Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world's 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 environment.

Role Overview

This role is seeking a Chair with exceptional academic and technical credentials; a strong commitment for addressing global environmental and sustainable development challenges; and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary manner, integrating natural and social sciences with policy to tackle complex environmental and socio-ecological issues. The Chair acts as a science-policy manager, bridging the gap between the GEF’s operational needs and the broader global scientific community.

The roles and responsibilities of the Chair, Panel Members, and STAP Secretariat are formally set out in STAP’s Terms of Reference (March 2012), which are currently under review.

The main responsibilities of the Chair are to provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the Panel, Scientific Leadership to the GEF Partnership, and to oversee the Panel’s work.

Key Responsibilities of the STAP Chair

In addition to providing leadership and oversight, the Chair will:

1. Ensure that the best available, high quality and relevant scientific and technical advice is provided to the GEF.
2. Mobilize scientific and technical networks and partnerships to support the work of the GEF.
3. Develop and implement STAP’s Work Plan.
4. Hold monthly STAP teleconferences and STAP in-person meetings.
5. Develop and present a report to the biannual GEF Council Meetings and STAP’s quadrennial report to the GEF Assembly.

Qualifications and Special Skills

Education: A doctoral degree (PhD) in a relevant field including but not limited to environmental science, ecology, chemical sciences, natural resource management and atmospheric sciences is required.

Experience and Expertise:

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the senior level in environmental science, sustainability, or closely related fields.
• Recognized scientific leadership with an international reputation in global environmental issues or sustainability disciplines, and a thorough understanding of environmental systems and their inter-linkages across sectors are required.
• Thorough knowledge of the state of the environment, emerging issues, and key response pathways, with specialization in at least one relevant field in the GEF focal areas of Biological Diversity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, International Waters, Chemicals and Waste, and Land Degradation is required. Thorough knowledge and expertise in two or more relevant fields is an advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems thinking, integrated approach, innovation, and sustainability transformation is required.
• Strong interdisciplinary understanding, with the ability to integrate natural sciences, social sciences, economics concerns, and develop policy-relevant knowledge is required.
• Ability to translate complex scientific insights into clear, accessible, and actionable terms is required.