MI2 Senior Associate

OPPORTUNITY

Environmental Incentives (EI) is seeking a highly productive person to fill the position of MI2 Senior Associate. This position is based in Washington DC and will primarily support the Measuring Impact II (MI2) project, which is an initiative of USAID Biodiversity Division in the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation, implemented by Environmental Incentives, Foundations of Success, and ICF. MI2 is designed to enhance the impact of USAID biodiversity and forestry programs through improved project design, evidence-based programming, and adaptive management. MI2 works directly with USAID Agency staff and USAID Missions globally. 

EI provides USAID with technical services in the areas of adaptive management, learning, monitoring, evaluation, communications and knowledge management, and organizational development. 

EI and its partners are supporting USAID thought leaders, Mission staff, and Washington Bureaus to apply evidence-based adaptive management across USAID’s $265 million annual biodiversity portfolio. EI also helps to integrate conservation with other development sectors such as health, food security, democracy and governance, and global climate change. 

The successful candidate will provide technical and facilitation support to implement the Direct Field Support Program across various USAID Missions. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively communicate and collaborate with clients and key stakeholders to ensure high-quality and impactful technical products and services.  The candidate will also be able to quickly grasp complex facilitation needs and set clear paths for team members and clients alike, managing adaptively in response to emerging priorities. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design and deliver technical assistance to support conservation and integrated design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation (60%)

• Lead scoping processes with clients to define technical support objectives, modality of technical support delivery, roles and responsibilities, timing, and process.
• Design and facilitate workshops that engage multiple stakeholders, including USAID clients and implementing partners. These workshops will commonly focus on designing activities and designing and implementing adaptive management learning initiatives, aligned with USAID’s Program Cycle as well as EI’s approach to design and the Conservation Standards (Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation).
• Develop and execute a plan for data collection and visualization that will be needed to achieve workshop objectives. Use stakeholder consultations or other tools, such as systems mapping, to identify knowledge gaps and strengthen evidence-based- decision-making.
• Lead staff teams in producing high-quality workshop outputs such as situation models, results chains and theories of change, monitoring plans, monitoring data “stoplight” assessments, learning plans, and/or other reporting.
• Facilitate after-action reviews for internal and client process learning and improvement on the design and delivery of technical support.
• Coach EI and subcontractor staff in workshop facilitation process and techniques.

Support capacity building and application of best practices for evidence, learning, and adapting at project and program levels (25%)

• Support capacity-building initiatives for monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) for biodiversity and integrated programs.
• Guide project and program teams to incorporate evidence best practices for access, use, and generation during design and implementation. 
• Lead or contribute to scoping and implementation of assessments or evaluations of biodiversity and integrated programs.
• Synthesize lessons and develop learning products to inform Agency level learning on marine and coastal fisheries, wildlife trade, climate, conservation crime, conservation enterprises, and/or private sector engagement.  
• Contribute to internal and external learning initiatives, products, and events. Produce brief communication products to share insights and learning.

Manage client relationships through management, coordination, and communications (15%)

• Understand the clients’ needs and oversee the delivery of high-quality services to meet those needs.
• Develop strong working relationships with individuals on client teams, tailoring communication, and management approaches to meet their management needs and styles.
• Actively anticipate problems and proactively and transparently address them with the client.

QUALIFICATIONS

Environmental Incentives seeks talented, creative, and inspired professionals who can provide technical leadership in a growing practice while being flexible enough to fit into a strong culture. We carefully differentiate our minimum qualifications, preferred skills, and necessary characteristics for success.

Minimum Qualifications:

A narrow set of specific qualifications are essential for consideration in the open positions. These qualifications are considered the minimum necessary and we expect successful candidates will bring more than the minimum listed.

• Demonstrated experience leading and facilitating conservation planning processes. 
• Experience in workshop or training facilitation both in-person and virtual.
• Expertise in adult learning practices and development of context-appropriate facilitation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and effectively communicate with multicultural and interdisciplinary teams of development practitioners and researchers.
• Willingness to travel outside of the US post-COVID to support technical work as client needs require. EI is working remotely at this time and anticipates working remotely until at least the summer of 2021.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience with international development and biodiversity conservation programs.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience facilitating Conservation Standards (Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation) processes.
• Training, coaching, and/or mentoring to teams or individuals to build capacity for Conservation Standards practices and tools.
• Demonstrated field experience planning and implementing conservation programs.
• Experience working with USAID and familiarity with the USAID Program Cycle.
• Subject matter expertise in one or multiple environmental technical areas: coastal, fisheries and marine management, wildlife trade, and/or climate.
• Fluent in Spanish or French is a plus.
• Master’s Degree in international development or environment-related field.
• Experience in communications and knowledge management.

COMPENSATION

Environmental Incentives also offers a competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave, holiday and sick time, retirement plan options, professional development opportunities and health coverage. Salaries depend on qualifications and location.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, please click "Apply on Company Website' below to submit a cover letter and resume on our careers page with “MI2 Senior Associate” as the position title.
• Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received and the position will be filled as soon as the appropriate candidate is identified. 

What Happens next? 

While resumes and cover letters allow us to screen for certain characteristics, they do not always let us know who you are and the qualities and skills you possess. Therefore, after you apply, if we think you align with Environmental Incentives principles, we will ask you to complete writing and spreadsheet exercises to allow you to better showcase your clarity of thought, verbal and written communication, and ability to create new and innovative ideas. Then we will welcome qualified candidates to interview with the Environmental Incentives team.