Cold-chain Specialist

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking a Cold-chain Specialist to support its work in India and the wider region. This role contributes to the Cool Coalition, a global network promoting efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions. The specialist will work on holistic cold chain models, policy recommendations, capacity building, and partnership development.

Job Purpose

The Cold-chain Specialist will support UNEP's project on accelerating sustainable cold chain development in India and the wider region, contributing to the Cool Coalition's objectives. The role involves technical, organizational, and analytical tasks to implement UNEP's cold chain initiatives. Key contributions include aligning UNEP's activities with Coalition partners, activating a knowledge base, providing advisory and demonstration support, and facilitating scale-up, advocacy, and outreach efforts. The specialist will also coordinate a technical working group, manage subcontractor outputs, assist with funding proposals, and support replication activities and best practice sharing.

Responsibilities

Coordinate a technical working group focused on cold chain in India. Review and manage outputs from subcontractors and consultants. Support the preparation of funding proposals and assist in replication activities. Share best practices from India across the wider region. Perform technical, organizational, and analytical tasks to support UNEP's cold chain project implementation. Align UNEP's cold chain activities in India with Cool Coalition partners. Contribute to the Coalition's efforts in knowledge base activation, advisory services, demonstration support, scale-up, advocacy, and outreach.

Work Experience

A minimum of eight years of relevant work experience is required, with a focus on logistics, energy, agriculture, rural development, and the environment, particularly in cold chain. Essential practical experience includes multi-stakeholder project development, partnership building, and managing subcontractors and consultants, preferably within the sustainable energy context. Experience working with Indian government ministries, state governments, public sector undertakings, and international organizations is an asset.

Skills

Cold chain logistics and agri-business knowledge. Project development, policy frameworks, and financial instruments expertise. Experience in agriculture, rural development, cooling, and energy coordination with multi-stakeholders. Strong analytical skills. Ability to identify lessons and case studies. Professionalism, conscientiousness, efficiency, and results-orientation. Persistence and flexibility. Strong communication skills (written and oral English).

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