Head of Social and Environmental Standards (SES) – UNDP: A Comprehensive Role Overview

February 27, 2025

12 minutes read

The Head – Social and Environmental Standards position at UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) is a senior leadership role responsible for managing and implementing UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) across its global projects and programs. The role is based in New York, USA, and requires extensive experience in environmental management, policy development, risk assessment, and compliance monitoring. Below is a breakdown of the key aspects of the job:

The Head of SES leads a global team of technical advisors responsible for ensuring that all UNDP programs align with social and environmental sustainability standards. These standards aim to:

Improve the quality of projects by integrating social and environmental safeguards.
Maximize the positive impact of UNDP’s initiatives while minimizing harm.
Ensure that affected communities have mechanisms for grievance redress.
Align UNDP’s approach with international norms and donor requirements (such as those of the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility).

The role also involves policy development, oversight, training, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement.

2. Key Responsibilities

The Head of SES has four major areas of responsibility:

A. Leadership and Policy Management

Own and oversee the Social and Environmental Standards (SES) policy and ensure alignment with international best practices.
Strengthen corporate data collection and reporting on SES implementation.
Monitor risks and escalate significant SES issues to senior management.
Collaborate with UNDP’s audit and compliance units to address social and environmental risks.

B. SES Oversight and Project Support

Ensure that UNDP projects undergo proper social and environmental screening.
Provide advisory support for high-risk projects and oversee grievance mechanisms.
Lead compliance and risk management for projects funded by international partners, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Adaptation Fund (AF).
Conduct quality assurance for key social and environmental safeguards in UNDP projects.

Develop training programs for UNDP staff and country offices to strengthen understanding and implementation of SES.
Build global guidance materials and best practices to support UNDP teams.
Facilitate peer learning and a community of practice on SES across UNDP offices.
Use modern tools and data analytics to track SES implementation.

D. Outreach, Advocacy, and Stakeholder Engagement

Coordinate with partners, UN agencies, governments, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to ensure SES standards are integrated into development projects.
Represent UNDP in international dialogues and policy discussions related to SES.
Lead internal advocacy efforts to promote SES within UNDP and ensure compliance across different sectors.
Engage in public communication and awareness-raising about SES policies.

3. Required Qualifications and Experience@vacancyspaces.com

Education:

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Policy, or a related field.
A Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience can be considered in place of a master’s degree.

Experience:

10+ years of experience (with a master’s) or 12+ years (with a bachelor’s) in environmental and climate policy, risk management, and compliance.
Proven expertise in developing social and environmental safeguards, risk management, and compliance policies.
Experience in leading and managing globally dispersed teams.
Direct experience in handling grievance and compliance cases.
Experience working with international development finance institutions (e.g., Green Climate Fund, World Bank, or UN organizations).
UN or UNDP experience is preferred.

Skills:

Strategic Thinking & Leadership: Ability to develop policies and ensure their global implementation.
Risk Management & Compliance: Experience in project risk assessments, monitoring, and mitigation.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Ability to track SES compliance using modern digital tools.
Stakeholder Engagement & Diplomacy: Experience working with governments, donors, and international partners.
Communication & Advocacy: Strong skills in public communication, training, and awareness-raising.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of other UN languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, etc.) is an advantage.

4. Contract Details and Job Context

Location: New York, USA.
Grade Level: P5 (Senior Professional Level).
Contract Type: Fixed Term (2 years, with the possibility of extension).
Job Schedule: Full-time.
Mobility: Travel and potential redeployment to other locations may be required.

UNDP is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. The role involves strict compliance with UNDP’s policies on ethics, harassment, and workplace conduct.

5. Why is this Role Important?

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards plays a critical role in ensuring that UNDP’s global development projects meet high ethical and sustainability standards. The position directly influences:

The quality and credibility of UNDP’s global programs.
How UNDP manages environmental and social risks in development initiatives.
Compliance with global sustainability frameworks, ensuring that communities and ecosystems are protected.

This is a high-impact leadership role with broad global influence, especially in sustainable development, environmental governance, and social risk management.

6. Application Considerations

The deadline for application is March 4, 2025.
Green Card Holders (U.S. Permanent Residents) must switch to a G-4 Visa (a UN-specific visa).
The selection process includes background checks, reference checks, and compliance screenings.

Would you like help with:

Application strategy?
Tailoring your resume or cover letter?
Preparing for the interview?

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Location: New York, USA
Grade: P5 (Senior Level)
Contract Type: Fixed-term, 2 years (with the possibility of extension)
Deadline for Applications: March 4, 2025
Language Requirement: English (additional UN languages are an asset)

1. Introduction to the Role

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the world’s most important agencies for sustainable development, focusing on poverty reduction, climate action, gender equality, and governance. As a leader in global development, UNDP funds and manages thousands of projects worldwide, often partnering with governments, international donors, and private sector actors.

To ensure that all projects adhere to high ethical, social, and environmental standards, UNDP has established a framework called the Social and Environmental Standards (SES). The Head of Social and Environmental Standards (SES) is the senior-most leader responsible for overseeing, strengthening, and enforcing this framework across UNDP’s programs.

This position requires deep expertise in environmental policy, social safeguards, sustainability management, and risk assessment. The individual in this role will provide strategic leadership in ensuring that UNDP-funded projects maximize positive social and environmental impacts while minimizing harm to people and ecosystems.

2. Key Responsibilities

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards oversees a broad range of functions, including policy leadership, risk management, compliance monitoring, training, and stakeholder engagement. The primary duties can be divided into four major areas:

A. Leadership and Strategic Management of SES Policies

The first major function of the Head of SES is to provide overall leadership for UNDP’s SES framework. This includes:

Owning and refining the SES policy to ensure it aligns with international best practices (such as the World Bank’s safeguards, IFC’s performance standards, and Green Climate Fund requirements).
Developing and implementing corporate strategies to integrate SES standards across all UNDP country offices.
Strengthening corporate reporting mechanisms to track SES compliance across global projects.
Overseeing the SES risk assessment framework, ensuring early identification of potential risks and effective mitigation.
Advising senior UNDP leadership on complex social and environmental risk matters.
Monitoring evolving global sustainability regulations to ensure UNDP remains compliant with international norms and donor requirements.

B. SES Oversight and Risk Management

The second responsibility is to ensure compliance with SES policies and manage social and environmental risks in UNDP projects. This includes:

Leading the screening and risk assessment process for new UNDP projects.
Ensuring that all projects undergo a Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) as required.
Conducting independent reviews of high-risk projects to ensure adherence to SES.
Overseeing the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU), which handles complaints and grievances.
Supporting project teams in resolving SES-related challenges, ensuring corrective measures are taken.
Collaborating with the UNDP Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) to strengthen internal SES compliance audits.

To ensure that all UNDP personnel and partners understand and implement SES effectively, the Head of SES is responsible for building capacity across UNDP’s global network. This includes:

Developing training programs for UNDP staff, governments, and project partners.
Creating guidelines, manuals, and toolkits to assist field offices in applying SES.
Organizing webinars, workshops, and peer-learning initiatives to improve knowledge-sharing.
Promoting the use of digital platforms and artificial intelligence tools for SES risk monitoring.
Establishing a knowledge-sharing network within UNDP to facilitate cross-learning among country offices.

D. External Advocacy and Partnership Engagement

As a senior representative of UNDP, the Head of SES will engage with external stakeholders to promote the organization’s commitment to sustainability. Responsibilities include:

Representing UNDP in high-level international forums, policy dialogues, and UN conferences on environmental and social safeguards.
Coordinating with donors, governments, UN agencies, private sector actors, and civil society to strengthen partnerships on SES.
Engaging with environmental and human rights organizations to improve SES implementation.
Providing policy recommendations to international financial institutions (e.g., World Bank, IMF, Green Climate Fund) to align sustainability standards globally.
Ensuring that SES is incorporated into global development financing mechanisms.

