Environmental Management Specialist

Closing Date June 24, 2022 closed

Job Description/Key Resonsibilities

The Government of Guyana (GoG), in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), aims to modify the energy matrix by incorporating cleaner solutions in the generation mix at a national level and help the country on its path to 100% renewable energy. However, transitioning towards a cleaner energy mix requires critical infrastructure investments to respond to a growing electricity demand. Electricity demand is expected to increase significantly over the next decade as a result of GDP growth due to recent oil discoveries.

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) is the country’s main electric power utility, which owns, operates, and manages the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). GPL’s installed generating capacity in the DBIS is 204.1 (Megawatts) MW, of which 146.5 MW is considered effective and operative, utilizing liquid fossil fuels.

Similarly, the Essequibo Coast Isolated System which is also owned, operated, and managed by GPL, has 12MW of installed capacity, with 7.2MW considered unreliable due to them being aged high-speed mobile diesel generators. Additionally, the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI), a subsidiary of the publicly owned Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI), distributes electricity to consumers in the east and west areas of the Demerara River where it is also expected that a significant demand growth will occur, and the existing generation capacity will not suffice. Consequently, significant investments will be required in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.

In this regard, the Governments of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Norway have agreed to implement the “Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL)”, which will contribute to the advancement of the decarbonization goals as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy in accordance with the Norway-Guyana Agreement. The Program is aimed at deploying utility scale solar PV infrastructure to supply electricity to GPL operated grids and the isolated grid of Linden. The Inter-American Development Bank is administering the Program according to stipulations in the signed Administration Agreement between the Bank and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The primary goal of the project is to invest in renewable energy solutions to meet the growing energy demand within the power generation sector while mitigating investments in carbon intensive technologies and displacing the use of more expensive and carbon intensive sources of energy. The intervention will, therefore, support the design and the execution of a Program, that with the use of such investment operation, will enable the development of utility scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. The program will be comprised of investments in solar PV generation with storage capacity by adding: a) approximately 10MWp of generation capacity to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) at Berbice, b) approximately 8MWp in the Essequibo Coast Isolated System, and c) approximately 15MWp in the Linden Isolated System.

The Executing Agency (EA) is the Guyana Power and Light, Inc. (GPL). For the effective implementation of the Program, GPL will establish a Program Executing Unit (PEU) which will be responsible for carrying out all the operational and fiduciary, financial management and procurement obligations, including social and environmental safeguards necessary for Program execution. The PEU will be operational for the duration of the Program and will be headed by a Program Coordinator and supported by the following technical and administrative staff comprising of a PV Specialist; (4no.) Project Engineers; an Environmental Management Specialist; a Social Management Specialist; a Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication Officer; a Procurement Specialist; a Finance Comptroller; a Financial Assistant; a Procurement Assistant; and an Executive Assistant.

In accordance with IDB’s Policy OP-703, this Program is classified as Category “B”. This classification has been attributed to the Program due to the expected Environmental, Social, Health & Safety (ESHS) impacts of the Program. Based on initial assessments, from a general perspective it is anticipated that the Program will likely cause short-term and localised negative impacts of the proposed interventions for which effective mitigation measures will be developed and implemented by the PEU. In this regard, significant potential ESHS risks and impacts related to the construction of the project are mainly related to land clearing and grading activities in some of the sites. Moreover, key impacts and risks addressed in the environment and social documentation are as follows: (i) biodiversity impacts on natural habitats; (ii) potential economic displacement in future projects; (iii) natural disaster risks with particular attention to flooding; (iv) generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, as well as soil contamination; (v) labour and working conditions, including issues related to the supply chain.

As part of the effective management of the environment and social aspects of the Program, GPL through its PEU will develop an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the overall Program; and an Environmental and Social Analysis (ESA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Consultation Plan, and Consultation report will be developed and utilized.

OBJECTIVE

The Environmental Management Specialist will assist with the development/update of the environmental and social management strategy and coordinate the implementation of the Program’s Environmental and Social Management Requirements as detailed in the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and the Consultation Plan and Reports.

SCOPE OF SERVICES 

  1. Review PEU Program documents including, but not limited to the Program Operating Manual (POM), Project Execution Plan (PEP), Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), etc. to ensure complete and comprehensive understanding of the intended goals, activities, and results of the
  1. Strengthen and monitor the institutional, environmental, and social management instruments and procedures of the
  2. Refine and finalize the ESMP, ensuring implementation of the ESMP developed by the construction contractors while ensuring application and compliance with national laws and IDB
  1. Ensure that all environmental and social requirements outlined in the ESMP are complied with. This includes general measures required for monitoring such as, ensuring all permits and licences relevant to the Project development are in place, revegetation plans, soil monitoring, etc.
  2. Refine, finalize, and ensure implementation of the Mitigation Measures required by the construction
  1. Monitor implementation of works and contractor performance, to ensure compliance with IDB policies throughout the life of the Program
  1. Ensure the incorporation of risk mitigation measures in the implementation of the Program’s investment and operating activities, , so as to avoid or minimize potentially adverse environmental and social impacts from these activities.
  1. Alongside the Social Management Specialist, monitor the implementation of the Corrective Action Plan as necessitated by the respective Projects.
  1. Participate in field visits and meetings to engage the coordination and support for the respective PEU Programs, including community meetings in the areas of influence of the project.
  1. Conduct field surveys and collection of data for analysis and monitoring throughout the Program.
  1. Liaise with the Monitoring, Evaluation & Communication Officer, and Social Management Specialist to design environmental and social indicators in support of the governance and physical implementation of the investments of the
  1. Liaise with the Procurement Officer to ensure the incorporation of environmental content where applicable in the technical specifications, terms of reference and other procurement documents.
  1. Prepare Environmental & Social Assessments and review terms of reference, where applicable for other potential projects or related activities.
  1. Develop and maintain relationships with all relevant stakeholders. Act as the focal point of the PEU to address specific environmental risks.
  1. Collaborate with and support the Social Management Specialist in addressing social risks identified (particularly those linked to identified environmental risks) and ensure the inclusion of the relevant management actions in the action plans resulting from the Bank’s supervision mission.
  2. Assist with the implementation and management of the grievance redress mechanism in receiving, recording, and coordinating the resolution of complaints that the community may have about the project.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION 

