A senior-level opportunity is available for environmental and sustainability professionals seeking to influence how menstrual health markets respond to climate change, circularity and environmental sustainability.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), through the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), is recruiting an Environmental Strategy Advisor (Menstrual Health Markets) for a home-based, 12-month retainer assignment.
The successful candidate will help shape SHF’s strategic position on the environmental impacts of menstrual products and develop practical pathways for more sustainable menstrual health markets across low- and middle-income countries.
Applications are open until 13 September 2026.
UNOPS Environmental Strategy Advisor 2026: Key Details
- Position: Environmental Strategy Advisor (Menstrual Health Markets)
- Organization: UNOPS
- Hosted Entity: Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF)
- Job Category: Programme
- Duty Station: Home based
- Seniority: Senior level
- Contract Level: LICA 11 / ICS 11
- Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer
- Duration: One year, with possible extension
- Application Deadline: 13 September 2026
- Language: Fluent English required
A Strategic Role at the Intersection of Environment and Menstrual Health
The opportunity comes at an important point in the development of menstrual health markets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Decisions concerning menstrual product standards, manufacturing, supply chains, product innovation, business models and regulation can influence environmental outcomes for decades. Through its Capital M initiative, SHF works to strengthen menstrual health markets by supporting sustainable, market-based solutions that expand access to safe, quality and affordable menstrual products.
The Environmental Strategy Advisor will help ensure that environmental sustainability becomes an integral part of this market development work.
The advisor will examine the circularity, climate and environmental (CCE) impacts associated with menstrual product value chains, covering both disposable and reusable products. The role will then translate evidence into strategic recommendations for governments, private-sector organizations, development partners and other market actors.
What Will the Environmental Strategy Advisor Do?
The selected professional will provide strategic oversight for SHF’s environmental strategy and advisory roadmap.
A major responsibility will involve reviewing existing research, internal documentation and available market intelligence before identifying critical knowledge gaps and action-research priorities.
The advisor will also work with technical experts to strengthen the evidence base surrounding the environmental impacts of menstrual products.
This includes comparing environmental impacts across different product categories and evaluating their significance throughout the value chain.
Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Impact Analysis
One of the most important requirements for the role is demonstrated experience with life cycle assessment or equivalent methodologies for evaluating the environmental impacts of products or value chains.
The advisor will be expected to contribute to a quantified assessment of CCE impacts across menstrual product types and identify the environmental issues with the greatest scale, urgency and potential for intervention.
This evidence will help SHF determine where it can achieve the greatest impact through direct interventions, technical guidance, policy engagement or partnerships.
Professionals with strong backgrounds in environmental analysis, sustainability strategy, circular economy, product sustainability or value-chain assessment may therefore find the opportunity particularly relevant.
Developing Sustainable Menstrual Health Policy Pathways
Beyond research and analysis, the position will focus heavily on translating evidence into practical policy and market solutions.
The advisor will map intervention opportunities across areas such as:
- Trade
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Environment
- Investment
- Standards
- Procurement
- Health
The resulting framework will help governments and market actors understand how environmental considerations can be incorporated into menstrual health market development.
The advisor will also consult governments, industry representatives and other market actors to test and refine proposed intervention and policy pathways.
Strategic Research, Prioritization and Policy Development
The role requires more than simply collecting environmental data. The successful candidate will need to determine which environmental challenges deserve priority.
A prioritization matrix will be used to assess issues according to their urgency, scale, environmental impact and SHF’s ability to influence them.
The advisor will then work with SHF’s technical team and leadership to validate priority areas and determine where SHF should intervene directly, provide sector guidance or recommend further research.
One of the major outputs will be an official SHF position paper outlining the organization’s strategic approach to circularity, climate and environmental considerations in menstrual health markets.
Key Deliverables
The assignment will produce several significant outputs, including an inception report and work plan within three weeks of onboarding.
Other expected deliverables include a consolidated CCE impact analysis report, a structured framework of intervention and policy pathways, recommendations for future research and pilot initiatives, and a position concept note for SHF leadership.
These outputs will help guide future technical assistance, policy engagement, partnerships and market-shaping activities.
Who Can Apply for the UNOPS Environmental Strategy Advisor Role?
The position requires an advanced university degree in environmental science, sustainability, environmental policy, natural resources management or a related discipline.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may be accepted when combined with an additional two years of relevant professional experience.
Candidates must have at least seven years of professional experience in environmental analysis, sustainability strategy or related areas.
They must also demonstrate experience in action research, literature reviews and developing evidence-based policy or strategy documents.
Crucially, candidates need experience with life cycle assessment or equivalent approaches for assessing the environmental impacts of products or value chains.
Desirable Experience
Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder research projects or technical expert inputs will be advantageous.
Additional experience in the consumer goods, FMCG, health or hygiene product sectors, particularly involving environmental sustainability or circular economy approaches, is desirable.
Previous knowledge of the menstrual health sector, including menstrual products, markets or supply chains in LMICs, would also strengthen an application.
Why This UNOPS Opportunity Stands Out
This position offers an opportunity for a senior environmental professional to influence a growing global market while addressing interconnected priorities around women’s health, environmental sustainability, circularity, climate action and inclusive development.
Rather than focusing solely on environmental assessment, the role combines research, strategy, policy development, stakeholder engagement and market transformation.
The successful candidate will help SHF turn environmental evidence into practical recommendations that governments, businesses and development partners can use to build more sustainable menstrual health markets.
How to Apply
Interested professionals should review the full vacancy requirements and submit their applications through the official UNOPS Careers Marketplace before 13 September 2026.
Apply for the UNOPS Environmental Strategy Advisor Position Here
Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time on the closing date. UNOPS does not request payment at any stage of recruitment.
