About the opportunity
The Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) will provide overall technical leadership, strategic guidance, and quality assurance for the GEF-funded project ‘Accelerating PNG’s Sustainable Blue Economy through Strengthened Governance and Investment in Marine Areas’. The CTS is the project’s principal international technical expert, responsible for ensuring that conservation, sustainable blue-economy development, private-sector engagement, and access-to-finance interventions are technically sound and coherent. The role involves capacity building for the Project Management Unit and national partners, monitoring project results, and managing partnerships with government, private sector, and international stakeholders. The position is based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with travel to project sites.
Salary and benefits
- International Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA-11) contract
- 1-year contract duration
- Professional role within the UN Development System
- Opportunity to lead a major GEF-funded marine conservation project
Who can apply?
- Master's degree in Environmental or Development Economics, Sustainable Finance, Business Administration, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related discipline with 7 years of relevant experience
- Bachelor's degree in the above fields with 9 years of relevant experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience in an advisory or CTS role with a major international organization
- Demonstrated experience in sustainable blue-green economy business development, innovative conservation finance, and marine biodiversity conservation
- Proven experience in project advisory for GEF-funded or similar international development projects
- Fluency in English is required
- Knowledge of Tok Pisin or other official PNG languages is an advantage
Required documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
- Academic credentials
When to apply
- Application deadline: 2026-09-23
How to apply
- Visit the official UNDP job portal
- Review the tiered application process requirements
- Submit the application through the online portal before the deadline
Additional information
- The position is based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- The role requires flexibility across time zones for coordination with the Bangkok Regional Hub
- UNDP does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process
- The organization reserves the right to select one or more candidates
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Candidates with extensive experience in GEF-funded project management and marine conservation policy
- Professionals with a strong background in sustainable finance, blended finance, or private-sector engagement for conservation
- Experts with prior work experience in the Pacific Islands region or Papua New Guinea
What should you think carefully about?
- The role is a fixed-term, one-year contract, which may require planning for future career transitions
- The position requires significant travel to project sites in diverse provinces within Papua New Guinea
- Applicants must be comfortable working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment involving government, private sector, and international agencies
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This role is ideal for a senior technical expert looking to make a high-impact contribution to marine biodiversity and sustainable economic development. It offers a unique opportunity to lead a large-scale GEF-funded initiative, bridging the gap between conservation science, national policy, and private-sector investment in a critical ecological region.
Our take
This is a high-level technical leadership role suited for experienced professionals in environmental economics or conservation finance. Candidates with a proven track record in the Pacific region and GEF project implementation should strongly consider applying.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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