Climate Mitigation Specialist

Job Highlight

Lead demand-driven technical assistance assignments to unblock climate-resilient infrastructure implementation across Eastern Caribbean SIDS, ensuring high-quality delivery within set programme tolerances and fostering sustainable skills exchange and regional stakeholder partnerships.

Role Purpose The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all assignments and/or missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the RIISE Secretariat.

The RIISE Facility delivers demand-driven technical assistance primarily through two service modalities: the Rapid Helpdesk, which provides short-term remote advisory support for urgent queries, and Surge Deployments, which involve medium-term engagements designed to support the effective resolution of complex project implementation needs. While RIISE operates on a "remote-first" delivery approach—utilizing digital collaboration tools by default to optimize responsiveness and cost-efficiency—the Consultant must possess the availability and willingness to travel for on-site deployments across participating Caribbean countries. In-country field presence remains a fundamental requirement for complex assignments where direct hands-on engagement, collaborative work with government counterparts, and on-site technical assessments are critical for effective delivery.

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on a project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer, on a need basis, full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum, with possible extensions), with the possibility to move between the two contract modalities subject to operational needs and the incumbent’s acceptance of the proposed assignments.

Functions / Key Results Expected

The specific tasks for each assignment may vary from one assignment to another assignment. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the RIISE Secretariat and designated Supervisor, the Specialist will work on a retainer contract and will be called upon for specific projects to fulfill one or more of the following key tasks:

• Provide climate mitigation technical support in the conceptualization and implementation of infrastructure projects (mainly in the energy, transport and buildings sectors) in the beneficiary countries.
• Provide technical knowledge and contribute to processes and decisions to facilitate climate-resilient infrastructure development and activities such as data collection and analysis, procurement, design, construction and the provision of all climate mitigation support and services to different RIISE’s partners and client countries.
• Provide technical guidance on all aspects of climate mitigation to inform effective project programming, management and partnerships.
• Provide technical expertise in support of ongoing infrastructure projects as may be needed.
• Provide climate mitigation oversight on program design and management, working closely with stakeholders to mainstream climate mitigation actions in projects.

RIISE Assignment Deliverables

• Primary Assignment Reports (Modality-Specific)
• RIISE Helpdesk Report: For short-term Rapid Helpdesk assignments, the incumbent must deliver the response and advisory inputs using the standardized RIISE Helpdesk Report Template.
• Assignment Closure Report / Final Technical Report: For Surge Deployments and other medium-term assignments, a comprehensive report must be submitted by the incumbent within 10 working days of the assignment’s end and must be cleared by the RIISE Technical Adviser before final approval.
• Components of the Final Technical Report

Regardless of the assignment, final technical outputs must adhere to RIISE’s Deliverable Standards and include, as applicable, the following components:

• Knowledge Transfer Summary: A mandatory section documenting the specific skills, methodologies, tools or capabilities shared with and transferred to government counterpart staff during the assignment.
• GBA+ / GESI Integration Outcomes: A section documenting how Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations were integrated into the expert’s analysis, engagement approach and final recommendations (if applicable).
• Safeguards and Risk Summary: A concise summary of relevant safeguards and risk issues identified, measures recommended or implemented, residual risks and any required follow-up actions.
• Actionable Recommendations & Limitations: Clear recommendations accompanied by prioritized action items, responsible parties where applicable, and an explicit section noting the limitations and assumptions taken into account during the assignment (if applicable).
• Specialized Safeguard & Compliance Outputs

Depending on the nature and risk profile of the assignment, the Specialist shall determine, support, review and/or quality-assure the following outputs in coordination with the relevant technical or engineering expert, as applicable:

• RIISE CCA (Climate Change Adaptation) Integration Checklist: Required for assignments involving engineering design reviews or the development of technical specifications. The Specialist shall support or quality-assure completion of the checklist to confirm that climate hazards, design life, applicable resilience standards and residual climate risks have been appropriately considered. Technical validation of engineering design parameters remains with the relevant qualified technical expert.
• OHS Assessment and ESMP Review: Required for assignments involving on-site technical or construction supervision where relevant. The Specialist shall review, quality-assure and/or coordinate the required OHS and ESMP assessment, and shall recommend specialist OHS or environmental expertise where the risk profile requires it.
• Administrative Closure Deliverables
• Intellectual Property (IP) Handover Confirmation: A mandatory administrative document that the expert must secure before the assignment can be financially closed. It must be signed by the government counterpart, confirming that all relevant technical outputs (reports, drawings, specifications, data) have been successfully transferred to the requesting government.

Travel

• Official travels may be required during the assignment;
• The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• The Climate Mitigation Specialist is responsible for ensuring they have all required vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by local authorities.
• The Climate Mitigation Specialist is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under: https://dss.un.org/dssweb/

This recruitment aims to fill a retainer position. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions).

Education Requirements

Required

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in energy planning/economics, engineering, climate change, sustainable development, international development, or related fields in combination with 5 years of relevant experience is required OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above related fields in combination with 7 years of relevant experience.

Required Experience Requirements

• Relevant work experience is defined as experience in climate mitigation in the infrastructure sectors preferably in one or more of the following sectors: energy, transport, construction and buildings sectors.
• Experience with renewable energy projects plus their linkages to national or transnational energy systems and energy efficiency optimization is required.

Desired

• Experience in resource efficient design and delivery of green buildings is desirable
• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in transport projects is an asset.
• Experience working with Independent Power Producers (IPP) and leading Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) negotiations would be considered an asset.
• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in other sectors of infrastructure e.g Water, Digital development, waste management, etc., is an asset.
• Working experience in the Caribbean countries is highly desirable.
• Previous assignments with the UN system will be an added advantage.
• Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks and other Donors would be considered an asset.