3. Required Qualifications and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Social Policy, Sustainability, International Development, or a related field.
A Bachelor’s degree may be considered if the candidate has 12+ years of relevant experience.

Professional Experience:

Candidates must have significant experience in social and environmental standards, risk management, and sustainable development. The required experience includes:

10+ years of experience in environmental risk assessment, sustainability policy, compliance monitoring, and project risk management.
Proven leadership experience in developing and implementing social and environmental safeguard policies.
Demonstrated expertise in grievance redress mechanisms and compliance investigations.
Experience working with multilateral development institutions (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, World Bank).
A strong track record in leading and managing globally dispersed teams.
Experience working on large-scale international development projects.
UN or UNDP experience is highly desirable.

Core Competencies:

Strategic Leadership: Ability to lead corporate policy frameworks and strategic planning.
Environmental and Social Risk Management: Deep understanding of environmental sustainability frameworks, climate resilience, and social impact assessment.
Compliance and Grievance Handling: Strong knowledge of compliance mechanisms, ethics, and accountability frameworks.
Capacity Building & Training: Ability to design training modules and knowledge-sharing platforms.
Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled in diplomatic engagement, interagency collaboration, and partnership-building.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Proficiency in using data analytics, digital tools, and AI-powered platforms to monitor SES compliance.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of other UN languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian) is an asset.

4. Why is This Role Critical?

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards is a key leadership position with direct influence on UNDP’s sustainability impact worldwide. This role ensures that:

All UNDP projects uphold ethical environmental and social practices.
Vulnerable communities are protected from harm caused by development activities.
UNDP remains compliant with international financing regulations.
Sustainability best practices are mainstreamed across development finance institutions.

Given the rising importance of climate change, biodiversity conservation, human rights, and social justice, this role is more relevant than ever.

5. Application and Selection Process

Deadline: March 4, 2025
Process: Shortlisted candidates will undergo:
- Panel Interviews (assessing technical knowledge and leadership abilities).
- Case Study or Written Assessment (evaluating problem-solving skills).
- Reference and Background Checks.

Special Considerations:

U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) must switch to a G-4 Visa (a UN-specific work visa).
UNDP is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, women, and persons with disabilities.

6. Final Thoughts

This is a prestigious and highly influential role at UNDP, suited for individuals with a passion for sustainability, environmental governance, and ethical development practices. If you have expertise in policy leadership, environmental risk management, and global sustainability frameworks, this could be an incredible opportunity to shape UNDP’s global impact.

Location: New York, United States
Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Grade: P5
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: 2 years with the possibility of extension
Required Education & Experience:

Master’s Degree: Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience
Bachelor’s Degree: Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience
Languages: Fluency in English required; knowledge of additional UN languages is desirable
Mobility Requirement: Yes

Background of the Role

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plays a crucial role in global sustainable development. As part of its commitment to social and environmental sustainability, the UNDP applies Social and Environmental Standards (SES) across all its projects and programs. These standards ensure that projects align with best practices, human rights, environmental protection, and community engagement.

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards (SES) is responsible for overseeing and implementing these standards globally. This role ensures that all UNDP projects meet high social and environmental standards while managing risks and maximizing benefits for people and the planet.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Ownership of SES Policy

Act as the primary owner of UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) policy.
Ensure alignment with global best practices, including frameworks from UN agencies and international financial institutions.
Monitor SES implementation, integrating social and environmental risk management into UNDP’s broader operational frameworks.
Collect data and track progress through modern analytical tools (e.g., SES Tracker).
Facilitate risk escalation mechanisms, ensuring issues reach senior management when necessary.
Work with UNDP’s Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) and the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) to ensure compliance and accountability.
Oversee the implementation of SES-related actions from audits and evaluations.

2. SES Oversight and Advisory Support

Develop SES Implementation Plans at the Country Office (CO) level to ensure the systematic application of social and environmental safeguards.
Provide expert guidance on Social and Environmental Screening Procedures (SESP) to assess risks, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns.
Review risk assessments and management plans, ensuring proper consultation with stakeholders.
Ensure project-level Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) are in place to handle complaints related to environmental and social impacts.
Oversee cases investigated by the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
Conduct field visits and oversight missions to ensure compliance with SES policies, particularly for high-risk projects.

