.

Aligned with the UN Ukraine Transitional Framework 2023 and UN Winterization plans, UNDP is providing immediate support to national and local governments to repair energy infrastructure, ensuring critical services to war-affected populations. The Programme focuses on distributing generation sources, decentralizing the power system, and increasing the share of renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on coal generation and reduce CO2 emissions.

The Programme will enhance access to energy from decentralized renewable sources, foster economic empowerment, and improve public governance in the energy sector. These outputs will contribute to Ukraine’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) towards the Paris Agreement, aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable energy solutions will be introduced through pilot projects, aligned with the UNDP nexus approach to risk reduction and resilience enhancement in war-affected communities. By boosting energy supply and decentralizing the energy system, the Programme aims to reduce reliance on humanitarian aid for essential services in these areas.

In this context, UNDP Ukraine is recruiting a highly qualified and experienced international professional for the post of the Programme Technical Specialist (Energy Security) to provide technical expertise and support the activities of the Green Energy Recovery Programme with a focus on energy security.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The key role of the Programme Technical Specialist (Energy Security) will include support for developing an enhanced strategic vision, strengthened project oversight, and successful resource mobilization around clean and sustainable energy production, energy efficiency, energy security. S/he will work closely with the Energy and Environment Team Lead and the Green Energy Recovery Programme Manager.

The Programme Technical Specialist (Energy Security) will be tasked to identify urgent needs at the state and local levels, to support with prioritization of the UNDP interventions in this domain, to ensure he oversight of the implementation of current activities in the scope of Green Energy Recovery Programme, considering the possible need in adapting of the Programme to arisen urgent needs and changed conditions, as well as with the development of new project proposals for the Energy and Environment Portfolio.

The incumbent provides management, oversight of the team under the assigned thematic area, and substantive backstopping to senior management as required. They will also endeavor to engage in collaborative policy discussions under the oversight of senior management, with Programme and project staff to ascertain emerging needs in the thematic area and opportunities to capitalize on new or innovative Programme strategies and ensure coherence of Programme strategies and activities.

Furthermore the Programme Technical Specialist will be tasked to identify urgent needs at the state and local levels, to assist with prioritization of the UNDP interventions in this domain, to assist with the oversight of the implementation of current activities in the scope of Green Energy Recovery Programme, considering the possible need in adapting of the Programme to arisen urgent needs and changed conditions, as well as with the development of new project proposals for the Energy and Environment Portfolio. It is required that the Programme Technical Specialist should have prior experience in managing or advising international technical assistance projects related to energy aspects.

S/he provides management, oversight of the team under the assigned thematic area as well as substantive backstopping to senior management as required. The incumbent will also endeavor to engage in collaborative policy discussions under the oversight of senior management, with Programme and project staff to ascertain emerging needs in the thematic area as well as opportunities to capitalize on new or innovative Programme strategies as well as to ensure coherence of Programme strategies and activities.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions,

teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key duties and accountabilities include:

Provision of Technical leadership and oversight:

• Oversee the technical design, delivery, and quality assurance of all energy-related projects within the Green Energy Recovery Programme. This includes decentralized energy systems, renewable energy integration, and critical infrastructure repairs.
• Provide high-level technical input into the design of feasibility studies, assessments, and infrastructure projects to ensure energy solutions meet international standards for sustainability and resilience.
• Provide technical guidance and expertise at the stage of energy equipment and services specification development, facilitate the procurement processes at the evaluation stage.

Lead Capacity building and knowledge management:

• Foster technical capacity within the Green Energy Recovery Programme team (with a focus of Energy Security), recipient organizations and other stakeholders to improve technical knowledge and innovation in energy security and sustainable energy systems.
• Lead the identification, documentation, and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned, contributing to energy security and green recovery.
• Promote cross-sectoral collaboration and innovative partnerships to enhance knowledge exchange and leverage cutting-edge technologies in energy systems.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Organize and deliver training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters.

Build strategic stakeholder and partnership engagement and resource mobilization:

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including national authorities, regional and local level recipient organizations, international donors, other UN agencies, international and local NGOs, private sector to secure collaboration and resource mobilization for energy security and green energy projects.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to UNDP leadership on matters related to energy policy, infrastructure recovery, and the green energy transition, ensuring informed decision-making and policy coherence.
• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Actively engage in policy dialogues with national and regional governments, ensuring that UNDP’s energy interventions contribute to broader national strategies such as energy independence and EU energy market integration.
• Provide meaningful contributions to secure additional funding and partnerships for Green energy recovery Programme, aligning resource mobilization efforts with the Programme’s strategic objectives.
• Develop proposals for new initiatives aimed at advancing energy security and green recovery, working closely with Energy and Environment portfolio and Green energy recovery Programme teams, other UNDP projects teams (including GEF-funded projects), national partners, and international donors.

Ensure monitoring, reporting, and risk management:

• Provide strategic oversight of project monitoring and evaluation frameworks, ensuring that progress is tracked against clear targets and that risks are proactively managed.
• Contribute to the timely and accurate reporting to donors and UNDP leadership, providing high-level analysis of project outcomes, challenges, and future needs.
• Lead the identification and mitigation of risks related to energy infrastructure projects, ensuring that recovery efforts are sustainable and resilient.

Other Duties:

• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• Supervise Green Energy Recovery Programme personnel under Programme component 1, Energy security.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environment, Energy, Science, Physics, Climate Change, Business, Economics, Law, Engineering, or other relevant field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience of proven working experience relevant to the selected thematic area of energy efficiency and/or clean and sustainable energy sector is required.
• Demonstrated experience and extensive technical knowledge relevant to climate change mitigation, and resilience building including both energy efficiency, clean and sustainable energy sector is required.
• At least 3 years of experience managing or advising sustainable energy projects for UNDP or another international organization will be considered as a strong advantage.
• Previous experience with green and sustainable financial support mechanisms is an advantage.
• Experience in training and facilitation related to clean and sustainable energy is desirable.
• Prior experience and knowledge of Europe and CIS region is highly desirable.
• Experience of work in the current Ukraine context would be an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Ukrainian is an advantage.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies: 

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Direction and strategy: System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management: Portfolio Management

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management: Partnerships Management

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Development: Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: Partnerships

• Energy Security, Sustainable Energy

2030 Agenda: Gender

• Gender and Energy

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements