Climate and Housing Specialist

Position description

Result of Service

The consultant will strengthen UN-Habitat’s ability to provide evidence-based knowledge and practical tools for advancing climate-responsive housing systems. Deliverables will include applied research, data analysis, and knowledge outputs that contribute to both the Canada Office programme and UN-Habitat’s global housing and climate agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

UN-Habitat is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The Canada Office of UN-Habitat strengthens the organization’s mission by serving as a focal point for partnerships, applied research, and policy engagement in Canada and across North America for the implementation of UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Operating from the City of Montreal, the Canada Office plays a central role in four domains: partner engagement and resource mobilization; research-policy-action interface; advocacy and communication; and the advancement of sustainable urbanization agendas within the Canadian and North American context. The Canada Office places particular emphasis on climate-responsive housing systems, with a view to accelerating housing solutions that are affordable, adequate, resilient, and compatible with national and global climate commitments. UN-Habitat Canada Office is seeking motivated, highly skilled, and experienced professionals to join the team. The position is initially offered as a six-month contract, with the possibility of extension based on a positive performance evaluation. This on-site position is full-time and is based in Montreal, Canada. This position is under the overall guidance of the Head of Office of the UN-Habitat Canada Office and reports directly to the Programme Management Officer (P3), Human Settlements. Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada.

The consultant will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Work under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Canada Office and coordinate closely with relevant teams at UN-Habitat HQ, Regional Offices, and partners;
• Provide technical expertise and support applied research on climate-smart housing, including resilience, mitigation, adaptation, circularity and just transition aspects;
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge products on climate and housing, including policy briefs, research papers, and data-driven reports;
• Support the design and implementation of strategies for low-carbon and climate-resilient housing systems, including innovative financing, community-led adoption approaches, energy efficiency and nature-based solutions;
• Develop knowledge management tools and capacity-building resources on climate and housing for policymakers, practitioners, and local communities;
• Provide inputs to global and regional UN-Habitat housing and climate initiatives, ensuring Canadian expertise and perspectives are integrated;
• Map and support the establishment of partnerships with Canadian and international research institutions, climate and housing networks, and data entities;
• Support advocacy and communications activities of the Canada Office, including contributions to events, dialogues, and knowledge exchanges on climate and housing;
• Draft technical notes, policy briefs, and project concept notes to support resource mobilization and programme expansion.

Qualifications/special skills

• A Master’s degree in Urban Studies, Housing Policy, Climate Change, Environmental Economics, International Development, or a related field is required;
• 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 2 years of progressively responsible experience in applied research, climate change adaptation, mitigation, sustainable housing, and/or urban development is required;
• Demonstrated expertise in climate-smart housing systems, including technical knowledge on mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience in the housing sector, is required;
• Strong applied research skills in both quantitative and qualitative methods, with proven ability to synthesize and present complex information in accessible formats;
• Experience in policy development, stakeholder engagement, or international cooperation on climate and housing issues is desirable;
• Familiarity with UN processes, the Paris Agreement, and/or housing-related SDGs is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Proficiency and/or fluency in French is highly desirable, and knowledge of another official UN language is considered an additional asset

Application instructions

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