ThaiNGO

Please follow the checklist and submission guidelines, posted on the official website: https://th.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/jobs/usaid-job-vacancies/

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72048623R10007

2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 17, 2023

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 18, 2023/11:59PM Bangkok, Thailand local time

4. POINT OF CONTACT: Kevarin Phirakansakun/ Human Resources Assistant

5. POSITION TITLE: REO Development Assistance Specialist (Environment and Compliance), FSN-12

6. MARKET VALUE: THB 1,890,087 – 3,307,648 per annum equivalent to FSN-12 in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/RDMA. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years initial contract. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to continued need of the position and availability of funds.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The United States Agency for International Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), Bangkok, Thailand with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: This position is opened to Cooperating Country National (CCN). Thai citizen or other country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent Thai residence is eligible to apply. Please note that USAID is not able to sponsor offerors for a Thai residency permit.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The successful candidate shall be required to obtain a Security Certification for Employment from Regional Security Office.

11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES 

11.1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The incumbent serves as a Regional Environmental Advisor (REA), Mission Environment Officer (MEO) and the Mission/Regional Climate Integration Lead (RCIL) for USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA), and will provide senior-level advice and guidance to Mission staff, implementing partners, other U.S. Government agencies on environmental procedures; environmental impact assessment, monitoring, and mitigation; strategic planning; program development and monitoring; and managing and for results. The incumbent will coordinate the Mission Environmental Officers in Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Pacific Islands to provide advice and guidance to Mission management and technical staff on policy, strategic, and U.S. environmental regulations, including USAID environmental compliance procedures and regulations in the areas of climate risk screening, incorporation of climate change adaptation, environmental review and impact assessments, and environment sector programming. The incumbent provides management, policy, and leadership support to Mission-wide activities, advises, and assists in program and activity design and management, and participates in program/project development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. He/she must be an accomplished expert in the field and must be effective in obtaining the cooperation of implementing partner Chiefs of Party, and private sector representatives.

11.2. Statement of Duties to be Performed

A. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR (REA): 50%

• Supports the implementation of USAID's environmental procedures, covering eight countries/operating units in Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Pacific Islands to provide advice and guidance to Mission management and technical staff on policy, strategic, and U.S. environmental regulations, including USAID environmental compliance procedures and regulations in the areas of climate risk screening, incorporation of climate change adaptation, environmental review and impact assessments, and environment sector programming.
• Provides technical assistance, training and mentoring to over 16 Mission Environmental Officers (MEOs), Climate Integration Leads (CILs), technical staff (A/CORs), and implementing partners in environmentally sound design and implementation of projects, and in the development of environmental mitigation and monitoring plans. 
• Works to strengthen environmental compliance, to ensure effective implementation of requirements and best practices across the region.
• Works with the Bureau Environmental Officers, MEOs and other technical offices in Washington as well as REAs in other regions to enhance capacity building, communication, and knowledge sharing.
• Serves as the acting Regional Environmental Advisor in his/her absence and will potentially serve in this role permanently after appropriate training and experiences.
• Coordinates the MEOs in other operating units managed by USAID/RDMA to assist technical offices and implementation partners in the preparation of 22 CFR 216 environmental compliance documentation which includes: Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs), Requests for Categorical Exclusions (RCEs), Requests for Deferrals and Exemptions, Environmental Documentation Form (EDF) reports with Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs), Scoping Statements for Environmental Assessments (EAs), Programmatic Pesticide Evaluation Reports and Safe Use Action Plans, and Multilateral Development Bank environmental reviews (Pelosi Act), among others. Reviews and clears all such documents prepared by the Mission before they are provided to the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) in USAID/Washington for final approval.
• Serves as the lead advisor on environmental compliance responsible for reviewing environmental compliance documents to ensure that design and construction meet local certification standards and international best practices.
• Assists Mission staff to prepare required reports and monitoring systems related to overall Environmental Compliance, Tropical Forestry, and Biodiversity that may be required as part of USAID annual reporting and /or strategy preparation.

B. MISSION ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER (MEO): 30%

• As authorized by the Mission Director, the MEO reviews and approves activity and site-specific Environmental Documentation Form (EDFs) and EMMPs across the Mission portfolio.
• Conducts environmental portfolio reviews and periodic site visits for USAID activities to monitor compliance with all USAID environmental procedures and regulations, with particular attention to implementation of monitoring and mitigation measures specified in IEEs, EDFs, EAs and EMMPs.
• Responsible for instructing Deputy MEOs, DO Teams, COR/AORs, and Mission Management on how to comply with 22 CFR 216; effectively monitor implementation of approved mitigation measures; and obtain additional environmental expertise to assist in their 22 CFR 216 compliance responsibilities.
• Identifies opportunities for integrated “state of the art” approaches and develops training methodologies and/or serves as a lead trainer for formal courses and workshops; and provides mentoring and on-the-job training to staff, particularly to AOR/CORs and IPs, to ensure environmental compliance and climate integration requirements, policies, and procedures are known and followed.
• Trains USAID Mission staff and implementing partners on environmental impact assessment procedures and USAID environmental regulations with a view to strengthening local capacity within USAID Missions and partner institutions for assuring the environmental soundness of development programs.
• Provides strong leadership in the review, approval, and monitoring of Mission activities compliance with Reg. 216. The Specialist manages tracking systems and with other tools, to document and manage compliance with USAID climate risk requirements and contributes climate risk expertise to the management and improvement of existing information systems.