3. Capacity Building and Learning

Lead SES training and awareness initiatives across the UNDP, ensuring that staff, partners, and stakeholders are well-versed in social and environmental risk management.
Develop guidance materials and interactive tools for SES implementation.
Establish an SES Community of Practice, allowing UNDP staff to share best practices and lessons learned.
Utilize cutting-edge technology and digital tools to improve SES monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
Promote innovation and research in the field of social and environmental safeguards.

4. Coordination, Communications, and Advocacy

Engage with external stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, and private-sector partners, to align SES standards with broader development goals.
Promote cross-agency coordination to integrate SES considerations into joint programming initiatives.
Lead internal advocacy efforts to embed social and environmental risk management into UNDP’s organizational culture.
Develop communication strategies to increase awareness of SES policies within the UNDP and partner organizations.

Why This Role is Important

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards plays a vital role in ensuring that UNDP’s work adheres to ethical, social, and environmental principles. This position helps prevent environmental degradation, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure that UNDP-funded projects contribute to sustainable development.

Key Impacts of the Role:

Ensuring that projects do no harm to communities and the environment.
Promoting equitable and inclusive development while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
Strengthening social and environmental accountability within the UNDP.
Enhancing transparency and public trust in UNDP projects.

Qualifications and Skills Required

Education:

Master’s degree (preferred) in environmental management, public policy, international development, or related fields.
A bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience may be accepted in place of a master’s degree.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years (with a master’s degree) or 12 years (with a bachelor’s degree) in environmental and climate-related work, focusing on social and environmental safeguards, risk management, and compliance.
Direct experience with social and environmental impact assessments and quality assurance of safeguards instruments.
Experience in policy development, compliance monitoring, and risk assessment within large organizations or international institutions.
Previous experience working with the UN, UNDP, or International Financial Institutions (IFIs) is a plus.
Strong track record in team leadership, project oversight, and stakeholder engagement.
Experience with Vertical Fund programming (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility) is desirable.
Expertise in leading training and knowledge-sharing initiatives related to social and environmental safeguards.

Competencies Required:

Strategic Thinking & Leadership: Ability to develop policies, frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies.
Project Quality Assurance: Experience ensuring projects meet high ethical, social, and environmental standards.
Risk Management & Compliance: Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate environmental and social risks.
Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with governments, civil society, and international organizations.
Strong Communication Skills: Ability to advocate for SES policies within UNDP and externally.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Ability to track and analyze SES data for policy development and reporting.

Challenges and Opportunities in This Role

Challenges:

Managing Global Compliance: Ensuring SES compliance across multiple countries and regions with varying regulations.
Stakeholder Coordination: Balancing diverse interests, from governments and donors to communities affected by projects.
Conflict Resolution: Addressing grievances from communities affected by UNDP projects.
Evolving Standards: Keeping UNDP policies aligned with global best practices and new sustainability challenges.

Opportunities:

Shaping Global Policy: Influencing environmental and social safeguards at an international level.
Innovative Solutions: Using technology, AI, and data analytics to improve SES implementation and monitoring.
Capacity Building: Strengthening SES knowledge across the UNDP network.
Driving Sustainable Impact: Ensuring that UNDP projects maximize benefits for both people and the planet.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in this position should submit their applications before March 4, 2025 via the UNDP Careers Portal.

🔗 Job Listing: Click Here to Apply

Conclusion

The Head of Social and Environmental Standards (SES) role is a highly strategic and impactful position within the UNDP. This position ensures that all UNDP projects meet high standards for social and environmental sustainability, helping to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and protect vulnerable communities.

By leading policy development, compliance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and risk management, the Head of SES will play a crucial role in shaping global sustainability practices. This position is ideal for professionals with expertise in environmental and social safeguards, compliance, and international development who are looking to make a significant impact on global sustainability

February 27, 2025

12 minutes read