Technical Program Coordinator

Job Description

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) may require the services of a Technical Program Coordinator to help administer a U.S. government (USG)-funded program based in the Republic of the Congo (RoC).

Background

To respond to the threats posed by illegal logging activities in the Congo Basin, USFS proposes to undertake a multi-year capacity building program focused on strengthening law enforcement by government and civil society actors in targeted countries of Central Africa. The program proposes to establish and mentor a law enforcement task force in RoC with the aim to empower judicial and other forestry law enforcement “champions” and to facilitate communication and coordination among those engaged in monitoring and managing the timber harvest and export supply chains. In addition to also convening and building the capacity of an affiliated multi-sectoral forest legality network, the proposed program will promote community monitoring and civil society engagement in combatting illegal logging. It will facilitate targeted cross-boundary collaboration and mentoring between RoC and bordering countries.

Given RoC’s significant role in timber harvesting in the Congo Basin and the country’s challenges and need for institutional strengthening to reinforce accountability within the logging sector, USFS proposes to focus interventions in RoC together with targeted and complementary transboundary regional engagement with Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon. Collectively, these countries encompass a vast area of the Congo Basin which is under siege from uncontrolled forest exploitation that threatens both sustainable economic development as well as the globally important ecological integrity of the world’s second largest contiguous forested area after the Amazon.

In collaboration with the US Department of State, USFS’s long-term goal is to strengthen the institutional capacity of government law enforcement and forestry officials and relevant community and civil society actors to combat illegal logging and related financial crimes in Central Africa.

The USFS may seek a full-time Technical Program Coordinator, based in Brazzaville, to help administer a proposed USG-funded program in coordination with other USFS International Programs management staff.

Position Description

Responsibilities of the Technical Program Coordinator would include, but are not limited to:

• Implementing, in coordination with other USFS staff, an ambitious two-year annual work program of law enforcement capacity building to combat illegal logging in collaboration with in-country partners and stakeholders and other U.S. government agencies;
• Assisting government partners to establish and mentor a law enforcement task force in RoC to combat illegal logging and strengthen regional law enforcement collaboration;
• Convening and strengthening a multi-sectoral forest legality network to improve transparency and information sharing on timber trade between relevant actors within RoC, including government and civil society groups, and to promote increased transboundary cooperation and action;
• Implementing other related program technical assistance activities with partner institutions in RoC and coordinated with other target countries;
• Coordinating with other related USFS technical assistance programming in RoC, and the Central Africa region, to ensure maximum programming impact and effectiveness;
• Contributing substantively to the preparation and execution of national and regional training workshops;
• Providing technical assistance updates on illegal logging law enforcement and related issues to USFS/USDOS and implementing partners;
• Orienting and coordinating the activities of visiting teams of USFS and other international experts, as well as coordinating with program country counterparts and other technical consultant missions;
• Managing logistics, financial, and administrative tasks for program activities, including but not limited to events, meetings, and regional travel, and
• Representing the program to partners and providing ongoing reporting and documenting program implementation.

Qualifications

• At least a master’s degree in law enforcement, conservation biology, environmental sciences, forestry, sustainable development, or related field.
• Experience in Central Africa and knowledge of timber trafficking, law enforcement, and related public lands issues strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, engaging in consultative work planning, and coordinating activities and meetings;
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with in-country and U.S. government agencies, international donors, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders;
• Experience working with key government partners in the target countries strongly preferred;
• Experience implementing U.S. government-funded activities and maintaining compliance with U.S. government regulations strongly preferred;
• Ability to think critically and synthetically across fields and topics related to natural resource management and sustainable development in the developing country context;
• Demonstrated capacity to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple tasks to ensure their efficient and timely accomplishment;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English.

Location: The position would be based in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, with travel regionally or internationally as needed.

If the U.S. Forest Service were to secure the services of an individual with these technical skills, the successful applicant would be hired through a contractor.

Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to METI with the subject line Rep. of the Congo Technical Program Coordinator by September 27, 2019 to: IPJobs@meticorp.com. METI is an Equal Opportunity Employer: www.meticorp.com

About the Organization

Management and Engineering Technologies International, Inc. (METI) works in support of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs by hiring staff to work on international natural resource projects. The USFS Office of International Programs promotes sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation internationally. By linking the skills of the field-based staff of the USFS with partners overseas, the agency can address the world’s most critical forestry issues and concerns. The USFS regularly engages the agency's wide range of expertise in over 90 countries, for programs on sustainable forest management, climate change, combatting illegal logging, fire management, and other topics.