Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Adviser

Palladium Group

Australia

Purpose of Position

The Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Adviser will assist the REnew Pacific program in developing and supporting implementation of the REnew Pacific Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework, which will inform the program’s approach to managing ESS risks and impacts of projects against each of DFAT’s environmental and social safeguards:

Environmental Protection;
Children, Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups, including Child Protection (CP) and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH);
Displacement and Resettlement;
Indigenous People;
Health and Safety (including Modern Slavery).

Primary Responsibilities

The ESS Advisor will:

Develop the environmental component, and provide input into the social component, of the REnew Pacific Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Framework in coordination with the Climate Change Adviser and GEDSI and Community Safeguards Manager
Review and provide input into the REnew Pacific Work Health and Safety Plan
Support development of the Modern Slavery Risk Management and Governance Framework.
Develop other ESS procedural information, tools and related documents in line with Palladium’s and DFAT’s safeguard policies (including Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy, Child Protection Policy, and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy)
Assess project concepts and proposals and provide advice on how they can be strengthened to align with and deliver against ESS objectives
Coordinate with program partners Save the Children and ITP Renewables, long-term and short-term, and other managers/advisers (e.g. Climate Change, GEDSI, First Nations, WHS, Risk and Compliance) to ensure that ESS considerations are applied through the program lifecycle, i.e. project screening, scoping and implementation. In some cases, the ESS Adviser may be required to work directly with partners, project proponents and relevant stakeholders, including by attending country missions, training and workshops
Advise REnew Pacific team members and subcontractors on relevant policy, legislation and good international industry practice relating to ESS
Ensure ESS training and induction programs for current and new staff and subcontractors are in accordance with latest industry compliance and legislative requirements of DFAT and partner governments
Assist the program staff to communicate all ESS policy and procedural changes to external partners to ensure awareness, understanding and consistency of application
Assess, monitor and report on ESS risks and impacts across the program and contribute to the development of risk management strategies where appropriate
Conduct ESS risk reviews for the REnew Pacific program, which highlights the level of risk (environmental and social) across program activities. Appropriate to the level of overall risk, this process will ensure that specific risks are identified and measures to mitigate are put in place in the program Risk Management Plan and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
Providing advice, input and support as may otherwise be required and where requested by the REnew Pacific team.

Reporting Requirements

This role reports into the Team Leader. Reporting requirements may include but are not limited to: Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader during Team Leader absences.

Minimum Education and Experience Required

Relevant professional and academic experience in environmental and social safeguarding or similar roles
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience in ESS in the context of off-grid renewable energy desirable
Experience working with the private sector on ESS
Experience working in the Pacific region or Timor-Leste
Proven ability to design, develop and implement ESS Frameworks
Demonstrated initiative and an ability to work independently with limited supervision
Desirable: Understanding and experience working with international development programs
Desirable: Experience working on DFAT-funded programs and familiarity with Australian government reporting and ESS requirements

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