Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS operates in around 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives of people in need, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality. The organization has a long-standing presence in the Philippines, having begun its work there in 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program globally. CRS Philippines employs over 70 staff members across various cities including Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City. The organization collaborates closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities throughout the country. CRS is involved in various initiatives, including the Innovative Climate Financing - Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot, which aims to prepare indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains for participation in forest carbon markets, and the RESEEDPH project, which focuses on restoring degraded landscapes through community participation and policy support.
Job Overview:
The Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer plays a critical role in supporting the implementation, monitoring, documentation, and continuous improvement of the Environmental and Social Safeguards system for the Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot and the RESEED project. This position is essential for ensuring compliance with donor and investment requirements, CRS policies, national regulations, and relevant carbon finance investment standards. The ESS Officer will work closely with the Senior ESS Officer and Senior Project Officer for Social Standards to identify, manage, monitor, and document environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle. The role requires a proactive approach to safeguard implementation and a commitment to continuous improvement in environmental and social practices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Community Development, or a related field is required. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social safeguards, environmental compliance, risk management, or related development programs. Experience in formulating and implementing ESS Plans for donor-funded projects is preferred, along with experience in field monitoring and stakeholder consultations. Familiarity with working with indigenous communities and local partners is an advantage, particularly in Mindanao, especially Bukidnon and Davao del Norte.
Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or Community Development. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of environmental and social safeguards and their implementation in development projects.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as environmental safeguards, social safeguards, environmental compliance, and risk management. Experience in formulating and implementing Environmental and Social Safeguards Plans for donor-funded projects is highly desirable. Candidates should also have experience in conducting field monitoring, compliance verification, and engaging with stakeholders, particularly indigenous peoples' communities.
Languages:
Excellent spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. A working knowledge of Bisaya is highly desirable, as it will facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders in the regions where the projects are implemented.
Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 50% of the time to field sites in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and/or Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The role is full-time, and candidates should be willing to travel regularly to remote communities. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS operates in around 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives of people in need, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality. The organization has a long-standing presence in the Philippines, having begun its work there in 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program globally. CRS Philippines employs over 70 staff members across various cities including Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City. The organization collaborates closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities throughout the country. CRS is involved in various initiatives, including the Innovative Climate Financing - Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot, which aims to prepare indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains for participation in forest carbon markets, and the RESEEDPH project, which focuses on restoring degraded landscapes through community participation and policy support.
Job Overview:
The Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer plays a critical role in supporting the implementation, monitoring, documentation, and continuous improvement of the Environmental and Social Safeguards system for the Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot and the RESEED project. This position is essential for ensuring compliance with donor and investment requirements, CRS policies, national regulations, and relevant carbon finance investment standards. The ESS Officer will work closely with the Senior ESS Officer and Senior Project Officer for Social Standards to identify, manage, monitor, and document environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle. The role requires a proactive approach to safeguard implementation and a commitment to continuous improvement in environmental and social practices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Environmental and Social Safeguards Implementation: Support the implementation of the project's Environmental and Social Safeguards Frameworks, management plans, protocols, and procedures. Assist in the environmental and social screening of project activities and interventions. Monitor environmental and social risks associated with project implementation and ensure that safeguard requirements are integrated into workplans and partner processes.
- Risk Monitoring, Compliance, and Verification: Conduct routine field monitoring and verification visits to assess compliance with safeguard measures. Identify environmental and social risks and issues, prepare risk registers, and follow up on corrective actions.
- Environmental Monitoring and Documentation: Monitor environmental safeguards related to reforestation and biodiversity conservation, document impacts and compliance status, and maintain safeguard documentation.
- Accountability and Grievance Monitoring: Document and track safeguard-related concerns and grievances, ensuring timely resolution in accordance with protocols.
- Stakeholder Engagement Support: Facilitate community consultations and safeguard orientations, ensuring project participants understand their rights and responsibilities.
- Reporting and Knowledge Management: Prepare regular reports on safeguard monitoring and compliance, consolidating data for donor reporting.
- Partner Capacity Strengthening: Provide training and coaching on safeguard requirements to project staff, partners, and community stakeholders, ensuring compliance and technical support as needed.
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Community Development, or a related field is required. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social safeguards, environmental compliance, risk management, or related development programs. Experience in formulating and implementing ESS Plans for donor-funded projects is preferred, along with experience in field monitoring and stakeholder consultations. Familiarity with working with indigenous communities and local partners is an advantage, particularly in Mindanao, especially Bukidnon and Davao del Norte.
Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or Community Development. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of environmental and social safeguards and their implementation in development projects.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as environmental safeguards, social safeguards, environmental compliance, and risk management. Experience in formulating and implementing Environmental and Social Safeguards Plans for donor-funded projects is highly desirable. Candidates should also have experience in conducting field monitoring, compliance verification, and engaging with stakeholders, particularly indigenous peoples' communities.
Languages:
Excellent spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. A working knowledge of Bisaya is highly desirable, as it will facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders in the regions where the projects are implemented.
Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 50% of the time to field sites in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and/or Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The role is full-time, and candidates should be willing to travel regularly to remote communities. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.