Terms of Reference for Secretariat Staff (National Environment Coordinator)
The National Environment Coordinator serves as the Secretariat of the NEPC, and is located organizationally in the Bureau of Budget and Planning. The National Environment Coordinator shall function more as a strategic thinker and partnership-builder than an on-the-ground project implementer. The Coordinator shall be supervised directly by the Director of the Bureau of Budget and Planning, but may be guided and advised by the Chair and Vice Chair of the Secretariat.
The National Environment Coordinator shall supervise Secretariat Adminstrative Staff, also organizationally located in the Bureau of Budget and Planning.
The Coordinator should excel at coordination and analytic skills, and be able to find common ground among diverse opinions. The Coordinator should be able to apply diversified knowledge of socioeconomic and scientific principles and practices to a broad variety of practices. The Coordinator may represent NEPCS in planning and science forums, and develops and maintains external partnerships.
Percent of Secretariat time spent on non-NEPC duties
In 2018 the percent of time that the National Environment Coordinator spends on non-NEPC matters, as directed by the Bureau of Budget and Planning, shall be limited to 80%. In future years, the National Environment Coordinator shall spend 100% of available hours on matters pertaining to the NEPC (and its role as the national environment coordination body).
Tasks (may be shared between National Environment Coordinator and Administrative Staff)
- Take a lead role in organizing Full meetings of the NEPC, including following SOPs for collecting and sharing agency information, keeping records, and post-meeting follow up
- Assist the Officers with running meetings (including facilitation)
- Set NEPC meeting Agenda (with Officers)
- Participate in discussions of the NEPC and in decisions made by consensus
- If necessary, call Special Meetings of the NEPC and/or meetings of Working Groups and Subcommittees
- Take minutes of full NEPC meetings
- If needed or requested and jointly agreed, participate in Working Group and Subcommittee meetings, including taking minutes and sharing information/outcomes
- Following decisions of the NEPC, write or coordinate writing of Policy Statements or Resolutions and circulate for appropriate approvals and signatures.
- Similarly, on behalf of the NEPC write or coordinate annual and other reports and circulate for approval and signatures before submitting and/or releasing to the public.
- Distribute / Release NEPC Policy Statements to appropriate audiences
- Keep the NEPC informed of relevant information
- Reach out to new Members and lead them in the Onboarding process
- Following events, meetings, and the annual work planning mini-retreat of the NEPC, write a document with proposed National Priorities and NEPC Strategic Plan
- Assist Agencies with identifying and introducing documents that must be introduced for NEPC review (e.g. EAs, EISs, Cross-sector grants, proposed legislation, etc.)
- Work with the Officers and Director of Bureau of Budget and Planning to issue any RFPs, consultancies, or contracts
- Ensure that the NEPC website and online file sharing system is operational and updated
- Work with the appropriate Working Groups and Subcommittees to plan and coordinate events and annual publications (SOE and Symposium), including preparation and release of final reports.
- Participate in fundraising for the NEPC Secretariat
- Regularly remind Members about National Priorities, agreed Joint Action Plans, national policies, and the importance of providing a coordinated voice to the public.
- Together with one other Officer, may sign communications of the NEPC on NEPC Letterhead.
- Serve as a central communication center and database for the NEPC (both internal and the public face).
- Receive requests for changes to Membership (e.g. adding new members) and bring to the Officers for consideration.
- BA/BSc in Anthropology, Social Sciences, Planning, Land Use Planning, Environmental Management, or related and 5 years' experience in environmental science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Experience with negotiation and coordination
- Experience with principles of integrated planning, science, and management
- Experience in training and capacity building for staff
- Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- This position requires tact and discretion in dealing with the public and other governmental agencies.
- Knowledge of environmental management and conservation practices/policies in the Pacific and Palau
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences and find common ground between diverse opinions
- Practical knowledge of social and political environments in Micronesia
- Knowledge of current trends and practices management and science