Chief Technical Specialist

Lead technical delivery of UNDP's GEF-funded Blue Green Islands project in Papua New Guinea, directing sustainable blue-economy, marine-conservation and innovative-finance work. The specialist will assure quality across project outcomes, guide monitoring and adaptive management, build partner capacity, and mobilise public-private-community investment for resilient coastal ecosystems.

• Lead technical oversight of blue-economy, marine protected area governance, nature-based solutions and conservation-finance outcomes
• Review technical documents, terms of reference, assessments and knowledge products against UNDP, GEF and government standards
• Guide natural-capital accounting, ecosystem assessment and marine spatial planning approaches across the target geographies
• Oversee monitoring, risk management and annual GEF project implementation reporting
• Build project and partner capacity in marine biodiversity, sustainable finance and programme management
• Develop and appraise nature-based business models, blended-finance instruments and public-private-community partnerships
• Coordinate with government agencies, investors, development partners and the Blue Green Islands global platform

• Advanced degree in environmental or development economics, sustainable finance, business administration, natural resource management or a closely related discipline, or a bachelor's degree in these fields with two additional years of relevant experience
• At least 7 years with a master's degree or 9 years with a bachelor's degree in sustainable blue-green economy development, conservation finance, public-private-community partnerships, marine conservation or related technical advisory work
• At least 5 years in an advisory or Chief Technical Specialist role with a major international organization
• Demonstrated experience integrating biodiversity or natural-resource conservation with private-sector development, market systems and access-to-finance approaches
• Fluency in English

• Experience developing or implementing GEF Trust Fund or Green Climate Fund projects
• Experience using the UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounts framework for coastal or marine ecosystems
• Experience designing blended-finance, guarantee, results-based finance or impact-investment mechanisms
• Experience in enterprise diagnostics, investment readiness, financial modelling or transaction structuring
• Experience working in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands or comparable island contexts
• Knowledge of Tok Pisin or other official Papua New Guinea languages

• Conservation Finance
• Marine Spatial Planning
• Natural Capital Accounting
• Blended Finance
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Market Assessment
• Investment Appraisal
• Capacity Building
• Risk Management
• Project Management

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Spreadsheet Software
• Database Software
• Web-based Management Systems

• Office-based in Port Moresby with travel to the National Capital District, New Ireland Province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
• Reports to the Assistant Resident Representative, Environment and Climate Change Portfolio