UNDP Jobs - 46285- Project Officer for Waste Management

Project Officer for Waste Management - (Open to Philippines Nationals Only)

Location :

Tacloban, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2014

Application Deadline :

19-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-9

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

On 08 November 2013, when category 5 Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, made landfall in the eastern Visayas, it caused extensive damage to life, housing, livelihoods and infrastructure across nine of the Philippine’s poorest provinces. It is the most powerful storm ever recorded. Rain fell at rates of up to 30 mm per hour, winds reached upwards of 315 km/h and massive storm surges up to 5-6 meters high hit coastal areas. The islands of Leyte and Samar were hardest hit: 90 percent of the infrastructure of Leyte’s largest urban center, Tacloban City, was destroyed.

Typhoon Haiyan flattened villages, towns and cities. Over one million houses, government administrative and social service facilities have been totally or partially destroyed, creating massive amounts of debris, with nearly one million tons in Tacloban alone. Removing the debris, extraction and management of recyclables, management of municipal solid waste and hazardous waste in a sustainable manner is a necessary condition to start or facilitate immediate, medium- and long term recovery and development.

UNDP's Waste Management Component (WMC) is designed to address significant public health concerns and environmental impacts associated with the recovery/ disposal of typhoon and other waste during the early recovery phase through:

Debris clearance and disposal, demolition and hazardous waste collection via Cash for Work (CfW) and Heavy Equipment (HE);
Supporting safe collection, transport and disposal of municipal solid waste and medical waste;
Strengthening the capacity of LGUs in waste management;
Interim/ emergency rehabilitation of critical waste management infrastructure; and
Supporting local enterprises in the creation of livelihood opportunities in recovery/ recycling of waste.

UNDP's WMC team consists of four international waste management/water and sanitation (WASH) engineers and scientists, with experience in the private sector and prior disasters notably the Aceh Tsunami, Haiti and Typhoon Pablo, supported by national staff. During the last months they have been assessing needs during the transition phase and their role is to both design/manage immediate intervention projects and build capacity of the LGUs in sustainable waste management systems.

The WMC's strategy is as follows:

Complete heavy equipment assisted debris clearance and demolition of structurally unsafe buildings, clearing remaining temporary disaster debris dumps and support CfW (funded);

Work with other agencies and partners to:

Provide essential municipal & medical waste collection support while LGUs lack vehicles and funds during the transition;
Rehabilitate infrastructure damaged/impacted by debris clearance, especially municipal dumpsites;
Reshape or close dumpsites in order to reduce the environmental and social risk caused by lack of management;
Build the capacity of the LGUs to enhance waste management / find appropriate new permanent landfill sites as necessary;
Implement waste management livelihood projects;
Prepare exit strategies post transition – e.g. finding donors/partners to implement WMC identified post transition permanent infrastructure needs;
Share concepts and results with other Cluster agencies.

Under the Waste Management Component (WMC), a Project Officer with a background in civil engineering, waste management, project management and reporting will be hired to assist the WMC in project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support to WMC Project Implementation

Assist in procurement of goods and services, drafting Terms of Reference and Bills of quantities;
Assist in development and design of training modules to be used in WMC’s trainings;
Support implementation and monitoring of WMC’s projects;
Provide technical advice and guidance on planned trainings;
Support WMC in preparation of meetings, trainings, and congresses;
Assist WMC in coordinating with hiring of resource persons and in developing train
Assist in the preparation of the WMC team’s weekly and monthly reports and financial planning;
ing modules;
Assist in the budget monitoring of the WMC account.
Perform other functions related to the WMC as may be assigned by the WMC team.

Coordination and Liaison

Liaise with governmental bodies on provincial, municipal and barangay level
Coordinate in the conduct of capacity development training sessions for the targeted LGUs
Support the WMC in organizing consultations with government agencies and other institutions
Work closely with all stakeholders including (I)NGOs and donor organizations;
Provide advice to project partners to resolve implementing issues/concerns
Inform Cluster Agencies about WMC activities, projects and achievements.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Possess proven skills in negotiations and leadership;
Demonstrates a high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability;
Results-oriented and demonstrates teamwork, good interpersonal skills and well developed communication skills.

Functional competencies:

Excellent knowledge of English;
Good communication, interpersonal, managerial and liaison skills;
Strong ability to draft, edit and produce written results-focused reports in English;
Able to work under pressure, handle multi-tasking situations and multiple projects, and travel to project sites in Eastern Visayas;
Commitment to the United Nations’ principles and demonstrated ability to work in harmony with persons of different national and cultural background;
Ability to negotiate and troubleshoot relationships with national and international stakeholders and donors.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum master’s degree in engineering, environmental science, development studies, business administration, or other relevant fields.

Experience:

Minimum 5 (five) years of professional experience in the field of engineering, environment or development;
Knowledge of the waste management in the region is desirable, including best practice in landfill/dumpsite development and operation, municipal solid waste management, and recycling.
Computer skills:
Proven capabilities with computers to keep records and produce reports (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Language requirements:

English, Tagalog, working knowledge of Warai-warai and/or Visayan a definite advantage.

Application:

The selected candidate will receive a salary that is commensurate with his/her background and work experience. Interested applicants are requested to complete the UN Personal History Form (P.11), available in our website http://www.ph.undp.org/jobs/ and send to:

Humanresources.ph@undp.org
or
Human Resources
United Nations Development Programme
30th Floor, Yuchengco Tower I, RCBC Plaza
Ayala Ave., cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City

indicating the “Application to the Post Title and Vacancy No” on or before 18 May 2014. Kindly note that only completed P.11 forms will be reviewed. UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. Please note that we will contact only the short-listed candidates.