FSL-0401-02: Natural Resources Management Officer (Forestry), FSL-02, Bureau for Asia (U.S. Citizens only)

• Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
• Organization: Bureau for Asia
• Location of Position: Washington, D.C.
• Open Period: 12/05/2023 - 01/05/2024
• Appointment Type: This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not to exceed five years
• Salary: (USD) Foreign Service pay table, Washington, DC Locality
• Number of Vacancies: 1

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: All employees are measured on how they foster a climate of respect in interactions with others, value differing perspectives, and treat others in a fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive manner. All employees are expected to adhere to equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies and value diversity and inclusion in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.

Description of the Organization: The Asia Bureau provides overall leadership for Agency programs across the region, including many countries at the top of the U.S. foreign policy agenda. The vast and diverse region covers East, Southeast, South, and Central Asia as well as the South Pacific. USAID programs focus on building democratic institutions and processes, increasing access to quality education and workforce training; increasing trade, investment and productivity; improving the management and sustainable use of natural resources; and improving health, population, and nutrition. The Bureau is responsible for overall strategic planning in the region and program coordination with other U.S. Government agencies and private organizations and supports the work of 20 USAID field Missions.

Description of Office: The Asia Office of Technical Services (ASIA/TS) provides support to USAID Asia regional platforms and field Missions with technical staff focused on the unique transformational development issues confronting the Asia region. ASIA/TS works on regional initiatives such as the Lower Mekong Initiative and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region in which all nations are independent, strong, and prosperous. Staff reach out to the Agency, interagency, and public on these regional technical issues. ASIA/TS teams encompass - and interconnect - the health, education, democracy, economic growth, environment, energy, natural resource management, conflict management, humanitarian, and security sectors.

Description of Position: The incumbent serves as the Natural Resources Management Officer for Forestry in the USAID Asia Bureau and functions as a core member of USAID’s Environmental Security and Resilience Team. In support of Agency and Bureau objectives for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific vision, related regional strategies, and the Journey to Self-Reliance, the primary responsibility of the Officer is to assist USAID to develop, maintain, and evaluate a portfolio of strategic natural resources and particularly forest conservation and management activities. Specific areas of expertise relate to forest resources conservation, natural resources and forest management, biodiversity conservation, combating environmental crime, particularly illegal logging, and the sustainable use of natural resources. S/he will be supervised by the Asia Bureau’s Environmental Security and Resilience Team Leader. This position requires international travel to conduct field reviews and coordinate with Missions.

Description of Key Duties: The incumbent serves as a lead technical officer for the Asia Bureau on forestry, biodiversity, and transnational environmental crime. Other duties include:

• Provides technical advice to Bureau leadership on policy decision making regarding forest conservation and management and the role of forest management in achieving the goals of the Indo-Pacific Approach and other USG efforts in support of Asian countries’ journeys to self-reliance. For example, combating illegal logging and associated crimes.
• Manages programs funded by the Asia Bureau related to forestry, transnational environmental crimes, and biodiversity and USAID Missions in Asia on these topics along with climate risk management.
• Represents in Washington, DC, USAID’s Asian Missions in policy and programmatic discussions with foreign government officials and members of civil society. In these fora, the incumbent advises on the economic and social rationale for addressing sustainable forest management and sustainable environmental practices, including addressing climate risks while supporting economic growth, and food security with the goal of designing and assisting in the implementation of country relevant strategies for the journey to self-reliance.
• Takes a leadership role and participates in the planning, development, and execution of the Asia Bureau’s strategic plan, yearly operational plans, and annual budgets regarding natural resources, particularly forest management, and in articulating these to other USAID, USG, multilateral donor, and partner representatives.
• Participates in the carrying out of the Asia Bureau’s communications strategies through responding to inquiries and requests related to the Asia region for information on forest and natural resource management and environmental crime.

Preferred Experience

• Advanced degree in biological sciences, natural resources or forest conservation and management is desired.
• Substantial experience designing, implementing, managing and/or evaluating forest resource conservation and agroforestry programs in developing countries is desired.
• In-depth knowledge of the ecological, economic, and social aspects of forest management and conservation in Asia is desired.
• Knowledge and experience living and working in countries in Southeast, South and Central Asia and/or Pacific Island countries is desired.
• Strong experience working with teams, including working collaboratively with experts in other disciplines to accomplish shared objectives is desired.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 25 percent of the time, including to underdeveloped areas is desired.

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.
• Must be able to obtain a USAID certification as a Contracts Officer Representative (COR), and/or an Agreement Officer Representative (AOR).
• Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, the FS-03 or GS-13 of this position.

Interested candidates should submit:

• Resume/CV;
• Written statement of interest; and
• At least three professional references.

Application Instructions: Please send cover letter, detailed resume/CV, and the contact information for three relevant professional references to [email protected] with “FSL-02 APPLICATION PACKAGE: FORESTRY OFFICER” in the subject line by the position closing date. Application submissions are required by 11:59 pm (EST), 10/20/2023. Packages not submitted by the deadline with the specified subject line—or incomplete packages—will not receive consideration.

This notice may be used to fill additional vacancies, as the workforce needs of the Bureau may change.

EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to: -- Mary Melnyk, ASIA/TS/ESR, (202)-712-4906, [email protected]