Senior Coordination Officer P5 Job – UNEP Nairobi

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• Job Opening ID: 263943
• Job Network : Economic, Social and Development
• Job Family : Programme Management
• Category and Level : Professional and Higher Categories, P-5
• Recruitment Type : Position Specific Job Openings – Fixed Term Limited
• Duty Station : NAIROBI
• Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme
• Date Posted : Aug 25, 2026
• Deadline : Sep 23, 2026

Org. Setting and Reporting

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. The UNEP Regional Seas Programme, established in 1974, is the umbrella framework that brings together 18 Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, covering 146 countries. The Nairobi Convention is the Regional Seas for the Western Indian Ocean, providing the intergovernmental platform for its Contracting Parties to cooperate on the protection and sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment. The Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention have designated UNEP as the Secretariat of the Convention.

The post of the Coordinator of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat is located in the UNEP’s Ecosystems Division, in the Regional Seas Branch. The post of Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention is located in Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Regional Seas Branch, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

Responsibilities

• Takes the lead of supervision of the administration of Nairobi Convention and its Secretariat, to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects under the Convention, etc.; directs subordinates in programme / project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Prepares and convenes meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for by the Nairobi Convention.
• Transmits to the Contracting Parties of notifications, reports and other information received in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
• Carries out functions assigned to the Secretariat by the protocols to the Nairobi Convention.
• Consideration of Reviews enquiries by, and information from, the Contracting Parties and to consults with them on questions relating to this Convention and its related protocols and annexes thereto.
• Coordinates the implementation of cooperative activities agreed upon by the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in the Convention.
• Overall administrative arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of the secretariat functions.
• Liaises with Parties to the Nairobi Convention, governments, stakeholders, donor community, international organizations and other relevant entities.
• Supports activities in UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme and other actions stemming from United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) decisions.
• Facilitates the development and implementation of fundraising strategies to mobilize additional support as may be required, for the implementation of activities and initiatives emanating from decisions of the meetings.
• Coordinates the effective and efficient management and delivery of results of Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects in the region, as well as other sub regional projects funded by the GEF or other Global Funds, the European Commission (EC), governments and others.
• Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Supports sound analysis and documenting lessons learned and best practice in Nairobi Convention.
• Provides multi-disciplinary analytical support to Focal Points assisting in the development and implementation of an integrated information and knowledge management strategy within the Nairobi Convention area.
• Supervises preparation of technical publications related to the outputs and outcomes of the Nairobi Convention work program and support national focal points to prepare and publish their own technical publications and state of the coast reports or related technical reports.
• Supervises the management of a Clearing House Mechanism for information concerning Nairobi Convention area and ensuring its effective and efficient collection, storage and dissemination.
• Coordinates with focal points from each of the contracting parties in the development of regional policies and strategies for the protection of the marine and coastal area of Western Indian Ocean Region.
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Provides overall financial management, and the timely and sufficient financial contributions by the Contracting Parties to the East African Trust Fund and the overall guidance to Parties for the payment of contributions as per the financial rules and Conference of Parties (COP) decisions, Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme / project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
• 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.
• May perform other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental management, environmental law, biology or natural sciences is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the planning, implementation and management of marine and coastal programmes, policies and initiatives at the national, regional or international level is required.
• At least five years of experience in intergovernmental processes, including supporting negotiations, governing bodies, and conferences of the parties, is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing large programmes and projects relating to the marine environment is required. A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in resource mobilization is required.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required.
• The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
English	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II	UN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

The monthly net salary for a Senior Coordination Officer (P-5) at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya ranges from approximately $12,898 to $16,314 USD. This translates to an estimated annual net base salary of $154,773 to $195,772 USD, depending on your exact step level and dependency status. [Source: UN Talent]

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