Senior Global Climate Change Advisor

A. Basic function of positions: The Senior Global Climate Change Advisor for USAID/Bangladesh Environment Team serves as a manager for the Mission's growing climate change related activities. This position is located at the Office of Economic Growth (EG), USAID/Bangladesh. S/he has project development, implementation, and monitoring responsibilities for USAID/Bangladesh's global climate change (GCC) and natural resource conservation activities. Global Climate Change related activities are a USG priority. The incumbent is a principal designer and manager of GCC, natural resources, livelihood and enterprise development activities related to environmental conservation and clean energy that are supportive of the Mission's overall strategy objectives in the area of pro-poor, equitable economic growth, sustainable natural resource management, and low emissions. This involves oversight of implementing agencies, including the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) line ministries and technical agencies, contractor or grantee; coordination with other development partners, and the private sector institutions involved with global climate change and environmental conservation. Since Global Climate Change (GCC) is a national issue and as a senior key member of the Environment team, s/he deals with problems that are rapidly evolving and have impact on Environment team as well as overall Economic Growth Office. The incumbent works with the environment and clean energy team members, to ensure the development and successful implementation of bilateral activities in the natural resources conservation and livelihood programs. S/he also works closely with other members and team leaders of the Mission's EG Office as well as other offices. The incumbent's primary contacts would be the highest level of officials, senior management officials etc. In addition, the incumbent works with USAID/Washington (Asia Bureau and Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Bureau) technical and program offices. The Climate Change Programs Advisor develops and maintains professional contacts with representatives in both the public and private sectors, including Government of Bangladesh (GoB) officials, trade and business leaders, consultants, NGOs, and donor agencies in Bangladesh. The incumbent has to possess significant expertise in climate change adaptation and mitigation issues, including clean energy and natural resource management -- preferably community-based natural resource management in a developing economic setting with substantial management experience in environmental/climate change policy formulation. S/he also has to possess visible expertise in global climate change mitigation and adaptation, community-based eco-tourism and nature products value chains development. The incumbent should be able to represent the Mission at highest-level inter-agency setting. S/he has to demonstrate leadership and exceptional attainments to overcome outstanding work-related difficulties and challenges. The incumbent will be able to speak on the subject matters in various public fora. The incumbent participates in the conception, design, development, and implementation of projects that help expand natural resources (forests, water) management, community empowerment, and alternative income generation. S/he also works with other USAID/Bangladesh team members as well as members of other Strategic Objective teams in identifying and operationalizing way to maximize the impact of interventions across the Mission's other portfolios, that is, identifying opportunities for complementarities in, disaster management, nutrition, economic growth and governance programs. S/he performs management, supervisory, and representational responsibilities while providing a leadership role within the Office of Economic Growth. B. Specific Duties and Responsibilities The incumbent will be responsible for: •a) Technical leadership in Strategic Planning, Program Development, and Activity Design •1. The Advisor provides post-wide strategic, technical, and organizational leadership in climate change program management. As a key advisor, the incumbent collaborates with the inter-agency team in managing components of the strategy and meeting measurable objectives. The incumbent's recognized expertise in GCC and natural resources management, including host-country programs and policies, is a powerful influence on program policy and design. The incumbent generates and develops new hypotheses and theories for the environment and energy team. •2. Serves as a key advisor in developing new mission environmental and energy interventions. In this s/he is closely involved with the inter-agency team, host country officials and consultants in the development of new projects, writing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Assistance (RFA), and other procurement mechanisms. S/he is also one of the chief architects of the environment and energy team's plans. This entails leading the design and implementation of major components of the plan. S/he requires originating new techniques, establishing criteria and developing new information systems for the environment and energy teams. •3. Prepares project papers and design documents for environmental programs and leads research on social, political, cultural, and economic factors pertaining to the development in Bangladesh. Contributes to the development of the mission's overall conceptual framework and formulates plans for implementation. •4. Develops and sustains close collaborative, professional relationships with highest-level officials of other USG agencies, development partners, host government, key business leaders, other major donors and international organizations. •5. Represents the environment and energy team to USAID stakeholders and external development partners in a wide variety of events sponsored by USAID development partners, including conferences, workshops, donor subgroup meetings, and other relevant forums on economic development. S/he negotiates with host country government on project design and implementation, ensuring that host country officials at the highest level are apprised of program progress. These responsibilities require the incumbent to demonstrate highly developed professional judgment and to provide technical direction and management oversight. •6. Ensures effective coordination of USAID-funded activities with those of other donors working with climate change and natural resources management in Bangladesh. Promotes expansion of effective strategies and approaches that can expand coverage and quality of environmental protection. b. Program/Project Management and Administration The incumbent will perform the function of Contractor Officers Technical Representative (COTR) as designated by the Mission Contracting Officer for the management of contracts and grants and reports to the Director, Office of Economic Growth. •1. Supports the Environment and Energy Teams, Office of Economic Growth in managing a growing portfolio of ongoing and future activities that seek to sustainably manage forests and inland water bodies, focusing on biodiversity and global climate change. •2. Ensures that activities achieve their intended results. S/he provides technical and organizational leadership on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities. S/he ensures that partners meet their benchmark requirements in accordance with USAID regulations. •3. Conducts assessments and site visits to monitor the program and implementing partner, stakeholder, and counterpart progress in the implementation of activities at the local and district level. •4. Provide technical advice to institutional contractors, grantees, Government officials, and other stakeholders as warranted. •5. Collaborates with other donors and organizations in natural resources management to ensure synergy of program activities with those of other organizations. •6. Manages financial matters related to program activities, such as providing administration approval of vouchers, planning and preparing for annual incremental funding amendments, and other financial administrative activities as needed to ensure that fiscal needs of the recipient, U.S. and local contractors are met in a timely matter. •7. Prepares all necessary internal USAID project obligation and implementation documentation for smooth program implementation, including to Modified Acquisition and Assistance Documents (MAARDs) and other required reporting. •8. Prepares and submits the annual evaluation of contractors' performance for inclusion in their central database on contractors. •c. Program/Policy Analysis and Reporting •1. S/he ensures that all activities are appropriately documented in required reports and through regular updates given to USAID stakeholders and external development partners, including the Annual Report, Portfolio Reviews, annual budget and pipeline analyses, briefs and talking points. •2. Ensures indicators to measure program impact are tracked accurately and used to revise strategy as necessary. Coordinates with other members of Office of Program to ensure data submitted on activities are complete and consistent for reporting in the annual report, portfolio reviews, annual budget, pipeline analyses and other required reporting. •3. Keeps the team abreast of current events in Bangladesh that impact on its mission or cooperation. Advises Mission senior management and other office staff of development relevant to the program's implementation. Conducts consultations with stakeholders and tracks legislative developments. Being expert in Environment field, the incumbent guides directly and indirectly substantial number of professionals and technical staffs. Collects, analyzes, and synthesizes information to inform and strategically guide program planning. •4. Prepares concept papers and other relevant documents and initiates and describes project ideas and initiatives in accordance with the sector strategy, the current environment in Bangladesh, the institutional capabilities and purposes of potential; USAID recipients, resource availability, and funding sources.