Head, Chemicals Science and Policy Unit, P5

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment.

UNEP’s mission is to inspire, inform, and enable nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

For over 50 years, UNEP has worked with governments, civil society, the private sector and UN entities to address humanity’s most pressing environmental challenges - from restoring the ozone layer to protecting the world's seas and promoting a green, inclusive economy.

UNEP is driving transformational change by drilling down on the root causes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution.

UNEP’s work is focused on helping countries transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, strengthening environmental governance and law, safeguarding ecosystems, and providing evidence-based data to inform policy decisions.

Through cutting-edge science, coordination and advocacy, UNEP supports its 193 Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and live in harmony with nature.

And this work has never been more critical.

Sector
Environmental
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https://www.unep.org/

Head, Chemicals Science and Policy Unit, P5

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Vision

  • Define and lead UNEP’s contribution to collecting and analyzing sound scientific information on key chemicals and related pollution challenges, setting priorities that address emerging challenges, industry trends, and opportunities for innovation.
  • Serve as a thought leader on linking scientific information and policy advise on these key chemicals, including providing support to parties on fulfilling their obligations under the chemicals agreements.
  • Identify and champion innovative approaches in managing chemicals of concern, fostering partnerships with industry, academia, and governments.

Global Engagement & Influence

  • Engage and support relevant policy processes, including the Intergovernmental Science Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, and its relevance to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, the Global Framework on Chemicals and partnerships such as the Partnership for Lead-free Future, ensuring that relevant science and policy analysis can be embedded in international discourse.
  • Provide authoritative input into position papers, reports, and policy briefs for intergovernmental and governing bodies, informing global and regional discourse, standards and commitments.
  • In international, regional, and national forums, provide strategic expertise and building alliances to advance better management of scientific information on chemicals and policies that could be developed to address the issues.

Programme Strategy & Implementation

  • Oversee initiatives that analyse, and improve access to, scientific information on chemicals, the economic contexts in which they are produced and used, and collect and curate information on innovations for use in relevant policy making discourse
  • Build linkages with the UNEP-wide information system including the World Environment Situation Room and Environment-GPT and other mechanisms that harness AI to link different data sets for informed policy making.
  • Direct the Unit’s operations, including budget management, carrying out the mobilization of resources, and staff leadership, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.

Other duties

  • Respond to high-level requests from UNEP’s Executive Office, Divisions, and regional offices, ensuring timely and strategic input
  • Lead 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.
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Education

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s, or equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental science, industrial engineering, industrial innovation, toxicology or environmental management with a focus on chemicals is required.
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work 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 and demonstrable extensive experience in generating and managing scientific information on environmental issues, including on chemicals, is required.
  • Experience in working with policy makers or regulatory agencies at national or international level on policy change is required.
  • Experience in advocating for science-based policy or regulations at local, national, or international levels is required.
  • Leadership experience in managing cross-functional teams, especially in scientific research, policy formulation, or government affairs is required. Experience in working with the private sector is desirable.
  • Work experience in international regulations and treaties is desirable.
  • Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Method of application

If you are interested and qualified, kindly submit your application via the link provided below,

https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/283676?language=en&utm_source=Jobinkenya

Deadline Nov 4, 2026

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