  1. Type: Full-time contract
  1. Start Date and Duration: July/August 2022 for twelve (12) months and renewable annually up to five (5) years based on performance.
  • Duties

The Environmental Management Specialist will be responsible for implementing and updating the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), ensuring proper implementation of the mitigation measures, oversight of work of the Contractor on the EHS aspects, and will act as a liaison between the various stakeholders. Specifically, the Environmental Management Specialist will be responsible, in conjunction with the Social Management Specialist, for finalization and operationalization of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and all necessary mitigation measures during the construction activities. The position requires close coordination with all stakeholders. 

  1. Reports and Deliverables 

The Environmental Management Specialist will be jointly responsible with the Social Management Specialist for updating the following documents/plans:

  1. Stakeholder Engagement Plan, which includes a grievance response mechanism to record and resolve complaints.
  2. Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) Compliance Report
  • Environmental and Social Monitoring Plan
  1. Environmental and Social Specifications for Construction and Operations
  2. Any other report as required by the Program

Additionally, the Environmental Management Specialist will assist with information as directed, for completion of sections of the following:

  1. Status/Progress Reports to the Program Coordinator, due monthly, detailing the activities for the previous period, problems and how they were dealt with, and a plan of activities for the next
  2. Annual Operations Plans and Semi-Annual Reports
  1. Portfolio Review Presentation – assist with reviewing as directed and guided by the Program Coordinator.
  1. Special report, as requested by the Bank, Project Steering Committee, or other key stakeholders as directed by the Program
  1. Project Completion Report – assist with reviewing as directed and guided by the Program
  1. Any other report as directed by the Program Coordinator.

The Consultant shall prepare various reports / documents at the time and with the relevant number of copies as indicated below.

 

ReportNumber of CopiesDeliverable
Monthly ReportElectronic version (in PDF format) with electronic signature, to Program Coordinator, PEUEvery month after effective date of the contract within 7 working days of the end of the calendar month.
Final ReportElectronic version (in PDF format) with electronic signature, to Program Coordinator, PEU.Three (3) working days before the end of the Contract.

Additionally, the Environmental Management Specialist will provide oral and written briefings to the Program Coordinator and Project Team and support the finalization of the semiannual progress reports and Annual Operation Plan of the Program.

  1. Reporting Arrangement and Coordination: The Environmental Management Specialist shall report to the Program Coordinator and provide direct support to the Social Management Specialist for the Program. The Environmental Management Specialist shall work in close coordination with the PEU’s Technical and Administrative
  1. Place of Work: Georgetown, Guyana.
  • Qualifications

 

Education:                 Minimum Educational Qualification – Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or other relevant discipline.

Specific Experience: At least five (5) years’ professional experience with proven work experience in environmental management, monitoring and research, or education. Experience with planning and implementation for internationally funded projects will be an asset.

  • Skills and Competencies

The Environmental Management Specialist (EMS) shall:

  • Be task oriented with proven ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines;
  • Have full command of the English language with strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrate ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team environment, while demonstrating initiative and self-motivation;
  • Demonstrate the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with consultants, community and other key
  • Have strong research and qualitative analysis skills with the ability to express and report results in a concise and clear manner. This includes but is not limited to technical writing, public consultations and
  • Possess experience in field and data collection, and interpretation and evaluation of results.
  • Possess intermediate to expert user level computer skills, including Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and a basic user level for Microsoft Projects.
  • Have meticulous attention to detail, with sound decision making and problem-solving ability.
  • Be knowledgeable about the IDB’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Consultancy developed under a lump-sum basis and the payments will be made on a monthly basis, upon submission and acceptance of reports detailed in the table above, along with a corresponding invoice.

  1. COORDINATION & SUPERVISION

The Environmental Management Specialist will report directly to the Program Coordinator of the PEU or a Project Team designate on all matters pertaining to this assignment.

 

 

Required Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Educational Qualification – Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or other relevant discipline.

Specific Experience: At least five (5) years’ professional experience with proven work experience in environmental management, monitoring and research, or education. Experience with planning and implementation for internationally funded projects will be an asset.

How to Apply

Interested persons must email their applications and curriculum vitae to adillawar@gplinc.com  cc: sogle@gplinc.com. The deadline for submission of applications is 15:00 hrs. on Friday, June 24, 2022.