UNEP Senior Programme Management Assistant Jobs 2026: G-7 Opportunity in Nairobi

Overview

The United Nations Environment Programme is hiring a Senior Programme Management Assistant at the G-7 level in Nairobi, Kenya. The post sits in the Ecosystems Division, Biodiversity and Land Branch, within the Nature Frameworks Support Unit, which helps countries meet commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and agreements such as CITES and CMS. The unit also provides technical support to UNEP delegations at Conferences of the Parties and works with the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and projects financed by the Global Environment Facility. The fixed-term appointment is for one year and may be extended depending on the mandate and funding. It is subject to local recruitment under the UN Staff Rules, so international-recruitment allowances do not apply.

The assistant supports programmes and projects across the cycle, including agreements and grant documentation, reports and correspondence, monitoring, evaluations, terms of reference and project closures, and secretariat services for committees and task forces. The role also helps prepare work programmes and budgets, monitors commitments, verifies transactions, prepares budget revisions and reconciles accounts, processes personnel actions in Umoja, advises staff on visas and entitlements, and reviews contractor invoices and processes payments.

Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Applicants need 10 years of experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation or a related field, or eight years with a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with an ERP system such as Umoja is required. Training in project administration, finance, budget administration or human resources is desirable, as are experience with UN staff rules, multilateral environmental agreements, the Global Environment Facility and at least one year in data analytics. English at a minimum UN Level II is required. Some candidates may complete an assessment followed by a competency-based interview.

Key dates

The vacancy was posted on September 21, 2026, under Job Opening ID 284159, and the application deadline is October 20, 2026.