Seeking Applicants: Environmental Field Advisor for the MSB (Deadline December 10th 2017)

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
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The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is accepting applications for Environment Field Advisors. 

Duties

Environmental integration in humanitarian aid is a priority area for MSB. Within this field, MSB can provide support to the humanitarian community both in response to specific environmental emergencies as well as ensuring integration of environmental aspects in humanitarian programming and response. The aim is to enhance environmental performance and to reduce the environmental footprint. MSB can support with various types of environmental expertise. The main objective of deploying an Environmental Field Advisor is to inform a programme or project (mission) of any risks to humans, livelihoods and the environment, and provide targeted advice and recommendations on how to prevent or mitigate these risks (impacts).

The Role of an Environmental Field Advisors (EFA) can be either as:

• Technical advisor deployed to assist in project implementation through the various phases of the mission cycle, from the preliminary assessment and start-up phase, through procurement and implementation, to project end and final monitoring and evaluation. The support may be provided in the field as well as from HQ

• Strategic cross-sectoral advisor supporting humanitarian actors to take the environment into consideration in programming so that opportunities to build back better and safer are captured, risk is reduced and resilience increased.

Expected work tasks include:

• Identify critical environmental issues through environmental assessments and/or Environmental Baseline Surveys (EBS) including dissemination of results. • Conduct data analysis to identify specific measures to address environmental needs.

• Coordinate and build networks with relevant stakeholders. • Liaise regularly with identified partners and provide continuous updates as requested.

• Provide technical advice on a continuous basis throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) or project lifecycle. • provide guidance and recommendations to include environment in relevant documentation

• Conduct trainings on environmental issues and environmental integration.

• Promote, advocate and train on environmental guidelines and tools applicable to the context

• Document and disseminate good practices and lessons learned.

• Provide a handover report with findings, suggested solutions and other recommendations

• Ensure monitoring and follow-up of environmental integration is established • Provide an overall support function on environmental issues to relevant humanitarian partners.

• Apply a gender perspective in all work aspects, from assessment to analysis, trainings etc.

Qualifications/Experience

• A minimum of 5 years professional experience in a relevant field.

• Experience from humanitarian assistance, development assistance, disaster risk reduction or equivalent.

• Knowledge and experience of relevant tools and guidelines such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA), Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT), Multi-sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) and Environment Marker (EM)  

• Experience of practical measures within relevant technical fields of work e. g. (liquid and/or solid) waste management, hazardous substances, energy conservation, water conservation etc.

• Knowledge of common environmental issues within humanitarian contexts • Knowledge of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and key humanitarian financing mechanisms is an advantage

• Knowledge of or experience from key actors within the UN and the cluster system and the humanitarian architecture is an advantage.

• Ability to work with integration of environment in all phases of a project, planning and start-up, implementation and monitoring and follow-up

• Experience of capacity development for individuals and organisations is an advantage. Education

• Advanced degree in environmental studies, geoscience, humanitarian action, disaster risk management or other relevant field.

• A relevant combination of academic education and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Language Fluency in English is essential, both spoken and written. Knowledge of French, Arabic or any other official UN languages is an asset.

Other requirements

We are looking for women and men with a strong commitment towards humanitarian relief and disaster operations. It is of utmost priority that you understand, respect and act in the spirit of the mandate and core values of the MSB. You must undergo a pre-employment medical examination by a licensed physician before being contracted. You must inform your regular employer of your potential assignment with the MSB. Deployments generally range between 3-6 months.

Profile

• You are expected to have good pedagogical and communicative skills.

• Proactive with a strong ability to take initiatives.

• Great flexibility and ability to work in crisis or in difficult conditions where the focus often shifts because of changing priorities.

• You possess a high level of professionalism and maturity along with the ability to coordinate and to proactively establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, managers and external partners such as UN organizations, NGOs, government agencies and the local population. • Ability to handle tasks and problems with both a practical and analytical approach.

• You must be able to work within a multi-cultural environment with respect and tact.

• Good and structured report drafting skills.

• Good knowledge and experience of working with Microsoft Office.

• We will place great emphasis on your personal characteristics

If you have specific knowledge within disaster waste management, particularly in a humanitarian context and is interested in being part of the MSB roster, you can send an email with your contact details directly to anna.erixon@msb.se as MSB is also looking for experts within this specific field.

Contractual conditions

The MSB applies a policy of equal opportunities to avoid any form of discrimination. We strive for gender balance and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. Working with the MSB on international operations means that registered individuals on the roster are temporarily employed by the MSB. The MSB pays salary as well as a comprehensive allowances and benefits package to field staff on international operations, ranging from free home leave travel to access to psychosocial support. In addition, participants on induction training and relevant specialist training courses receive remuneration from the MSB.

How to apply

There is a page to apply, and though the advert is in Swedish it is also open to all, regardless of nationality. If you wish to apply to be registered on the roster please go to the page of the advert which you find here: https://www.msb.se/Extern/Firm/Pages/FirmAnnouncement.aspx?FileNo=2017-10945&epslanguage=sv and press the apply button, and register your details on MyPages.

Please note; the information that you provide on MyPages will form the basis for your CV. After registering on MyPages do not forget to apply to be registered on the roster by submitting your application through MyPages.

It is your responsibility as an applicant to document your skills in a way that allows an objective and qualitative assessment. As a government agency we are subject to the principle of public access to official records. This means that if someone requests copies of application documents, we are obliged to disclose them.

Application deadline:

2017-12-10

Point of contact

Anna Erixon

HR 0046 102405214

Anna.Erixon@msb.se

Anna Hjärne

Technical advisor

Anna.hjarne@msb.se