Environmental Management Specialist Job at USAID/TANZANIA

Closing date of the position: October 14, 2015

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The US Embassy is seeking an individual for the position of A.I.D Environmental Management Specialist at the United States Agency for International Development. This is a full-time Personal Services Contract position.

"Under the Environmental Management Specialist position, USAID is willing to accept applicants with fewer than the required minimum number of years of experience but these employees will be considered trainees and begin at one grade lower. Attainment of the higher grade level is contingent upon the Specialist successfully completing all required training, years of experience to reach the fully qualified level, in addition to meeting agreed-upon objectives and milestones, and performing in a fully successful manner. Failure to obtain the minimum qualification of the next grade level may be grounds for termination."

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

USAID’s legally-mandated environmental procedures are laid out in 22 CFR 216 (“Reg 216”) and ADS Chapter 204, Environmental Procedures. These required procedures are USAID’s principal mechanism to ensure environmentally sound design and management of mission activities, and thus to prevent significant adverse impacts on (1) environmental resources and ecosystems and (2) the health and livelihoods of stakeholders that might result from inadequate attention to environmental requirements in design and implementation. Compliance with these procedures is mandatory. They apply to every program, project, activity, and amendment supported with USAID funds. USAID/Tanzania is fully committed to their systematic and complete implementation.

The Mission Environmental Specialist is responsible for ensuring USAID/Tanzania compliance with the requirements of Reg 216 and ADS 204 across the entire portfolio of development activities. This is a senior-level position with a high level of responsibility for ensuring that the Mission is meeting legal requirements. The incumbent is an expert on environment and natural resource management, Tanzanian and USAID environmental policy and regulations and environmental compliance. S/he liaises regularly with Tanzanian government authorities at all levels on environmental regulations and requirements and participates in the development, design and modification of ongoing and new projects and activities, working in close collaboration with USAID staff, development partners, and the Government of Tanzania (GOT).

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The USAID/Tanzania Mission Environmental Management Specialist (MEMS) will provide high-quality professional technical assistance to USAID/Tanzania sector offices and Development Objective (DO) teams, contractors and grantees, and Government of Tanzania counterparts and stakeholders. The incumbent will assure compliance with environmental requirements and transfer skills and best practices to targeted implementing partner and host country programs and institutions. The MES will report to the Project Development Specialist in the Program Office and be part of the Project Design team.

a. Project and activity design and development
(35%)

The incumbent will serve as a core member of all USAID/Tanzania DO and technical teams and in this capacity will provide expert advice and guidance on the development of environmentally sound Project Appraisal Documents (PADs), government-to-government implementing instruments, scopes of work and program descriptions as well as mandatory Reg 216 documentation.

• Review and clear all required Reg 216 documents for quality and completeness, including but not limited to Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) and amendments, Requests for Categorical Exclusion (RCEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs), and once cleared forward all such documents to the Bureau Environmental Officer for concurrence;
• Review and clear all project design documents (concept papers, PADs) with particular attention to the mandatory environmental analysis summaries and annexes;
• Review and clear solicitation and award documents (RFAs, RFPs, contracts, cooperative agreements), ensuring the inclusion of Environmental Compliance Language for Solicitation and Awards;
• Review and clear all government-to-government agreements and implementation instruments, ensuring that environmental requirements are met;
• Review and clear all modifications to existing awards that entail any changes or additions to the activities being implemented that have environmental implications;
• Provide guidance and advice on environmentally-sensitive activities being proposed or carried out by other development partners;
• Manage and update the USAID/Tanzania Mission Order on Environmental Policies and Procedures and revise as necessary;
• Provides leadership and expertise to Mission staff in the area of project development, review and approval policies and procedures;
• Undertakes information gathering, analytical and evaluative tasks of a broad scope having to do with the Mission’s cross-cutting themes. Tracks, compiles and disseminates this information on cross-cutting issues to DO Teams and partners for inclusion in activities where appropriate;
• Participates in design process to ensure inclusion of cross-cutting issues, and ensure activity development completeness of supporting analyses, efficiency of design methodology and logistics, adequacy of technical design, and compliance with applicable Agency regulations and policies;

b. Environmental compliance monitoring and documentation 
(35%)

The MEMS monitors compliance of all USAID/Tanzania projects and activities, ensures implementing partners are applying best environmental practices, and prepares environmental compliance documentation as required.

