ThaiNGO

As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, the government owned Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH operates on behalf of German Ministry of Environment. GIZ has a record of more than 60 years working in Thailand.

For the regional project component “Collaborative Actions for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in South-East Asia (CAP SEA)”, implemented in Thailand and Malaysia and Indonesia, we are currently looking for a Project Advisor and National Coordinator Thailand.

Project Advisor and National Coordinator Thailand

Existing production and consumption patterns in Southeast Asian countries are based on a largely linear raw materials economy in which plastic materials in particular are poorly managed and disposed as waste after a short period of use. The widespread use of single-use plastic (SUP) contributes significantly to the entry into and pollution of water and sea. Low raw material prices, counterproductive incentive systems, a lack of awareness and a lack of alternatives are main reasons for the rapidly growing amount of disposable plastic.

Thailand has recognised that the introduction of circular economy (CE) principles in production and trade along the waste hierarchy (i.e. reduce, reuse, recycle) can be an essential solution. Existing voluntary initiatives by industry, trade and services to reduce and properly collect and recycle packaging materials have been limited in their overall impact.

Government support can include incentives (e.g. favoring packaging-free solutions in the context of public procurement), recycling market development (e.g. reducing barriers and stimulating post-consumer recycling content in products), a gradual introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR), bans on certain single-use products, but also voluntary commitments by main polluters. For example, ban on specific SUP products (e.g. plastic cups) contributes to the viability of Cup-as-a-Service business models that currently emerged in various Southeast Asian states. Based on the polluter pays principle, those who pollute should bear the environmental and health-related costs of pollution, which in this case translates into supporting a coherent SUP prevention policy.

GIZ supports the Government of Thailand in implementing and institutionalizing Single Use Plastic prevention strategies. This includes capacity development, training measures, knowledge dissemination, and the preparation of pilot projects amongst other things. The project component is part of a global project headquartered in Germany. The regional headquarters for Thailand and Malaysia will be in Bangkok.

During project implementation in 2021 and 2022 the following outputs have been developed (and can be accessed here: The Collaborative Actions for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in Southeast Asia (CAP SEA) – German International Cooperation Based in Bangkok (thai-german-cooperation.info)):

• a comprehensive policy recommendation paper on single-use plastic and packaging waste prevention has been developed that provides key recommendations for Thailand’s journey towards more circular packaging.
• 3 Design for Recycling Guidelines for PET beverage containers, HDPE bottles and PP cups and trays
• 6 background studies on key topics around circular packaging

The second phase of the CAP SEA project will run until 3/2025 (with an option to be extended until 11/2025) and will focus on the upscaling of the outputs of the first phase. Concretely, the focus will be on supporting the uptake of the design for recycling guidelines and recycled content targets through the development of sustainability criteria for plastic packaging products which will be integrated into existing Ecolabels and be used for Green Public Procurement. Furthermore, the project will contribute to developing a Deposit Return System for Thailand.

The project advisor/coordinator Thailand is responsible for:

• autonomously implement activities of the project related to Thailand
• autonomously develop the partner network in Thailand; particularly cooperate and coordinate with relevant government ministries and agencies (NSTDA, PCD, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), other relevant GIZ programmes, other development agencies, but also with other public, non-governmental, development and private organisations in Thailand;
• autonomously liaise and cooperate with Thailand GIZ country office and realize synergies with bi-lateral and global projects;
• autonomously draft ToR, develop contracting and supervise contract implementation with local and international consultants and grantees.
• support the development of the implementation strategy, action planning and monitoring of project activities in line with project goals jointly with partners and the management;
• support efficient sustainable knowledge transfer and capacity development.

The Project Advisor/Coordinator Thailand for CAP SEA performs the following tasks:

1. Project Implementation

• Identify / Design together with international and local partners from public and private sector suitable strategies for developing a feasibility study for Deposit Return Systems in Thailand
• Draft Terms of Reference for the development of studies and other deliverables together with international grantees
• Oversee the work of international and local consultants and grantees
• Build strong relationships, steer and manage the implementation of pilot projects
• If applicable: Steer, mentor and support the local political partner to draft guidelines

2. Administration

• coordinates with management to develop admin and project functions within the country, such as communication, reporting lines, internal rules, etc;
• coordinates with management to develop finance functions, such as cash-flow, budgeting, controlling, integrity management, etc.;
• enables collaborative development of action plans, result- based monitoring system and other management tools for the efficient and effective implementation of the project;
• develops autonomous contract and manages with third parties;
• organises the day-to-day operational management of the project within the country: control project implementation and timely provision of deliverables, quality control, facilitation and coordinates of short-term experts, etc;

3. Other related tasks

• closely coordinates and regular communication with the management (i.e. team meeting and Jour Fixe) to consult, reflect and jointly develop the strategic orientation of the project;
• actively contributes to GIZ TH internal coordination/knowledge management structures, such as clusters, relevant working groups, country planning, etc.
• support the management in strategic development of the project, including network development, acquisition of funds, private sector development, etc.

Required qualifications, competences, and experience

• Master’s degree, in a course related to the project/program’s issues, specialisation in a field related to environmental science/ management;
• proven experiences in working for or with GIZ or other international development agencies, preferable coordinating country activities;
• experience with circular economy approaches, ideally upstream single use plastic avoidance, also waste management  
• 5+ years relevant occupational experience in project management, planning and coordination and advisory work;
• experience in working with Thai government institutions
• good understanding of sustainable consumption and production in Thailand and circular economy approaches.
• ability to work independently and to do travels within the country, the region and globally.

This will be a fixed-term contract, starting as soon as possible and running until 31 March 2025.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 20 January 2023. Please carefully read this announcement and submit a CV AND a cover letter in English to chattayada.pattaragulwanit@giz.de and aroonratt.soontonbura@giz.de

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

** With your application please also provide a 2-page short essay on any one of the 2 topics below:

1. Describe a strategic approach to introduce a Deposit Return System for beverage containers in Thailand.
2. When looking at the recycling market for post-consumer plastic packaging in Thailand: which challenges exist and how could they be alleviated through Design for Recycling Guidelines?

GIZ Thailand is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages gender diversity within the company and operations.

GIZ Office Thailand

Human Resources Department

193/63 Lake Rajada Office Complex, New Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110