Waste Management Specialist (Greening Moonshot) - Home Based - [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

- Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.

- Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments

- Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers

- Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP Strategic Plan underscores the organization’s dual imperative to deliver development results with greater efficiency and value for money , while leading by example on sustainability, climate action, and responsible resource use .

Within this context, UNDP has committed to continuously improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental performance of its operations, recognizing that internal operational practices directly affect institutional credibility, partner trust, and staff engagement. The Strategic Plan highlights the need to modernize management practices, strengthen data-driven decision-making, reduce waste and inefficiencies, and align operational systems with UNDP’s broader climate and environmental ambitions.

The Greening Moonshot Initiative , hosted by Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in collaboration with the Bureau for Management Services (BMS), is UNDP’s flagship, inward-facing transformation effort to reduce the environmental footprint of corporate operations. Through the Greening Moonshot, UNDP has committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving resource efficiency, and adopting best practices across energy use, procurement, mobility, buildings, and waste management . The initiative is overseen by the Moonshot Task Force and supported by a dedicated Moonshot Secretariat.

Waste management is a highly visible and material component of UNDP’s operational sustainability agenda. As a leading development actor working extensively on waste, circular economy, chemicals, and pollution issues at the country level, UNDP is expected to “walk the talk” by applying the same principles internally. At the same time, sound waste management and resource efficiency practices are increasingly recognized as cost‑reduction and efficiency levers .

The Waste Management Specialist position is associated with the Greening Moonshot team and is designed to strengthen UNDP’s capacity to provide coherent corporate guidance, practical tools, monitoring approaches, and strategic recommendations that support offices worldwide in improving waste management performance in a cost‑effective, context‑sensitive manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Waste Management Specialist will support the design, rollout, and continuous improvement of UNDP’s corporate approach to waste management and resource efficiency. The assignment balances technical rigor, operational practicality, and cost‑effectiveness, in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan and Greening Moonshot commitments.

- Develop and improve corporate waste management guidance and tools

Continuously improve and maintain waste management guidance for UNDP offices, covering both non‑hazardous and hazardous waste streams, process to limit waste generation and to assist in designing office-specific strategies.

- Guidance should reflect sectoral best practices, regional feasibility constraints, and life‑cycle cost considerations, and support offices in making efficient, defensible operational decisions.

- Tools to be developed by the Waste Management Specialist should leverage advancements in automation, AI and digital solutions to maximize the availability, ease of use and impact of advice and guidance generated for UNDP.

2. Monitoring, data quality, and efficiency improvements

- Guide and support the integration of waste management considerations into UNDP’s environmental monitoring and reporting systems, including the Environmental Management Tool (EMT).

- Develop training materials, deliver webinars, and provide targeted support to focal points to improve data quality, consistency, and usability for management decision‑making.

- Provide on-going support to monitoring and reporting efforts by facilities and COs, assist in developing, testing and maintaining assumptions and calculations to generate valuable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

- In the context of UNDP’s Scope 3 Strategy, develop assessment methodologies, coordinate EMT programming and support data collection for project end-of-life waste impacts and support development of subsequent management guidance.

3. Provision of corporate recommendations and strategic alignment

- Based on EMT data, consultations with Country Offices, and engagement with technical networks, develop evidence‑based recommendations for corporate‑level actions that improve waste management outcomes while reducing operational inefficiencies and avoidable costs.

- Prepare briefing materials to support senior management endorsement and strategic decision‑making. Support the development and change management aspects of the Waste Management and Resource Efficiency Strategy.

4. Promote staff engagement

- Guide and support the organization‑wide roll‑out of waste management initiatives through clear communications, consultations with Country Offices, and documentation of lessons learned.

- Practical implementation, peer learning, and solutions that balance ambition with feasibility.

- Organize and lead regular webinars and technical-level discussions. Provide bilateral helpdesk support to Country Offices, Regional Hubs and Headquarters as needed.

5. Support to the greening moonshot secretariat

- Contribute to other Greening Moonshot activities as required, including coordination with procurement, facilities, IT, and programme teams to ensure alignment between operational sustainability objectives, efficiency gains, and UNDP’s broader climate and development commitments.

- Apply a pragmatic, solutions‑oriented approach that strengthens UNDP’s leadership on sustainable operations while recognizing the diversity of operational contexts across regions and offices.

6. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing

- Identify capacity building needs and opportunities.

- Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization .

Institutional Arrangement

The Waste Management Specialist will work under the guidance of the BMS and BPPS Moonshot Secretariat Managers and report directly to the Moonshot Secretariat Coordinator. The candidate will be responsible for the fulfilment of the duties and responsibilities specified above.

The incumbent will work from home and will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment. The incumbent will be responsible for providing his/her own working station (i.e., laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have reliable internet connection. The incumbent will engage virtually with the supervisor and/or the team on a regular basis. Given the global scope of the work undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability taking into consideration different time zones.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area
Name
Definition

External Relations and Advocacy
Communication

Communicate in a clear, concise and

unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the

audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social

media and other appropriate channels

Business Direction and Strategy
System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element

can impact on other parts of the system

Business Direction and Strategy
Effective Decision Making
Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business Management
Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve

specific goals

Business Management
Working with Evidence and Data
Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Business Development
Knowledge Generation
Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: Planet
Chemicals & Waste Hub
Chemicals and Waste: Waste to Energy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management or Engineering is required. Or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience working in the field of waste management and corporate environmental management is required.

Desired skills

• At least three years of work experience in UN operations with UNDP experience strongly desired.
• Experience in environmental monitoring systems desired.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively is desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work in high pressure environments and with tight deadlines.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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