Chief Technical Specialist (Open to Internal and External 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 Iraq is recognized as one of the most affected countries by the harmful effects of climate change. Iraq ratified the Paris Agreement on January 14, 2021. In October 2021, the Government of Iraq (GoI) signed their first National Determined Contribution (NDC), which has been presented at the COP26. The Government of Iraq has requested UNDP support in implementation of the NDC, including through capacity development, advisory for sectoral planning and formulation of related strategies, frameworks, and instruments. UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP's Strategic Plan. UNDP is an accredited Implementing Agency for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund and the family of funds such as the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBBF). As an Implementing Agency, UNDP offers countries highly specialized services for eligibility assessment, project formulation and due diligence, co-financing mobilization, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, and knowledge management. Iraq faces significant environmental and public health risks associated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), hazardous chemicals, obsolete pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), unintentional POPs (UPOPs), industrial POPs (IPOPs), and chemically contaminated sites. Previous assessments identified substantial quantities of obsolete pesticides and potentially PCB-contaminated electrical equipment and highlighted significant technical and institutional capacity gaps in chemicals and contaminated-sites management. The Government of Iraq is a Party to major international chemicals and waste conventions, including the Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam and Minamata Conventions. Iraq has previously developed a National Implementation Plan (NIP) under the Stockholm Convention; however, the existing NIP requires updating to reflect newly listed POPs, improved inventories, updated risk information, institutional developments and current national priorities. The Integrated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Chemical Hotspots Management Project, therefore adopts an integrated approach combining: - strengthening the national framework for POPs and hazardous chemicals management; - updating the national POPs inventories and National Implementation Plan; - strengthening laboratory, inspection, monitoring and institutional capacities; - environmentally sound management and disposal of obsolete pesticides; - management and disposal/phase-out of PCB-contaminated equipment, oils and waste; and - assessment and remediation planning for priority chemical pollution hotspots The project comprises three components. Component 1 focuses on improved management of POPs and hazardous chemicals; Component 2 focuses on high-risk POPs in the agriculture and power sectors; and Component 3 addresses chemical pollution hotspots and contaminated sites. Implementation will require extensive technical assistance, consultancy services, procurement of laboratory and field equipment, hazardous waste management services, capacity building, site assessments, remediation planning and policy/regulatory development. Scope of Work LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT - Lead and coordinate implementation of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the project Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), applicable Environmental and Social Standards, UNDP Social and Environmental Standards, and relevant national environmental, occupational health and safety, labour and stakeholder-engagement requirements. - Establish and maintain a project-level environmental and social safeguards compliance and assurance system covering technical studies, field investigations, sampling, laboratory activities, procurement, transport, temporary storage, treatment, disposal, contaminated-site work and contractor operations. - Review project activities and procurement packages for environmental and social risks and advise the Project Manager and UNDP on the safeguards instruments, mitigation measures, monitoring requirements and contractual provisions required before implementation. - Review and provide technical clearance/advice on Environmental and Social Management Plans, site-specific management plans, occupational health and safety plans, waste-management plans, emergency preparedness and response arrangements, stakeholder-engagement measures, labour-management measures and other safeguards instruments required under the ESCP/ESF. - Ensure that safeguards requirements are adequately incorporated into Terms of Reference, technical specifications, bidding documents, contracts, contractor method statements and implementation plans. - Undertake or coordinate safeguards monitoring of consultants, contractors, laboratories, hazardous-waste operators and field activities; identify non-compliance and recommend corrective and preventive actions, including escalation of material risks to UNDP management. - Provide safeguards oversight for handling, packaging, temporary storage, transport, treatment and disposal of obsolete pesticides, PCB-contaminated equipment/oils and other hazardous wastes, including worker and community health and safety and emergency-response considerations. - Ensure appropriate environmental and social due diligence for chemical hotspot investigations and remediation planning, including community exposure pathways, vulnerable groups, land/access implications, occupational risks and stakeholder consultation. - Support incident and accident reporting, root-cause review, corrective-action tracking and safeguards reporting to UNDP, the Ministry of Environment and the World Bank, as applicable. - Maintain safeguards records and prepare periodic safeguards compliance notes/reports, including status of ESCP commitments, material risks, corrective actions and outstanding issues. - Provide technical guidance and capacity development to the PMU, government counterparts, consultants and contractors on ESF/ESCP, UNDP safeguards, hazardous-chemicals risk management and good international industry practice. ESTABLISH ANDLEADTHE PROJECT TECHNICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM. - Establish and maintain a systematic, risk-based technical quality assurance framework covering all project components, with defined review gates, technical acceptance criteria, peer-review requirements, corrective-action tracking and documentation of t