C. MISSION CLIMATE INTEGRATION LEAD (CIL): 20%

• Serves as the Mission lead on climate integration responsible for advising on integration of climate variability and change in Mission planning and programming.
• Coordinates with other MEOs and Climate Integration Leads (CILs) and assist RDMA operating units in complying with all climate change compliance regulations and requirements, and particularly Executive Order 13677.
• Leads RDMA operating units in climate risk screenings as part of the development of all new Country strategies and Activity Approval Documents or equivalents.
• Guides RDMA operating units in the use of climate risk screening information to broadly characterize current and future climate risks and opportunities early in the decision-making process.
• Enables RDMA operating units to incorporate adaptation measures to inform the overall direction of the strategy, project and/or activity as appropriate, and use climate information to inform more detailed programmatic approaches.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.
 

11.3. Supervisory Relationship
The incumbent reports directly to the Regional Environment Office Director or his/her designee.

11.4. Supervisory Controls
Full supervision of other USAID staff is not contemplated.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
 

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

1. Education:  Master’s degree in Environmental Studies, Ecology, Integrated Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field, is required.

2. Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in an area involving application of environmental impact assessment, environmental and social safeguards, or closely related regulations, standards, policies, and best practices in developing-country settings is required. In addition, an understanding of climate risk management is required.

3. Language: Level IV – Fluent in Thai and English with a valid TOEIC score of 855 is required.
 

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

Application Rating System
The application rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified offerors in comparison to other offerors. offerors must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their application and/or resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. The rating factors are as follows:

1. Experience (40 points):
More weight will be given for relevant experience above the minimum requirement stated in Section II which may include direct experience in environmental compliance/safeguards.
 

2. Knowledge (30 points):

• Demonstrates an indept professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts and practices, especially as they relate to environmental impact assessments (also referred to as environmental and social safeguards), climate risk management, environmental policies, host country regulations and environmental best practices and international standards in international development; and, the problems and policies of the host country from the business, political, civil society, and social perspectives.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of economic, political civil society, social, and cultural characteristics of the host country and the region; development problems in the environmental sector in the host country and the region including how climate change may impact development priorities; and understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the regions; and, knowledge of, or the potential to quickly acquire knowledge of, USAID regulations, policy, procedures, and practice relating to environmental impact assessments, and climate risk management of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities. 
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different levels of the host government, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on strategy and program/project/activity implementation.
   

3. Skills and Abilities (30 points):

• Demonstrates significant specialized experience, skills and abilities in environmental compliance, environmental analysis, the ability to prepare and/or review environmental scoping statements, environmental impact assessments, and implementing environmental management plans, project management, reporting, and monitoring, and strong interpersonal and team-building skills. Demonstrates an ability to serve as an effective liaison with a wide array of individuals and institutions.
• Demonstrates flexibility, the ability to react to changing systems with sound analyses, and the ability to work under pressure. Demonstrates an ability to establish and maintain contacts with Governmental senior level officials, private sector, U.S. Department of State personnel, and international donor community.
• Demonstrates computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Word and complex spreadsheet programs.
• Demonstrates proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision or guidance, and proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing, including in the preparation of substantive environmental reports.
• Demonstrates an ability to obtain, evaluate, and interpret factual data, to prepare precise, accurate, and complete reports using computer software applications, and to develop and present briefings; and apply this knowledge to complex problems in the host country and the region.

Total Application Rating: 100
Recruitment Test: 100
Interview Performance: 100
Total Possible Points: 300
 

SELECTION PROCESS: 

To be considered for candidacy, offerors must address each criterion in their application as to how they meet the minimum qualifications required for the position mentioned in Section II, Item 1-2. If the application submitted fails to demonstrate eligibility, the application will be marked unqualified. It is the responsibility of the offeror to provide all pertinent information.

Applications will be initially screened and scored in accordance with evaluation factors and points mentioned in Section III, item 1-3. Offerors in a competitive range will be given a recruitment test. Offerors with passing marks from the recruitment test and a valid TOEIC score mentioned in Section II, item 3, will be invited for an interview. The recruitment test and the interview will be structured around the evaluation factors mentioned above. The successful offeror will be selected based on a review of his/her qualifications, work experience, knowledge, skills and abilities; a written test; an interview; and the results of reference checks. References may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror.

Only offerors within a competitive range will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful offerors.

IV. TO APPLY
Please follow the check lists and submission guidelines, posted on the official website: https://th.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/jobs/usaid-job-vacancies/ carefully and submit complete application package before the deadline.

  Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application.