STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The USAID Project Management Specialist (Environment) is posted in the Environment Office (EO), USAID/Philippines. The Specialist is a member of the Environment Office that manages a $125 million portfolio. S/he reports to the Regional Environment FSN Specialist and manages a complex portfolio that covers a wide range of technical areas and covers priority initiatives for the U.S. Government (USG).
The Specialist is a lead expert on natural resource management. In this capacity, s/he functions as a lead technical advisor to USAID/Philippines Management and staff on natural resource management, forestry, biodiversity and other environmental issues. The incumbent plays a lead representational role for USAID interests with senior Government of the Philippines (GPH) counterparts on topics related to natural resources, forestry, sustainable landscapes, combatting wildlife trafficking and biodiversity in high-level national fora, and with other international donors, the academic sector, and non-government organizations (NGOs). The incumbent works across the U.S. Government inter-agency on priority USG and GPH initiatives like combating wildlife trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), energy, water, and environmental resilience.
In managing projects, the Specialist chairs and co-chairs technical committees responsible for developing, managing, monitoring and evaluating USAID projects, as well as supporting the inter-agency to develop strategies, events, and programs. S/he is the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for one to several environment activities. Additionally, the Specialist also serves as Activity Manager, and manages grants, contracts and inter-agency agreements in the Natural Resource and Environment Sector. The Specialist will also be required to provide support to the energy, water, and urban development portfolio of the Environment Office.
Major duties and responsibilities include:
A. Promotion of the Improved Governance of Natural Resources
B. Identification and Analysis of Priority Environment Policies
C. Program Implementation
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education
– A Master’s degree in natural resource management or field related to improving natural resource policies and environmental governance, such as social science and public administration is required. Note: Additional education may NOT be substituted for Experience.
b. Prior Work Experience
– Minimum of (5) five years of progressively responsible, professional level experience in project management related work in biodiversity conservation, natural resources management and environmental governance with three of those years spent in promoting improved governance in the environment and natural resources management. Note: Additional experience may NOT be substituted for Education.
c. Language Proficiency / Communication Skills
– Must have excellent communication skills in English and Tagalog, both in oral and written forms. With this level of communication skills, the Specialist is expected to: prepare regular and ad hoc reports, project documentation, and briefing papers, develop and deliver professional quality reports and presentations, and possess the ability to translate, on occasion, when the Specialist may need to act as an interpreter.
d. Job Knowledge
– The Specialist must have:
1) demonstrated knowledge of viable approaches for identifying critical environment policy issues, analyzing policy options and promoting the implementation of improved environment policies;
2) demonstrated understanding of proven approaches for promoting more transparent, participatory and accountable practices and policies governing the sustained use of the environment;
3) demonstrated understanding of the critical threats facing the water and energy sector, and sustained use of coastal resources and forests, including overfishing, use of destructive fishing practices, illegal logging and conversion of natural forests, and viable approaches for addressing these threats;
4) demonstrated understanding of effective approaches for ensuring the sustainability of development efforts to promote the wise use of natural resources and improved environmental governance;
5) demonstrated expertise in forming and supporting coalitions to achieve specific development objectives. Must have or the potential to quickly acquire such knowledge, of U.S. Government legislation relating to development assistance; and of the objectives, methodology, and status of the programs and projects to which assigned.
e. Skills and Abilities
– The Specialist must be a recognized expert in the area of environmental policy analysis and formulation and managing all phases in designing and implementing environmental governance programs to achieve planned results. S/he must be an expert in both technical and administrative aspects of project management. Incumbent must possess strong presentation skills and the ability to persuade and mobilize stakeholders to support efforts to improve natural resource policies and environmental governance. S/he must have demonstrated excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, and the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with a broad range of development partners and program stakeholders. Incumbent must have excellent computer skills and the proven ability to prepare professional quality reports and presentations. Proven self-starter who is highly motivated and committed to addressing environmental issues.
Application Deadline: August 3, 2020
