Service Contract, National Officer (NOC) Natural Sciences

Organizational Context

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Sciences and the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Santiago, the incumbent will support the implementation of UNESCO's programmes and activities in Sciences. The focus will be primarily to position UNESCO's science mandate in Chile and on the regional agenda in ecological earth sciences, water sciences, science policy, capacity building, local and indigenous knowledge systems, and disaster risk reduction within the Santiago Regional Office. The incumbent will also assist the implementation of UNESCO's broader sciences mandate.

Job Purpose

The incumbent will support member states within the regional coverage in implementing Regional and National Development Plans and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As part of the interdisciplinary team at UNESCO Santiago, the incumbent will collaborate with relevant stakeholders and receive technical guidance from the SC Programme Divisions at UNESCO Headquarters and Science Programme Specialists in other Regional offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. This role is crucial for advancing UNESCO's scientific objectives and fostering sustainable development initiatives across the region.

Responsibilities

Assist in the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of programmes and activities related to UNESCO's Sciences Sector, funded under Regular and Extra Budgetary resources. Build human and institutional capacities for the region's diverse science programme activities. Monitor the implementation of UNESCO's programme activities to advance and apply sciences in member states within the region. Maintain close contacts with concerned regional, national, and local authorities and contribute to developing national science policies. Support the development and implementation of science-related programmes and activities in partnership with Member States within the UNESCO Santiago Region. Interact regularly with Programme Specialists within UNESCO, donors, NGOs, National Commissions, UNCTs, Natural Sciences related Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, tertiary education, and research and development (R&D) institutions for programme, project, and joint administrative matters. Identify, design, and implement extrabudgetary projects to reinforce the Office's Regular Programme activities and contribute to resource mobilization. Assist in joint programming and Delivery as One exercises within the framework of UN Reform. Contribute to the preparation of inputs for Programme and Budget documents (C/5), related work plans, and the Director-General's report on organizational activities (C/3).

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in project and programme implementation. A minimum of four years of progressively responsible professional experience in Natural Science, with at least two years acquired at an international level. Experience in planning, designing, managing, implementing, and evaluating programmes and projects relevant to UNESCO's mandate is required. Experience in fund-raising, resource mobilization, and building strategic partnerships is also necessary.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written). Ability to build and maintain working relations with national/local authorities, institutions, and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Ability to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment. Proven resource mobilization skills. Good analytical, organizational, and project management skills. Knowledge of Results-Based Management tools and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is essential.

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