Environmental Compliance Manager, Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity

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About the Hiring Group

RTI’s International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. RTI leverages its experience in designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to build resilience and prosperity and promote economic growth and security around the world.  

Position Description

RTI is seeking an Environmental Compliance Manager for the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity. The Environmental Compliance Manager ensures the successful implementation of mandatory environmental assessments, environmental compliance monitoring, and reporting for the project. To facilitate prudent environmental management and compliance, he/she works closely with grantees, Portfolio Managers, Engagement Managers, and the project Grants Team. The Environmental Compliance Manager develops and maintains best practices and lessons learned relative to environmental compliance, capturing and disseminating across project and grantees. They are responsible for managing program deliverables related to environmental compliance, including planning and coordination of all activities. 

What You’ll Do

Your primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to: 

• Advises teams on how best to comply with USAID’s Environmental Procedures over the life of the project, including effective monitoring of partner implementation of the environmental mitigation measures required by Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and how to obtain additional environmental expertise to assist in compliance with USAID’s mandatory environmental procedures when needed. 

• Reviews project’s environmental compliance in all activities, with emphasis on technical interventions and partner activities;  

• Prepare and update Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP);  

• Provide in-country environmental training for project staff and partners who also require additional capacity building regarding environmental compliance.  

• Develop, budget, implement, and monitor Environmental Review Reports (ERRs), Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).  

• Conduct and lead workshops for all project staff to review project Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) and provide guidance on further implementation.   

• With the guidance provided by the Grant Manager, regularly monitor the implementation of program activities in terms of environmental compliance. Identify problems, create and implement solutions, track progress and document learnings on a regular basis. Ensure required Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Reports (EMMRs) are completed on a timely basis. 

• Ensure all project activities are in compliance with USAID’s environmental regulations, as well as the relevant Ethiopian Government’s environmental laws, policies and regulations;   

• Conduct routine monitoring of field activities for environmental compliance, reporting on activities and findings and, providing recommendations that were appropriate.  

• Work closely with national and regional project team members to ensure proper implementation of environmental mitigation and monitoring and other conditions set by USAID.  

• Contribute to monthly, quarterly and annual reporting as required.   

• Support the review and validate environmental compliance-related success stories for structure and content, ensuring the use of the approved format.  

• Liaise with and represent the program’s environmental compliance activities to zonal and woreda government officials, civil society/community leaders, the private sector and other key stakeholders.  

• Coordinate and share information with grantees, local government, other implementing partners and other where relevant.  

• Performs additional duties as assigned 

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience, Master’s degree and 6 years of experience, PhD and 1 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 5 – 7 years of experience in developing environmental procedures and guidelines is strongly desirable. 

• Prior experience working on the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity in a similar capacity preferred.

Key Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Experience in designing projects, contract and grants management and budget development and management with USAID.

• In-depth familiarity with, understanding of, and ability to successfully navigate USAID and Ethiopian environmental rules and regulations 

• Strong knowledge of agriculture (crop and livestock) and the potential environmental risks associated with the sector 

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capacities. Ability to identify issues with contractual implications, ensure consistent donor reporting and support teams in providing appropriate analyses of activities  

• Excellent knowledge Microsoft Office, including MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel 

• Professional fluency in English (both spoken and written) and strong command of Amharic is required, additional local language is a plus. 

• Ability to multi-task

• Ability to work independently and in a team 

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Ability to travel extensively in rural Ethiopia.