Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist (Retainer)

Job Highlight

The GFCR Secretariat leads Fund-level global coordination and strategy implementation. The Secretariat coordinates and guides the day-to-day work of the GFCR, including the wider UN Global Team, which is organized across four integrated workstreams: Strategy and Engagement; Portfolio Management, Impact Measurement and Leverage; Governance and Operations; and Knowledge Management and Learning. The UNGT is led by the Director based in Geneva, Switzerland.

In its role, UNOPS provides administrative and operational services to the GFCR Secretariat. This includes flexible, modular project services such as procurement, project management, human resources, and financial management, alongside secretariat support services for global partnerships advancing United Nations objectives. UNOPS also provides access to shared service platforms, corporate systems, defined service arrangements, and appropriate delegations of authority to support efficient delivery within GFCR governance arrangements and UNOPS rules and procedures.

Role Purpose

As part of the GFCR Secretariat, the Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist supports Fund-level oversight and strengthens the implementation, review, and reporting of GFCR policies across the portfolio, including policies related to environmental and social safeguards, grievance redress, GEDSI, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, private sector engagement, and other related risk and inclusion requirements.

Under the direct supervision of the GFCR Deputy Director, the Specialist provides strategic leadership and technical advice to integrate environmental and social safeguards, risk management, and inclusion considerations across GFCR programmes, operations, partnerships, and knowledge products. This role does not replace the responsibilities of GFCR recipient implementing and co-implementing partners, but supports consistency across the portfolio through technical advice, quality review, and practical recommendations.

Programmes and workstreams to be reviewed will be agreed with the GFCR team and prioritised based on risk profile, programme stage, grievance exposure, downstream funding or technical assistance arrangements, and replenishment or progress review needs.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the direct supervision of the GFCR Deputy Director, the Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist will be responsible for the below key functions :

Assess alignment of implementing partners safeguards, risk management, GEDSI, and grievance systems, and other policies with GFCR requirements Strengthen safeguards, GEDSI and other policies integration across the GFCR programme management cycle.Strengthen GFCR grievance redress systems and procedures.Provide technical support and capacity building to GFCR Secretariat staff and partners. Assess alignment of implementing partners safeguards, risk management and grievance systems with GFCR requirementsLead processes to assess whether selected implementing partners systems and procedures are aligned with GFCR requirements, particularly where due diligence was conducted before relevant GFCR policies were endorsed or updated.Review relevant GFCR policies and implement partner policies, procedures and systems to assess alignment with GFCR requirements.Identify gaps, practical risks and corrective actions related to implementing partners oversight of downstream partners, sub-grantees, technical assistance recipients and supported reef-positive solutions. Prepare clear technical recommendations for GFCR and implementing partners to strengthen alignment, implementation and reporting. Lead the update of GFCR policies and guidance notes as required. Strengthen safeguards and GEDSI integration across the GFCR programme management cycleReview programme documents, progress reports, replenishment materials, risk registers, annual and mid-annual reporting inputs, and other programme cycle documents to assess whether relevant GFCR policy requirements are sufficiently captured.Advise programme teams on environmental and social risk screening, risk categorisation, mitigation measures, risk ownership, monitoring and reporting. Review implementation frameworks, management plans and procedures to assess alignment with GFCR policies and identify any required updates or corrective actions.Lead the review and consolidation of programme risk registers, ensuring relevant GFCR policy risks are clearly described, rated, assigned to responsible parties and linked to mitigation measures. Strengthen GFCR grievance redress systems and proceduresSupport the development or improvement of a practical GFCR grievance handling procedure or standard operating procedure, including intake, acknowledgement, registration, assessment, referral, escalation, response, monitoring, closure and reporting. Review whether implementing partners and downstream partner grievance mechanisms are accessible, legitimate, predictable, equitable, transparent, confidential where needed, and responsive to affected communities. Assess whether grievance redress mechanisms and related access channels are adequately communicated to downstream partners, supported enterprises, technical assistance recipients and affected communities. Support grievance tracking, analysis and reporting, including identification of recurring issues, systemic risks and lessons for programme improvement. Provide technical support and capacity building to GFCR Secretariat staff and partnersProvide on-demand technical advice to regional leads, programme teams and relevant GFCR focal points on GFCR policies. Prepare concise advisory notes, review comments, checklists, tools or templates to support implementation and quality assurance. Provide technical inputs for GFCR portfolio reporting, governance updates, donor reporting and internal decision-making. Deliver capacity-building sessions and supporting materials for GFCR colleagues, implementing partners or co-implementers on GFCR policy requirements.

Education Requirements

Required

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental management, environmental science, social sciences, international development, gender studies, human rights, Indigenous Peoples studies, environmental law, natural resource management, marine or coastal management, sustainable development, development finance, or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required OR Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above related fields with 7 years of relevant experience.

Required

Experience Requirements

Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social safeguards, social and environmental risk management, grievance redress mechanisms, GEDSI, gender-responsive programming, Indigenous Peoples engagement, stakeholder engagement, human rights, sustainability, conservation, climate finance, development finance, or related fields. Demonstrated experience with safeguards or accountability requirements in programmes financed or implemented by United Nations agencies, international organisations, development finance institutions, climate funds, conservation funds, philanthropic funds, multilateral agencies, or comparable institutions.

Desired

Experience with biodiversity conservation, marine and coastal ecosystems, blue economy, climate adaptation, natural resource management, community livelihoods, sustainable finance, impact investment, ESG, or private sector partnerships. Experience with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities engagement, including culturally appropriate consultation, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Indigenous Peoples plans or planning frameworks, and rights-based approaches.