• Provides Mission environmental leadership by serving as the Mission point of contact (POC) with the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) and Regional Environmental Advisor (REA), thereby linking the Mission directly with environmental policy guidance ;
• Serve as liaison with the E3 Office of Environment;
• Review environmental compliance monitoring carried out by the USAID/Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Program for quality, consistency and adherence to requirements;
• Establish and maintain a Mission-wide environmental compliance tracking tool and an up-to-date inventory of all Mission Reg 216 documents;
• Establish an e-library of environmental compliance and environmentally-sound design and management (ESDM) resources;
• Prepare the required environmental compliance section of the annual Operational Plan (OP);
• Draft and/or review environment-related narratives for the annual Operational Plan and PPR such as key issues;
• In coordination with CORs/AORs, conduct field monitoring for environmental compliance through site visits to any project or activity in the USAID/Tanzania portfolio;

c. Capacity development and other duties as assigned 
(30%)

The MEMS will design and implement specialized assessments, workshops and training activities to ensure that USAID staff, implementing partners and Tanzanian counterparts integrate sound environmental management into development planning and enhance their compliance capacity.

• Recruit outside technical assistance as required for environmental compliance activities;
• Enhance capacity and awareness USAID staff and ensure familiarization with the requirements of the Environmental Policies and Procedures Mission Order;
• Enhance capacity and awareness of implementing partner staff through training and technical assistance and support the development of EMMPs as required, training courses and technical assistance
• Support capacity development for GOT counterparts;

Participate in donor coordination meetings related to environment.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

1. Education: 
   Minimum of Masters’ Degree (MA or MSc) in environmental management, environmental impact assessment, economics, engineering, rural development, or closely related field is required.
2. Prior Work Experience: 
   8 years of progressively responsible experience in environmental consulting and environmental regulations compliance. Four years of this should involve working with donor or an international organization is required.
3. Post Entry Training:
   Training related to USAID’s program development and implementation, and related skills upgrading as available and appropriate is required.
4. Language Proficiency:
   Level IV (Fluent) in English and Kiswahili (speaking, writing and reading) is required.
5. Job Knowledge: 
   Must have thorough professional knowledge of environmental compliance regulations in Tanzania. Must have a practical experience applying environmental compliance regulations to international development funded projects and programs. Knowledge of project development, design, management, performance monitoring, and reporting is required. Must have a good knowledge of host-country contacts (official and non-governmental) in the areas of environmental compliance is required.
6. Skills and Abilities: 
   Incumbent should able to and skilled in:-
   
   • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain positive relations with senior officials from the Government of Tanzania at the central, regional and district levels.
   • Able to represent USAID, donors, private sector, and NGOs involved in similar development activities in order to obtain required information to conduct high quality analysis of complex issues.
   • Demonstrated ability to manage and lead teams of experts. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
   • Must have strong English language writing and verbal communication skills.
   • Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and other relevant software) are required to analyze, monitor, and present information is required.

SELECTION PROCESS

When fully qualified, US Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and US Veterans are given preference. Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration of the application:

1. Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174). A hard copy of the application form (DS-174) is also available at the American Embassy, gate 3; or
2. A combination of both; i.e. Sections 1 -24 of the UAE along with a listing of the applicant’s work experience attached as a separate sheet; or
3. A current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information found on the UAE (see section 3A below for more information); plus
4. Candidates who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application. Candidates who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.
5. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

3A. If an applicant is submitting a resume or curriculum vitae, s/he must provide the following information equal to what is found on the UAE.

Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application.

A. Position Title
B. Position Grade
C. Vacancy Announcement Number (if known)
D. Dates Available for Work
E. First, Middle, & Last Names as well as any other names used
F. Date and Place of Birth
G. Current Address, Day, Evening, and Cell phone numbers
H. U.S. Citizenship Status (Yes or No) & status of permanent U.S. Resident (Yes or No; if yes, provide number)
I. U.S. Social Security Number and/or Identification Number
J. Eligibility to work in the country (Yes or No)
K. Special Accommodations the Mission needs to provide
L. If applying for position that includes driving a U.S. Government vehicle, Driver’s License Class / Type
M. Days available to work
N. List any relatives or members of your household that work for the U.S. Government (include their Name, Relationship, & Agency, Position, Location)
O. U.S. Eligible Family Member and Veterans Hiring Preference
P. Education
Q. License, Skills, Training, Membership, & Recognition
R. Language Skills
S. Work Experience
T. References

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

American Embassy
Human Resources Office
P.O. Box 9123
Dar es Salaam

POINT OF CONTACT

Telephone: 229 4000, Ext: 4137/4148/4233/4024
Fax: 2294726

CLOSING DATE OF THE POSITION: October 14, 2015

The US Mission in Tanzania provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted