Technical Coordination Senior Officer (Home based Retainer) - Pretoria, South Africa

Job Highlight
This role offers a unique opportunity to significantly contribute to South Africa's climate action by strengthening the science-policy interface and enhancing national participation in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) processes. The incumbent will play a pivotal role in coordinating scientific inputs, managing expert networks, and ensuring the integration of climate science into national policy frameworks, thereby advancing sustainable development and climate resilience.
About The Project Office
WEC Background
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.
WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
About The Group
The NDC Partnership
The NDC Partnership is a global coalition advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action.
With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication.
The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.
The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC).
Role Purpose
The incumbent will lead and coordinate South Africa’s technical and scientific engagement with the IPCC, ensuring high-quality national inputs to IPCC processes, and strengthening alignment between IPCC scientific outputs and national climate policy and decision-making.
S/he will conduct substantive analysis, synthesize proposals, and coordinate national scientific inputs and processes related to climate change.
Functions / Key Results Expected
National Technical Coordination
Establish and operationalize a national IPCC technical/scientific committee
Provide secretariat support and ensure effective functioning of the committee
Coordinate expert consultations on IPCC reports and outputs
IPCC Processes & Review Management
Coordinate national participation in IPCC review processes (FOD, SOD, FGD)
Organize and lead expert review workshops and government review processes
Manage nomination of national experts for IPCC roles
Science & Policy Alignment
Ensure alignment between IPCC findings and national climate policy processes
Support development of national IPCC positions
Facilitate identification of scientific gaps and initiate response actions
Knowledge and Data Management
Maintain and regularly update a national IPCC expert database
Track and synthesize national contributions to IPCC processes
International Relation Support
Provide technical support to South Africa’s participation in IPCC panel sessions and technical working groups
Contribute to preparation for approval sessions and negotiations.
Impact of Results
Functional and inclusive national scientific coordination mechanism with regular outputs and engagement.
Increased number and quality of South African contributions to IPCC assessments.
Improved integration of IPCC science into national policy frameworks.
Comprehensive and accessible national database of climate experts.
Well-coordinated and technically informed national participation in international IPCC processes.
Required
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s degree preferably in climate science, environmental science or a related field.
Desired
Master’s degree in related fields will be an added advantage.
Required
Experience Requirements
At least 4 years’ experience in climate science or policy-related work, with experience within international frameworks.
Demonstrated experience in scientific coordination, research synthesis, or policy support.
Strong knowledge of South Africa’s climate policies, institutional frameworks, and monitoring and reporting systems.
Excellent analytical, stakeholder engagement, and report-writing skills.
Desired
Strong understanding of IPCC processes, assessment cycles, and review mechanisms.
Experience with data management and information systems will be an added advantage.

Work arrangement
Yes