Climate Change & Environment Technical Officer, North Macedonia

Climate Change & Environment Technical Advisor – USAID/North Macedonia Youth Actively Create Economic Opportunities (YACO)

FHI 360 is currently recruiting for the position of Climate Change and Environment Technical Advisor for an USAID/North Macedonia Youth Actively Create Economic Opportunities (YACO). The purpose of YACO is to increase positive youth contributions to society and collective youth leadership through creating partnerships in support of economic opportunities attractive to youth; strengthening youths’ competencies for jobs, progressive careers, and civic life; and promoting values and experiences that underpin self-reliance, such as responsibility, independence, lawfulness, strong ethics, civic engagement, and striving for accomplishment.

Job Summary

The YACO Climate Change and Environment Technical Advisor will work closely with the project’s Outcome Leads, DCOP and COP to provide technical leadership on climate change resilience, emerging green economy, green jobs, and climate-conscious strategies for the project. As the Climate Change and Environment Technical Advisor, s/he will be responsible for designing, leading, and implementing technical interventions that will support green and climate-conscious youth engagement activities across project outcomes. S/he will also be responsible for ensuring the project is aligned and promoted USAID’s Climate Change Strategy, focusing on toward addressing climate change impacts by partnering to protect and preserve critical ecosystems, transition to renewable energy, adapt to and build resilience climate change impacts through climate-change and green agenda youth awareness and activism.

The position will be resident-based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Employment is contingent upon successful award of the YACO project.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership to integrate climate-sensitive approaches across project activities, support youth engagement to build climate awareness and advocacy among the next generation of environmental leaders, and identify opportunities in the green economy and support youth access to green jobs.
• Develop and operationalize a Climate Change/Green Agenda strategy for the project.
• Support in developing strategic partnerships with youth organizations, GONM ministries, other donor-funded projects, NGOs, and the private sector related to the climate change and environmental sustainability.
• Support the collaboration with the Strategic Green Investment Fund (supported by the Fund for Innovation and Technology Development, World Bank and Free Zones Authority) to create synergies that support green jobs (e.g., solar) and business (e.g., development of ‘greencubators’ that support youth-led entrepreneurship related to the green economy)
• Support collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and Employment Service Agency and other Government bodies in the areas on shared interest related to green economy and climate awareness
• Provide technical input on interventions that support youth entrepreneurship, foster the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, particularly focusing on social entrepreneurship opportunities within the green economy space
• Work with technical leads and overall project team to develop Annual Work Plans, monthly and quarterly progress reports, and manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Maintain a constructive dialogue and technical exchange with implementing partners’ technical staff and other FHI 360 departments and projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred) in environmental science, engineering, international development, economics, finance, International Business, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years’ relevant experience in leading and/or implementing climate change and climate conscious and environmental sustainability technical activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the climate change, renewable energy, climate change resilience, green growth and youth environmental activism in North Macedonia.
• Experience designing and implementing strategies and activities that foster youth environmental activism and engagement in climate change and climate awareness.
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills in English and Macedonian required.
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants, and recipients of assistance.
• Demonstrated skills related to program and personnel management, including work planning, implementation, and achieving success in complex activities.
• Experience working with private sector and a demonstrated understanding of the private sector engagement strategies for climate resilience, green economy and green jobs in North Macedonian context preferred.
• Experience working with youth-serving and youth-led organizations, skills training providers (TVETs, universities, etc), private sector employers, businesses, chambers of commerce, and other stakeholder associations in North Macedonia preferred.
• Technical knowledge of key USAID approaches such as Positive Youth Development Approach (PYD), gender inclusion, USAID Climate Strategy, Innovative, Technology, Research, and Collaborating, Learning, adapting (CLA) framework preferred.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.