Director, Environmental and Social Performance (ESP)– MCA Zambia II At Development Aid

About MCA Zambia II

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in Zambia, collaborating with the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the Government of the United States of America, delivers projects under the $491.75 million Farm to Market Compact (Compact) that promotes agriculture and agro-processing in the country through the implementation of the Roads and Access Project, Asset Finance Project, Agriculture Policy Reform and Institutional Strengthening (Ag PIR) Project, and American Catalyst Facility for Development (ACFD) Project. More information on the Compact can be found in the following link: https://www.mcc.gov/where-we-work/program/zambia-farm-to-market-compact/“.

The MCA Zambia II offices are in Lusaka, Zambia.

Director, Environmental and Social Performance

Position Objective

The Director, Environmental & Social Performance (ESP), under the guidance of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Programs, monitors and strategically manages the environmental and social performance, including health and safety, of all Compact-funded activities to ensure compliance with relevant national environmental and social laws and regulations, and MCC Environmental Guidelines, inclusive of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS) on Environment and Social Sustainability, and the MCA-Zambia II Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). The ESP Director achieves this objective by working together with the Project Leads and other stakeholders to find and implement solutions to challenges in compliance with environmental and social inclusion policy. The ESP Director will be responsible for supervising contractors and consultants tasked with implementing Compact activities in accordance with the ESP requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead MCA-Zambia II in the adoption, implementation, and, as necessary, updating of an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) for the organization and its operations under the Compact.
• Ensure that all contractual implementing arrangements for the Compact incorporate relevant environmental and social mitigation measures, including measures pertaining to environmental management, land acquisition and resettlement, protection of cultural resources, public and occupational health and safety, and other issues where relevant, as identified by Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and other planning documents.
• Serve as the technical leadership for all ESP issues that arise during Compact implementation, working together with other MCA-Zambia II staff to find effective solutions for problems encountered in achieving ESP compliance.
• Supervise and manage the work of other MCA-Zambia II ESP team members and/or contractors and consultants, as appropriate, to ensure that related performance, deliverables, and work products are acceptable. Prepare and/or review terms of reference, budgets, timelines, and cost estimates for ESP-related international and national procurements for civil works and consultant services and provide contract and project management support.
• Serve as an effective contract manager and provide oversight of contract management processes, including tracking workplans, deliverables, expiration of contract, financials, identifying ways to work effectively to resolve risks or issues, responding to contract questions, providing technical feedback where relevant, facilitating coordination with other contractors or MCA staff, and providing reports to senior management as required.
• Provide technical input to reviews of project documents, especially ESIAs, Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and other project deliverables.
• Undertake regular site visits to Compact-funded project sites in support of project oversight. Summarize and document key findings and recommended next steps.
• Review the effectiveness of grievance mechanism(s), along with comments and grievances from project-affected parties on environmental and social impacts and resettlement issues, and recommend actions to improve the mechanism(s) and remedy grievances.
• Collaborate regularly with relevant government departments and local civil society.
• Work together with the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Director to ensure compliance with MCC Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Policy and MCC Inclusion and Gender Strategy.
• Work closely with the Communications Director to ensure all stakeholder engagement is conducted in a manner compliant with MCC Environmental Guidelines, inclusive of IFC PS.
• Regularly report on progress of Compact implementation activities and ESP compliance to MCC ESP counterpart. Participate in MCC missions and provide MCC with all requested information in a timely manner.
• Illustrate the value and impact of ESP with the attainment of Compact objectives and as a critical aspect of the program portfolio to internal and external audiences to strengthen support.
• Advise stakeholders (senior government counterparts, project beneficiaries, etc.) on ESP project plans and objectives to build cooperative engagement in the delivery of project outcomes.
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities related to environmental and social performance as requested by the MCA-Zambia II CEO

Required Competencies

Education

• Advanced University degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Social Science, or other related discipline is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of executive management experience in implementation of environmental and social management systems, environmental and social management plans, resettlement action plans, or similar plan in large infrastructure projects.
• Working knowledge of (a) Zambian environmental laws and regulations, and (b) good international industry practice, including International Finance Corporation’s Environmental & Social Performance Standards or World Bank Environmental and Social Framework.
• Experience in overseeing environmental and social impact assessments, including the development of mitigation measures and monitoring plans to address potential risks and impacts.
• Proven experience in managing contracts/projects, environmental and social aspects of large infrastructure projects, including monitoring working hours, budgets, quality control and compliance with contractual terms of reference.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary and multi-nationality teams and institutions including technical experts, government officials, project-affected parties, and civil society.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, including the development of performance indicators, data collection and analysis, and reporting on environmental and social outcomes.
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English. Communication skills in local language(s) are strongly desired.
• Proficiency in project management software/applications and management information systems, including MS Office.
• Experience working on road and transport infrastructure projects funded by international organizations or projects implemented through FIDIC contracts is highly desirable.