Technical Coordination Senior Officer (Home based Retainer) - Pretoria, South Africa

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

WEC Background

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.  

 WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action. 

With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication. 

The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.

The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). 

South Africa is an active member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through assessing the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC assessments provide the scientific foundation for global climate negotiations and inform the development of national climate policies and strategies. As a climate-vulnerable country pursuing a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, South Africa has a strong interest in ensuring that the best available science is reflected in both international assessments and domestic decision-making. 

As an IPCC member government, South Africa participates in IPCC plenary sessions and approval processes, nominates experts for author, review editor and other scientific roles, coordinates government and expert reviews of assessment reports, and supports national scientific contributions to IPCC products. National Focal Points are responsible for maintaining expert networks and facilitating engagement between the IPCC and relevant national institutions.

The increasing volume and complexity of IPCC processes during the Seventh Assessment Cycle require dedicated technical coordination capacity. Effective participation depends on the ability to identify and mobilize experts, coordinate national review processes, facilitate communication between government and the scientific community, track opportunities for engagement, and ensure that IPCC findings are translated into relevant policy and planning processes.

To maintain its engagement in IPCC processes, South Africa’s requires strengthened national coordination of scientific inputs, processes, and outputs. Currently, limited dedicated capacity constrains effective engagement across IPCC cycles, including expert reviews, national consultations, and alignment with policy processes. This role supports the National Focal Point (NFP) by strengthening the science–policy interface and managing technical coordination structures. 

The Technical Coordination Senior Officer will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership’s Country Engagement Specialist in close collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Chief Directorate for International Climate Change Relations and Negotiations and related technical teams in DFFE and advance scientific integrity in national climate action planning, tracking and implementation. 

• This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on the availability of funds.

• This is a home-based position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

• As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of South Africa or have a valid residence permit in South Africa. 

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The incumbent will lead and coordinate South Africa’s technical and scientific engagement with the IPCC, ensuring high-quality national inputs to IPCC processes, and strengthening alignment between IPCC scientific outputs and national climate policy and decision-making.

S/he will conduct substantive analysis, synthesize proposals, and coordinate national scientific inputs and processes related to climate change. 

1. National Technical Coordination

Establish and operationalize a national IPCC technical/scientific committee 

Provide secretariat support and ensure effective functioning of the committee 

Coordinate expert consultations on IPCC reports and outputs

2. IPCC Processes & Review Management

• Coordinate national participation in IPCC review processes (FOD, SOD, FGD) 
• Organize and lead expert review workshops and government review processes 
• Manage nomination of national experts for IPCC roles

3. Science & Policy Alignment

• Ensure alignment between IPCC findings and national climate policy processes 
• Support development of national IPCC positions 
• Facilitate identification of scientific gaps and initiate response actions

4. Knowledge and Data Management

• Maintain and regularly update a national IPCC expert database 
• Track and synthesize national contributions to IPCC processes

5. International Relation Support

• Provide technical support to South Africa’s participation in IPCC panel sessions and technical working groups 
• Contribute to preparation for approval sessions and negotiations.

Impact of Results

• Functional and inclusive national scientific coordination mechanism with regular outputs and engagement.
• Increased number and quality of South African contributions to IPCC assessments.
• Improved integration of IPCC science into national policy frameworks.
• Comprehensive and accessible national database of climate experts.
• Well-coordinated and technically informed national participation in international IPCC processes.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in climate science, environmental science or a related field. 

Desired

• Master’s degree in related fields will be an added advantage.

Required

• At least 4 years’ experience in climate science or policy-related work, with experience within international frameworks. 
• Demonstrated experience in scientific coordination, research synthesis, or policy support.
• Strong knowledge of South Africa’s climate policies, institutional frameworks, and monitoring and reporting systems.
• Excellent analytical, stakeholder engagement, and report-writing skills.

Desired

• Strong understanding of IPCC processes, assessment cycles, and review mechanisms.
• Experience with data management and information systems will be an added advantage.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
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• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.