Director Environment and Natural Resources at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

ROLE OVERVIEW

• Under the guidance and the supervision of the Commissioner Economics Affairs and Agriculture, the incumbent will be responsible for the overall leadership and provision of strategic direction, coordination and implementation of the ECOWAS Environmental Policy (ECOWEP) and its related strategies and action plans.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the formulation and implementation of an ECOWAS Environmental Policy, strategies, and action plans for the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources of the sub-region, considering climate change challenges.
• Coordinate works in synergy with the other departments of ECOWAS.
• Maintain functional technical cooperation and relations with member states, heads of regional and international organizations in the field of environment and natural resources.
• Facilitate the coordination of member states priorities and positions in all international negotiations related to the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
• Enhance the collaboration and synergies with other intergovernmental and international organizations within the framework of Environment and Natural Resources.
• Establish and develop partnerships for resources mobilization to implement programs and projects portfolio related to environment and natural resources sectors.
• Advise the Commissioner to facilitate make appropriate decisions on matters of environmental policy and strategies.
• Ensure the rational management of the human resources available to him.
• Conduct periodic assessment of the personnel under him.
• Carry out other tasks that may be assigned to him by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences or related fields from a university of recognized standing.
• 12 years’ experience in sustainable management of natural resources, integrated land use, policy advice in natural resources and intergovernmental consultations including 6 years relevant international work and 5 years at a supervisory level.
• Detailed knowledge of ECOWAS Environmental Policy, Multilateral Environmental Agreements and the sub-regional programmes associated with the management of the environment (SRAP/WA/Desertification, SRAP/WA/Climate Change, Biosecurity etc.) and forests.
• Demonstrated sound technical expertise on natural resources development and management, including international policy and frameworks and climate change challenges.
• Technical capacity to develop a vision, mission, and strategies, to focus on the needs of member countries and to adjust strategies to reflect changing circumstances.

AGE LIMIT

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCE

• Recent and progressive senior leadership experience in establishing strategic partnerships, working collaboratively, and building consensus with multiple internal and/or external stakeholders on complex issues in a multi-disciplinary governmental or international organization.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Heads of Institutions, elected officials and statutory employees to facilitate compliance, build engagement, resolve conflicts, and obtain support for change; develops a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
• Ability to provide leadership, management, and technical oversight for all project activities and program deliverables in accordance with ECOWAS legal and administrative practices and standards. (e.g. Code of Ethics, Procurement Code, legal institutional framework);
• Ability to conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with the ECOWAS performance management system and to mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ability to oversee project management, internal controls, and stewardship of financial resources and to address issues in a confident and capable manner whilst making decisions that exemplifies impartial and non-partisan decision-making.
• Ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for simultaneously addressing a variety of stakeholder needs, pursuing multiple tasks, and achieving positive outcomes.
• Ability to create synergies with client groups (e.g. ECOWAS institutions/specialized agencies, management cadre, member-state representatives, programme interest groups) and other to achieve objectives in setting and monitoring service standards and indicators.
• Ability to motivate and engage others in promoting or adopting best practices in client services (e.g. dashboards, incentive management, feedback mechanisms);
• Well-developed ability to identify and improve services and client interactions through appropriate networks and to create innovative ways of addressing these in an accountable and transparent manner. (e.g. public/private partnerships, service level agreement, feedback loops, surveys).
• Knowledge of anti-discriminatory/human rights regulatory environment and ability to advance strategies to foster an inclusive, healthy organization, respectful of the cultural diversity and gender of people and their skills and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Sound understanding of diverse cultural views especially within west Africa, being sensitive to group differences, gender issues and ability to contribute to, advocate for, and/or develop policies which are gender neutral and sensitive to various cultures.
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive work environment that can effectively bring together a wide spectrum of ideas and experiences to solve problems, develop projects/programs and improve results.
• Ability to remain objective during appraisals, evaluations and when managing conflict regardless of cultural differences positions or opinions while encouraging staff to overcome cultural barriers and background differences.
• Practical understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and dynamics with a keen ability to identify/address strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change and improve the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Ability to apply knowledge of ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities, and operational standards to develop/modernize policies and programs and/or to implement policies and programs in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Well-developed business, social and political acumen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the vision and mandate of ECOWAS coupled with a broad knowledge of the economic, political, and social state/trends of member states.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills on matters relating to policy and strategy development important to the realization of the ECOWAS mandate and the improvement of outcomes for Western Africa and its member-states.
• Ability to analyse reports/dashboards as well as dynamics between people and between organizations and recognize areas of potential obstacle or challenge and develop solutions or alternatives to remove barriers and achieve strategic/operational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate the effects of environmental changes (e.g. economic trends, social crisis), interpret context and implications of key issues and develop and make sound recommendations.
• Ability to inform an analysis by way of a thorough understanding of the environment, of well thought out insights and meaningful dialogues.
• Ability to make prudent decisions relating to the management of human, financial and material resources, considering both quantitative and qualitative sources of information.
• Ability to actively listen to understand the impact of issues and perspectives of others before making assertions, decisions, or recommendations.
• Builds multiple external collaborative relationships to support strategic and operational objectives; identifies the key issues and accommodates the key players with well thought out communication and stakeholder management plans.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations which promote new insights, ideas and perspectives and a better understanding of issues/challenges.
• Proficiency in oral and written French and English languages with the ability to give honest feedback, recognize performance and manage non-performance while creating opportunities for open and constructive dialogue.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills focusing on building and nurturing effective and collaborative relationships.
• Fluency in one of the three ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese).
• Superior planning skills exemplified by setting clear expectations and conducting consistent and effective oversight of performance management practices to ensure goals and standards are met.
• Ability to set effective goals/results and manage change in a manner that demonstrates resilience, composure, and a positive outlook in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Ability to enable the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, programme, project and individual plans.
• Ability to implement plans, mobilizing/engaging people, identifying critical success factors, mitigating risks, monitoring indicators and feedback, initiating course corrections and building capacities for sustainability.
• Ability to institute rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to learn from setbacks and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement.