Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer at Creative Associates International – WATIH Project

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer

Location: Abuja

Project Summary

• The USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub Project (hereinafter referred to as the Trade Hub) is a five-year, $140 million trade and investment facilitation activity that seeks to improve private sector competitiveness in West Africa through a market-based approach. By working in partnership with the private sector and fostering co-investments, the project will generate new private-sector capital investment into key sectors to create jobs and increase trade between the U.S. and West Africa, including through increased utilization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The project comprises of three main components:
  • Design and administration of a Co-Investment fund for private sector partnerships, including a portion for partnerships in Research and Development (R&D) towards innovating and modernizing practices in Nigeria across five targeted value chains;
  • Technical assistance (TA) that directly supports, coordinates, and engages with qualifying recipients (i.e., partners and grantees) to achieve USAID’s trade and food security objectives;
  • Urgently respond to the secondary economic impacts of COVID-19, notably to increase the access of working capital with financial actors, prevent job loss, and respond to supply shortages by scaling up local response.
• Through this Co-Investment fund and technical assistance, the Trade Hub will improve companies’ abilities to expand business operations, increase productivity, and create jobs that build on the talents and aspirations of West Africa’s growing population. The Trade Hub will collaborate on specific commercial opportunities with firms, service providers, research organizations, as well as other business network actors to access private capital that will contribute to large-scale jobs, exports and investment, particularly with strong, demonstrated or potential links to the U.S. companies and investors.

Position Summary

• The Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer will be responsible for applying the Trade Hub’s Environmental Review process and enforcing all policies and procedures stipulated within the Trade Hub’s approved Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP), USAID’s Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), and other relevant documentation for all activities.
• In particular, the Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer will provide guidance to potential Co-Investment partners and review each activity to ensure compliance prior to grant award. This also includes the monitoring and reporting related to all activities related to Co-Investment partnerships.
• When necessary, the Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer will also provide administrative support to the Grants team. Please note that the job position (Manager or Officer) is dependent on the years of experience and expertise of the applicant.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The Environmental Compliance Manager / Officer will report to the Lead Grants Manager with additional support being provided by the Deputy Chief of Party and an external Environmental Compliance expert.

Primary Responsibilities

• Participate in co-creation meetings with prospect Co-Investment partners to ensure that environmental mitigation measures are taken into account within the full application;
• Review and revise Environmental Review Forms (ERFs) submitted by applicants based on the proposed activity and, when necessary, direct communication with the applicants;
• Review submissions from Grantees in relation to their USAID-approved Activity EMMP to ensure compliance;
• When necessary, visit sites of activities to ensure environmental mitigation measures are being respected;
• Report all monitoring completed in USAID quarterly and annual reports for all activities;
• Train staff, Grantees, and other stakeholders on environmental compliance and monitoring when necessary;
• Revise documentation, guides, and templates to take into account new activities or USAID regulations with regards to environmental compliance;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all questions and issues raised with regards to environmental compliance;
• If necessary, provide any additional ad hoc support to the Grants team.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Agronomy Conservation, or similar field; Master’s degree preferred (required for Manager position);
• At least four (Officer) to seven (Manager) years of experience with providing environmental compliance monitoring and supervision on projects, particularly in agriculture and in West Africa;
• At least two (Officer) to three (Manager) years of work experience in international development (USAID preferred);
• Solid understanding of donor regulations and procedures pertaining to environmental compliance with a preference in USAID regulations (Regulation 216);
• A good understanding of the range of environmental impacts and mitigation measures covering Trade Hub focus sectors, including agriculture, livestock production, processing, aquaculture, water and sanitation, renewable energy, and construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to work on several activities at once independently;
• Ability to review applications and provide adequate guidance on environmental compliance based on established procedures;
• Preference on previous grants management experience, but not mandatory.
• Preference for working knowledge of French, but not mandatory.

Application Closing Date
26th August, 2020.