Job Highlight

The Environmental Strategy Advisor will work closely with the Menstrual Health SHF team to develop its position on circularity, climate and environmental impacts of menstrual products value chain, shaping SHF’s strategic approach to environmentally sustainable menstrual health markets in low and middle income countries, translating evidence into practice guidance for governments, private sector and development partners

About The Group

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the MH Country Markets Specialist and working closely with the wider team, the Environmental Strategy Advisor will oversee the strategic formulation of SHF's position and advisory roadmap on the environmental impacts of menstrual products across their value chains.

The Environmental Strategy Advisor will provide the strategic oversight, evidence base and institutional direction required for SHF to define an evidence-informed position on circularity, climate and environmental (CCE) considerations within menstrual health market development. The role exists to identify the critical knowledge gaps and strategic questions that must be addressed, guide the generation and synthesis of evidence needed to answer them, and translate these insights into a coherent strategic position and practical pathways for action.

Through this work, the Environmental Strategy Advisor will enable SHF to strengthen its technical guidance, policy engagement and partnerships, support the integration of environmental sustainability considerations into menstrual health market development, identify priorities for future research and innovation, and establish a forward-looking roadmap to guide SHF's technical assistance and market-shaping efforts in low- and middle-income countries.

Functions / Key Results Expected

The Environmental Strategy Advisor will undertake the following functions:

Market research and analysis

Review existing internal documentation, SHF work and intelligence in this area, as a starting point for further analysis Define key action research areas required for SHF to answer in order to define a practical position and related levers for action on CCE impacts of menstrual products value chains Convene and consult a pool of technical experts to gather evidence on the environmental impact of menstrual product value chains Analyse and compare data across product types to quantify CCE impacts in absolute terms and relative weight within the value chain Map entry points across trade, industry, manufacturing, environment, investment, standards, procurement and health ministries where governments and market actors can intervene Consult with governments, industry and market actors to test and refine intervention and policy pathways

Prioritisation and Drafting

Apply a prioritization matrix to weigh the urgency and scale of each environmental issue against SHF's ability to act on it Consult SHF technical team and leadership to validate priority areas for direct action, indirect guidance, or exclusion from SHF's scope Draft SHF's official position paper, incorporating feedback from internal review and expert input. This should include where SHF should act directly, indirectly by providing guidelines and recommendations (especially to Governments and the private sector), and which interventions should be left out. Identify and outline priority recommendations for future research, policy development and pilot initiatives

Deliverables expected include:

Inception report and work plan - defining the scope, action-research questions, methodology, expert inputs required, and phased timeline (within 3 weeks of onboarding) Consolidated CCE impact analysis report - a quantified assessment of the environmental impact of menstrual products value chains, disaggregated by product type, with issues ranked by scale, impact and relative weight (mid-assignment) Structured framework of intervention and policy entry pathways that identifies how governments, industry and market actors can operationalize more sustainable menstrual health markets, including tailored recommendations for trade, industry, environment, health and associated ministries. Outline of priority recommendations for further research, policy development and pilot initiatives needed to strengthen SHF’s future advisory and technical assistance work. Recommended position concept note regarding the CCE impact of menstrual health products, including a list of actions for direct intervention, sector guidance and advocacy - intended for validation by SHF leadership ahead of external use (end of assignment)

Education Requirements

Required

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental science, sustainability, environmental policy, natural resources management, or a related field is required. A Bachelor's degree in a related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

Experience Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental analysis, sustainability strategy, or related fields is required. Demonstrated experience in conducting action research, literature reviews, and producing evidence-based policy or strategy documents is required. Experience in life cycle assessment or equivalent methodologies to evaluate the environmental impact of products or value chains is required.

Desired

Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder research workstreams or technical expert inputs, is desirable. Experience working in the consumer goods, FMCG, or health/hygiene product sector, particularly in relation to environmental or circular economy considerations, is desirable. Knowledge of or prior engagement with the menstrual health sector, including products, markets, or supply chains (disposable and/or reusable), particularly in LMICs, is desirable.