Cold-chain Specialist

The Consultant will support UNEP’s work on cold chain including holistic cold chain models supporting SDGs, policy and finance recommendations, capacity building, partnership development, fundraising, policy dialogues, and technical insights on cold chain demonstration projects emphasizing sustainability and rural benefits. The role includes coordinating a technical working group in India, reviewing subcontractor outputs, supporting funding proposals, and sharing best practices regionally.

Responsibilities

• Support UNEP’s work on cold chain including holistic cold chain models that support numerous SDGs at rural and urban levels.
• Provide policy, finance and institutional recommendations.
• Conduct capacity building and partnership development.
• Engage in fundraising and policy dialogues.
• Support Government of India, selected State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Provide technical insights on cold chain demonstration projects with emphasis on sustainability and rural benefits.
• Coordinate a technical working group in India for cold chain.
• Review and coordinate outputs from subcontractors.
• Support funding proposal preparation.
• Support replication activities and best practice sharing from India into the wider region.
• Support the Cool Coalition Secretariat to ensure alignment of UNEP’s activities on cold chain in India with other Coalition partners.
• Support efforts of the Cool Coalition on knowledge base activation, advisory and demonstration support, scale-up, advocacy and outreach.

Requirements

• Post graduate qualifications in thermal engineering/heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), engineering/energy management, economics, environmental studies, agriculture, logistics, or equivalent expertise.
• A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of eight years in a relevant field of work, preferably with a focus on logistics, energy, agriculture, rural development and the environment, in particular cold chain.
• Practical experience is essential in multi-stakeholder project development, partnership building, management of sub-contractors and consultants, and administration, preferably within the sustainable energy context.
• Experience in working with ministries of Government of India, state governments of India, public sector undertakings and international organisations is an asset.
• Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.
• Has sound knowledge of cold chain, logistics and agri-business; project development, policy frameworks and financial instruments; experience in agriculture, rural development, cooling and energy in coordination with a large number of multi-stakeholders.
• Possesses strong analytical skills and the ability to proactively seek and identify relevant lessons and case studies.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence and flexibility when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify perceptions, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates proactivity and openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage, particularly Hindi.

Skills

• Thermal Engineering
• HVAC
• Energy Management
• Environmental Studies
• Agriculture
• Logistics Management
• Cold Chain Management
• Multi-stakeholder Project Development
• Partnership Building
• Sub-contractor Management
• Consultancy Management
• Sustainable Energy
• Policy Frameworks
• Financial Instruments
• Agribusiness
• Rural Development Policy
• Analytical Skills
• Project Development
• Capacity Building
• Fundraising
• Technical Coordination

Languages

English