Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a humanitarian organization established in 1946, dedicated to helping people forced to flee. NRC operates in more than 30 countries worldwide, providing assistance to displaced individuals and communities. The organization focuses on various sectors, including shelter, education, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and protection, with a mission to ensure that displaced people can find safety, dignity, and hope. NRC employs thousands of staff globally, working tirelessly to deliver effective humanitarian aid and advocate for the rights of displaced populations.

Job Overview:
The Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator is a senior technical lead responsible for ensuring that NRC's programs in the Libya West Area, specifically in Misrata and Tripoli, are conducted in a sustainable, safe, and compliant manner. This role is pivotal in developing, implementing, and monitoring the organization's comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). The Coordinator will lead E&S risk screening, create and oversee the implementation of site-specific mitigation plans (ESMPs), manage donor liaison and reporting on safeguards, and provide capacity building to staff and contractors. The ultimate goal is to minimize environmental impact and actively protect local communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, from social risks in line with international standards and the 'Do No Harm' principles. The position requires a proactive approach to ensure that all shelter, infrastructure rehabilitation, and livelihoods projects are safe, inclusive, environmentally sound, and compliant with both international standards and donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator include:

• Technical Leadership: Serve as the technical lead for implementing the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and developing related technical guidelines.
• Compliance & Quality Control: Ensure strict compliance with NRC policies and donor E&S safeguarding requirements. Monitor and quality control all necessary environmental and social mitigation measures outlined in project safeguards instruments, such as Stakeholder Engagement Plans and ESMPs.
• Reporting & Liaison: Handle overall coordination and regular liaison with the donor's E&S focal point, managing no-objections, regular reporting on progress, and incident/grievance reporting to the line manager.
• Capacity Building: Lead the training of NRC personnel and partners on E&S safeguards and coordinate environmental/social initiatives across all project locations.
• Risk Management: Develop assessment plans, lead E&S screening, and categorize sub-projects by risk, escalating significant changes to the donor as needed.
• Instrument Development: Develop site-specific risk management instruments, such as ESMPs and E&S guidelines, in collaboration with NRC teams for housing rehabilitation and solar energy installation.
• Implementation Support: Provide direct technical support to field teams and contractors for implementing mitigation measures and following up on progress against the ESMF requirements during the project life cycle.
• Procurement & Monitoring: Ensure all E&S mitigation measures are included in tender packages. Conduct monitoring and spot checks of sub-projects to verify implementation quality.
• Documentation: Manage all record-keeping for E&S documents and lessons learned on NRC's filing system. 1
• Renewable Energy Support: Provide technical support for the renewable energy component, including developing specifications and participating in tender processes for solar installations. 1
• Perform any other tasks as delegated by the line managers.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator role include:

• A University Degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in Engineering, Environmental Science, Social Science, Development Studies, Energy, or a related field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in a technical role, preferably within the humanitarian or development sector, focusing on environmental management, social safeguards, risk assessment, or compliance.
• Proven expertise in developing, implementing, or monitoring Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS) or Frameworks (ESMF), especially those aligned with major international standards, such as KFW or similar multilateral donor safeguards.
• Demonstrable experience in conducting risk screening, developing mitigation plans (ESMPs), and managing stakeholder engagement in conflict or fragile settings.
• Strong knowledge of 'Do No Harm' principles, Protection Mainstreaming, and Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP) principles.
• Experience in providing training and technical guidance to diverse staff and external partners, such as contractors.

Educational Background:
The educational background needed for the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator position includes a University Degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in relevant fields such as Engineering, Environmental Science, Social Science, Development Studies, Energy, or a related discipline. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of environmental and social issues in humanitarian contexts and for effectively implementing the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator position is a minimum of four (4) years in a technical role, preferably within the humanitarian or development sector. This experience should focus on environmental management, social safeguards, risk assessment, or compliance, demonstrating a strong understanding of the challenges and requirements in these areas. Proven expertise in developing, implementing, or monitoring Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS) or Frameworks (ESMF) is crucial, particularly those aligned with major international standards.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is essential for the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator role. Additionally, fluency in Arabic (written and verbal) is highly desirable or required for effective communication with local teams and communities in Libya. This bilingual capability is critical for ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged and informed throughout the project lifecycle.

Additional Notes:
Additional notes regarding the Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) Coordinator position include that it is a full-time role, with a focus on seniority level responsibilities. The position may involve recruiting internationally or nationally, depending on the candidate pool and organizational needs. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with NRC's policies and standards, ensuring that the selected candidate is adequately supported in their role.