Action Area Coordinator - Stimulating Action for Clean Air

ICIMOD is seeking applications for the position, Action Area Coordinator for Action Area B, Stimulating Action for Clean Air.

Strategic Group

Strategic Group 1: Reducing Climate and Environmental Risks

Action Area

Action Area B: Stimulating Action for Clean Air

Background

This is an exciting opportunity to head one of ICIMOD’s six new Action Areas (AAs) focused on ‘Stimulating Action for Clean Air’ across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), working in the vibrant working culture and environment that is ICIMOD. This is an important new position responsible for managing the AA and delivering AA-specific results, which ICIMOD has committed to in its Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP V): Embracing Change and Accelerating Impact (2023–2026). The position sits within Strategic Group (SG) 1, one of our three new SGs, and reports to the Strategic Group Lead (SGL).
We are looking for a strong manager with excellent organisational and multitasking skills and technical experience in stimulating action for clean air. The position will suit someone who can plan and coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams, including budgets and people while focusing on delivering outcomes and impacts. The Action Area Coordinator (AAC) must be comfortable managing multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams; be open and flexible to innovation and change; and uphold the highest levels of ethics, quality, and standards. The position requires excellent interpersonal, communication, and engagement skills.

Action Area B: Stimulating Action for Clean Air
The aim of this AA is to focus attention on the significant impacts of air pollution on human health, economic development, climate change, and the environment. Air pollution levels are high across the HKH and pollution does not respect borders; at the same time, there are significant gaps between air quality outcomes and international and regional goals and targets. We will codevelop and scale air quality solutions with partners and provide an enabling policy and institutional environment for the uptake and implementation of these solutions while supporting our Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in building their own monitoring, assessment, and communication capabilities.
There is also a need to build stronger links between air pollution and the climate change agenda – for example, industries produce black carbon that not only impacts human health but also accelerates glacier and snow melt. We aim to take a lead role in supporting the drive towards evidence-based changes in policy and practice on clean air in the HKH region.
This AA is configured around two inter-related work areas:
1.    Strengthening institutions, policies, and investments for cleaner air
2.    Encouraging the adoption of cleaner and socially responsible solutions and investments for the effective reduction of air pollutants, including short-lived climate forcers, and greenhouse gases

Research topics

Terms and condition

Selection process

Responsibilities and task

You will ensure that the work of the AA results in meeting AA-specific outcomes and targets, working closely with the SGL to make this happen. You will hold oversight for all the AA work and manage a multidisciplinary team of around 10 to 15 professional staff (associates, analysts, specialists, etc.). You will operate under the direct supervision of the SGL.

1.    Coordination and prioritisation

• Motivate and inspire the AA teams and staff to deliver high-quality results, and make positive contributions to ICIMOD’s High-Level Outcomes and Long-Term Impact Areas, Strategy 2030, and MTAP V commitments
• Ensure that (1) AA resources (staff and funding) are planned and deployed to deliver these commitments; (2) opportunities for innovation and scaling, policy engagement, regional cooperation, and capability strengthening are maximised; and (3) cross-cutting issues (climate, biodiversity, and GESI) are fully integrated
• Liaise closely with the SGL in planning and integrating support services (i.e. Monitoring and Reporting, Communications, Finance, Administration and Partnerships, Gender)
• Provide strategic, advisory, and technical contributions, including methods, frameworks, and new insights, and keep up to date on the latest thinking, the operating context, and new partners, etc.
• Ensure teams are delivering results with and through national, regional, and international partners, and maximise opportunities for GESI, youth, and digital technology

2.    Planning, delivery, and reporting

• Oversee annual AA planning in close consultation with the AA team, providing a clear steer on priorities in line with MTAP V results commitments and available human resources and budgets
• Design effective interventions that collectively deliver results, in line with Strategic Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning principles and guidance, and ensure that clear work plans are in place
• Maintain regular oversight of progress, including facilitating learning and prioritisation exercises, in line with the new Amplify/Continue/Hold/Restructure or Stop - ACHoRS approach
• Ensure best practice project management and financial administration principles are applied, approve budgets and expenditures in line with ICIMOD policies and guidelines, and track financial performance and monitor risks
• Oversee the delivery of timely quality reports: institutional level and project specific
• Act as a project lead or Senior Responsible Officer for an intervention, as necessary
• Consolidate and review AA results together with the SG and other works of ICIMOD to demonstrate how they are making contributions to ICIMODs High-Level Outcomes and Long-Term Impact Areas
• Coordinate and work closely with the SGL and other SGLs/AACs to ensure there is integration and complementarity where required, and to avoid duplication of effort
• Keep track of relevant critical changes in the operating environment and RMC priorities or activities of other actors

3.    People management

• Build and nurture a team working environment, guiding teams sensitively to best enable collective working that is efficient (delivers at pace) and effective (delivers outcomes and impacts)
• Ensure expertise and capabilities are in place to meet current and future needs for delivering the results
• Supervise and manage all staff housed within the AA, determining best structural working arrangements, and managing staff performance, with a strong focus on delivering against SMART objectives and identifying learning and career development opportunities
• Support staff to deliver effectively against their specific work responsibilities, with special attention to junior staff, and foster an encouraging, positive, flexible, and professional working environment

4.    Communication, engagement, and outreach

• Oversee quality control processes: for interventions, processes, and products, working with the new internal Quality Assurance (and POUT+) function
• Ensure that communications, engagement, and outreach activities are fully integrated into the delivery of results (outcomes), including the targeted promotion of findings, engagement with policy and decision makers, partners, and different forms of media, in close liaison with the SG Communications Officer and other communications staff
• Ensure that AA teams have maximum opportunity to promote their work in the HKH and internationally
• Play a representational role for the AA (e.g. media, technical meetings, policy engagement)

5.    Business development and resource mobilisation

• Support concept note and proposal development and identify in consultation with the SGL the right staff for project idea development
• Identify cofunding opportunities involving regional partners and/or member countries and communicate emerging opportunities to the SGL and BDRM Unit
• Share information on funder intelligence with the BDRM Unit and the SGL
• Develop and maintain a constructive dialogue with funder organisations in their respective AA as required by the Directorate, the SGL, and the Head of BDRM

Financial support

Minimum qualifications

Essential

• A postgraduate academic degree (MSc or PhD) in a relevant field, such as atmospheric science, environmental science, sustainable energy, , and other relevant subjects  
• Ten years of relevant work experience, of which at least five years should be in a leadership or management position, preferably in the HKH region
• Excellent management and coordination skills, with a proven track record of managing relevant large-scale programmes, including management of budgets
• Good people manager with experience working in multicultural environments
• Good networker and a good problem solver and solution seeker
• Committed to advancing GESI

• Strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the HKH and other mountainous regions
• Experience in integrating gender equity and social inclusion into programming and/or applying inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary approaches
• Experience with communicating to a diverse audience (e.g. media, conferences, funders)

Criteria for selection

Competencies

• Teamwork and cooperation: Provide information to and shares resources with other units; leads teams comprising people with different skill sets at various institutional levels through collaborative decision-making processes
• Result orientation: Helps the organisation achieve its strategic short- and long-term goals leading to increased outcome and impact.
• Leadership: Optimises resources around long-term plans and programmes while setting high standards
• Networking and stakeholder management: Identifies relevant stakeholders and partners and engages with them at the strategic level

Others

Staff are expected to operate and adhere to ICIMOD core values including integrity, neutrality, inclusiveness, and openness.

Duty station

You will be based at ICIMOD’s head office in Kathmandu, Nepal, working in a cross-cultural, impact-oriented environment. Frequent travel in the HKH region will be required. Kathmandu is a lively and exciting place to live. People are friendly, living costs are comparatively inexpensive, food is delicious (with a range of local and international cuisines) and there are good local and international schools and a low crime rate. Nepal offers amazing trekking routes, white water rafting, and safaris, combined with a rich culture and charming yet lively nightlife.

Duration

Three years, with a probation period of six months, with the possibility of extension subject to performance and ICIMOD’s future funding levels.

Renumeration

Remuneration is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salaries and benefits at ICIMOD are competitive compared with other international organizations. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a provident fund, health insurance, severance pay, children’s education grant, and paid leave (30 days holiday and 10 days public holidays). For expatriates there is a tax exemption in Nepal; they are responsible for their home country’s tax payments. Expatriate staff are entitled to housing allowance, annual home leave ticket, shipment of personal effects, and an installation and removal allowance.

Gender and equity policy

Qualified and eligible women candidates and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. ICIMOD implements a gender fair policy and is supportive of working women. It operates a Day-Care Centre at the campus and is committed to gender mainstreaming at the organisational and programmatic levels.

Method of application

Applicants are requested to apply online before 22 Mar 2023 (11:59 PM Nepal Standard Time) through ICIMOD's online application system.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.