Jobs at Abt Associates

Abt Associates is seeking a qualified Combatting Wildlife Trafficking Manager to support the anticipated USAID West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Activity (WABiLED). This position located in Accra, Ghana, will provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership, and implementation for the task order under the STARR II IDIQ. The Combatting Wildlife Trafficking Manager will support the Chief of Party (COP) in management of the Combatting Wildlife Trafficking Team and all research, design, implementation, and monitoring activities and cross-cutting tasks related to that objective. The Manager will provide thought leadership, technical guidance and expertise, and lead implementation activities for interactions between the team and local governments.

The position will lead efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in the West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone) region and improve governance and policy in critical natural and human systems related to wildlife crimes and transnational organized crime. By working through regional partners, and with targeted national and sub-national institutions, this position will lead to increased capacity of institutions at all levels to reduce wildlife trafficking and strengthen management of conservation areas in biodiverse landscapes.

This position is contingent upon award.

Key Roles And Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership in the development of analysis and the evidence base that can help USAID clients and governments in:
• The design of wildlife crime, trafficking, combatting conservation crimes, and natural resource management programs.
• The integration of wildlife and natural resource management dimensions into other sectors, such as governance, policy development, infrastructure development, etc.
  • Leading engagement, technical discussions, and the development of innovative approaches with the client and other stakeholders on activities focusing on wildlife crime and conservation
  • Providing subject matter expertise to support the development of technical strategies, implementation plans, MEL, communication, and knowledge management activities
  • Overseeing the work of team members, consultants and sub-contractors working on combatting wildlife trafficking to ensure achievement work plan objectives and targets, and timely/effective implementation

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree (minimum) in environmental and natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, or another relevant field
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in environmental and natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, or another relevant field
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representative and senior-level staff
• Sound understanding of USAID’s policies, requirements and existing tools to support combatting wildlife trafficking and conservation crimes
• Proven experience working across sectors and leading inter-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills; able to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead multidisciplinary teams
• Should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, managerial, organizational, oral and written communication skills, and proven leadership abilities within a multi-partner initiative.
• Demonstrated experience interacting with government agencies, civil society counterparts, and international donor agencies; USAID experience preferred
• Fluency in English and language skills in French are highly desirable

Minimum Qualifications

• (8+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

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Abt Associates is seeking a qualified Biodiversity Manager to support the anticipated USAID West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Activity (WABiLED). This position located in Accra, Ghana, will provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership, and implementation for the task order under the STARR II IDIQ. The Biodiversity Manager will support the Chief of Party (COP) in management of the Biodiversity Team and all research, design, implementation, and monitoring activities and cross-cutting tasks related to that objective. The Manager will provide thought leadership, technical guidance and expertise, and lead implementation activities for interactions between the team and local governments.

The position will lead efforts to promote biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, forest management (deforestation and forest degradation)) and climate resiliency in West Africa and will focus on countries in the West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone) region to improve governance and policy over critical natural and human systems. By working through regional partners, and with targeted national and sub-national institutions, this position lead to increased capacity of institutions at all levels to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, establish and strengthen management of conservation areas in biodiverse landscapes, and improve land use to achieve biodiversity and sustainable landscape objectives.

This position is contingent upon award.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership in the development of analysis and the evidence base that can help USAID clients and governments in:
  • The design of biodiversity and natural resource programs, potentially including 1) conservation and management of high-priority natural land, marine, and coastal areas; 2) managing natural resources for sustainable human use; and 3) combating conservation crimes.
  • The integration of biodiversity and natural resource management dimensions into other sectors, such as governance, policy development, infrastructure development, etc.
  • Scaling biodiversity conservation and land-based emissions reduction.
  • Establishing lessons learned and regional experiences to scale results and reduce the drivers negatively affecting the natural resource base
• Leading engagement and technical discussions with the client and other stakeholders on activities focusing on biodiversity and natural resource management
• Leading the development of innovative approaches for biodiversity and natural resource management that address the client’s needs
• Providing subject matter expertise to support the development of technical strategies, implementation plans, MEL, communication, and knowledge management activities
• Overseeing the work of team members, consultants and sub-contractors working on biodiversity to ensure achievement work plan objectives and targets, and timely/effective implementation

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree (minimum) in environmental and natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, or another relevant field
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in environmental and natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, or another relevant field
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representative and senior-level staff
• Sound understanding of USAID’s policies, requirements and existing tools to support natural resource management, including Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Analysis (FAA 118-119), and for environmental compliance
• Demonstrated experience interacting with government agencies, civil society counterparts, and international donor agencies; USAID experience strongly preferred
• Proven experience working across sectors and leading inter-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills; able to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead multidisciplinary teams
• Should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, managerial, organizational, oral and written communication skills, and proven leadership abilities within a multi-partner initiative
• Demonstrated experience interacting with government agencies, civil society counterparts, and international donor agencies; USAID experience preferred
• Fluency in English and language skills in French are highly desirable

Minimum Qualifications

• (8+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce.  Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.

