The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Ecosystems Division, Marine and Freshwater Branch at the Nairobi duty station. The activities of the Branch include the overall implementation of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions on oceans and freshwater, the global agenda on marine and freshwater ecosystems and work in close collaboration with the Regional Seas Branch. Under the overall guidance of the Division Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

A) Delivery of the Marine and Freshwater Branch work programme by: 1. Developing and advocating innovative concepts and tools designed to improve or re-orient marine and coastal ecosystems in coordination with the Regional Seas Branch guided by the organization's policy objectives and competencies. 2. Leading, organizing and/or participating in substantive discussions, meetings, and conferences and representing the Branch at international, regional or national meetings and intergovernmental meetings in liaison with the Regional Seas Branch and providing programmatic and substantive expertise on issues related to marine and coastal ecosystems. This will include follow-up to and reporting on corporate and intergovernmental meetings decisions. 3. Coordinating and supervising development and implementation of activities and projects and enhancing coordination with the Secretariats of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans to deliver the ocean strategy on behalf of UNEP. 4. Overseeing the preparation and quality of reports for presentation to senior management, the UN Environment Assembly or other policy-making bodies. 5. Ensuring coordination across UNEP for coherence in delivery of the UNEP ocean strategy including regular reporting to Governments. 6. Establishing and maintaining inter-linkages and partnerships with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) secretariats, relevant UN and non-UN agencies. 7. Establishing external contacts and partnerships with governments and international agencies for the purpose of improving collaboration and coherence in delivery of marine and coastal ecosystems activities. 8. Reporting on the status of implementation of the work programme regularly as scheduled by the UN reporting requirements. 9. Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. B) Coordination and management of the Branch by: 1. Allocating, monitoring and reporting on financial and human resources, justifying administrative budget proposals and work plans. 2. Managing staff performance to ensure ongoing professional development and continued learning. 3. Guiding and supporting managers and other staff in meeting their objectives and outputs; fostering teamwork and communication in the unit and across organizational boundaries. 4. Supervising the coordination and coherence of the Branch with those of the Regional Seas Branch. C) Fundraising by: 1. Determining and recommending the viability of environmental projects and programme elements, negotiating suitable arrangements and project financing; initiating the mobilization of resources for programme activities in particular sectors, regions or countries. 2. Negotiating with high-level representatives of UN agencies, the Global Environment Fund (GEF) Secretariat, multilateral and bilateral donors, and non-governmental organizations to ensure the coherence, coordination and integration of the project planning process and the effective achievement of related objectives. 3. Advising governments, non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies on resource utilization, funding patterns and trends and on priorities for environmental programme/project activities and evaluating and developing alternative funding sources. D) Performing other related duties as may be requested for the delivery of the unit's work-plan.