Technical Coordination Senior Officer
Organizational Context
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding globally. The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, part of GPO, manages significant projects focused on climate action and environmental conservation. The NDC Partnership, jointly hosted by WRI, UNOPS, and UNFCCC, strengthens capacity for country-owned climate and development action, aligning partner support with national priorities.
Job Purpose
This role is crucial for coordinating South Africa's technical and scientific engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The objective is to ensure high-quality national inputs into IPCC processes and to strengthen the alignment between IPCC scientific outputs and national climate policy and decision-making. The incumbent will conduct substantive analysis, synthesize proposals, and manage national scientific inputs and processes related to climate change, thereby advancing scientific integrity in national climate action planning, tracking, and implementation.
Responsibilities
The role involves establishing and operationalizing a national IPCC technical/scientific committee, providing secretariat support, and coordinating expert consultations. It requires managing national participation in IPCC review processes, organizing expert review workshops, and overseeing the nomination of national experts. A key function is ensuring alignment between IPCC findings and national climate policy, supporting the development of national IPCC positions, and facilitating the identification of scientific gaps. The position also entails maintaining an expert database, tracking national contributions, and providing technical support for South Africa's participation in IPCC sessions and negotiations.
Work Experience
A minimum of 4 years of experience in climate science or policy-related work, including experience within international frameworks, is required. Demonstrated experience in scientific coordination, research synthesis, or policy support is essential. Strong knowledge of South Africa’s climate policies and institutional frameworks is also necessary. Experience with IPCC processes is desirable.
Skills
Climate Change, Policy Analysis, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Effective Communication