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Abt Associates is seeking a qualified Private Sector Specialist to support the anticipated USAID West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Activity (WABiLED).  This position located in Accra, Ghana, will provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership, and implementation for the task order under the STARR II IDIQ. The Private Sector Specialist will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) in management and implementation of the private sector engagement and alternative livelihoods activities and cross-cutting tasks. The Specialist must manage relations and operations in regard to private sector actors in alignment with the team, governments, and local policies to ensure overall compliance with USAID rules and regulations, financial management, international and local personnel recruitment and management, subcontractor management, and project start-up and close-out.

The position will lead efforts to interact with private sector actors and align government policies on climate change, biodiversity, low emission development, and wildlife trafficking with international organizations and projects in the West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone) region. By working through regional partners, and with targeted national and sub-national institutions, this position will lead to increased capacity of institutions at all levels to work with private sectors and develop policies related to alternative livelihoods.

This position is contingent upon award.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership in the development of plans and policies for private sector engagement and alternative livelihoods and the integration of climate, biodiversity, wildlife, and low emission standards with risk management into the design and management of USAID programs
• Leading engagement, technical discussions, and the development of innovative approaches with the client and other stakeholder, especially private sector actors focusing on low emission standards, climate change, biodiversity, wildlife conservation
• Providing private sector engagement for biodiversity conservation and land-based emissions reductions, including lessons learned, barriers, and opportunities, for conservation enterprises, timber, and high-value agricultural commodities
• Providing subject matter expertise to support the development of technical strategies, implementation plans, MEL, communication, and knowledge management activities
• Overseeing the work of team members, consultants and sub-contractors working on all programmatic activities, especially related to the private sector to ensure achievement work plan objectives and targets, and timely/effective implementation

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree (minimum) in environmental and natural resource management programming, biodiversity and conservation, wildlife trafficking, climate change, low emission standards, and/or other relevant fields
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in environmental and natural resource management programming, biodiversity and conservation, wildlife trafficking, climate change, low emission standards, and/or other relevant fields
• Sound understanding of USAID’s policies, requirements and existing tools on climate change, wildlife trafficking, and/or biodiversity policies
• Demonstrated experience interacting with government agencies, civil society counterparts, and international donor agencies; USAID experience strongly preferred
• Proven experience working across sectors and leading inter-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills; able to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead multidisciplinary teams
• Should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, managerial, organizational, oral and written communication skills, and proven leadership abilities within a multi-partner initiative
• Fluency in English and language skills in French are highly desirable

Minimum Qualifications

• (6+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce.  Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.

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Abt Associates is seeking a qualified Sustainable Landscapes Manager to support the anticipated USAID West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Activity (WABiLED). This position located in Accra, Ghana, will provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership, and implementation for the task order under the STARR II IDIQ. The Sustainable Landscapes Manager will support the Chief of Party (COP) in management of the Sustainable Landscapes Team and all research, design, implementation, and monitoring activities and cross-cutting tasks related to that objective. The Manager will provide thought leadership, technical guidance and expertise, and lead implementation activities for interactions between the team and local governments.

The position will lead efforts to establish standards for sustainable landscapes, low greenhouse gas emissions in the West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone) region and efforts to improve governance and policy in critical natural and human systems. By working through regional partners, and with targeted national and sub-national institutions, this position will lead to increased capacity of institutions at all levels to establish land-based greenhouse gas mitigation pathways and their associated co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation, avoiding forest conversion, soil and water resources protection, and improved livelihoods.

This position is contingent upon award.

Key Roles And Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership in the development of analysis and the evidence base that can help USAID clients and governments in:
• The design of land use, sustainable landscape, low emission, clean energy, and other forestry and agricultural programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieve other co-benefits.
• The integration of climate adaptation and risk management into the design and management of USAID programs, including through the use of USAID’s Climate Risk Mitigation toolkit.
  • Leading engagement, technical discussions, and the development of innovative approaches with the client and other stakeholders on activities focusing on sustainable landscapes, low emission standards, avoiding forest conversion, and climate change
  • Providing subject matter expertise to support the development of technical strategies, implementation plans, MEL, communication, and knowledge management activities
  • Overseeing the work of team members, consultants and sub-contractors working on greenhouse gas emissions standards and policies development and climate change activities to ensure achievement work plan objectives and targets, and timely/effective implementation

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree (minimum) in environmental and natural resource management, climate change, environmental sciences, public policy, economics, engineering, or another relevant field
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in environmental and natural resource management, climate change, environmental sciences, public policy, economics, engineering, or another relevant field
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representative and senior-level staff
• Sound understanding of USAID’s policies, requirements and existing tools on climate change, clean energy, and low emission standards, development, and policies
• Proven experience working across sectors and leading inter-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills; able to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead multidisciplinary teams
• Should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, managerial, organizational, oral and written communication skills, and proven leadership abilities within a multi-partner initiative
• Demonstrated experience interacting with government agencies, civil society counterparts, and international donor agencies; USAID experience preferred
• Fluency in English and language skills in French are highly desirable

Minimum Qualifications

• (8+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience