Senior Humanitarian Environmental Advisor

Team Credence is a multi-company partnership proudly led by Credence, an industry leading government contractor with a longstanding commitment to USAID and its global health and humanitarian missions. In concert with our small business partners—ZemiTek (8(a), EDWOSB), Claro KC (SB), EnCompass (WO), and Global Emergency Group (SB)—Team Credence operates as one team, bringing together exceptional USAID institutional support experience, technical leadership, and an unmatched commitment to BHA and its mission.

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is the lead federal coordinator for international disaster assistance. BHA provides and coordinates U.S. Government (USG) international humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the physical, social, and economic impact of rapid and slow-onset disasters by helping people in need become more resilient to future crises. Team Credence, through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Support Contract (BHASC), provides operational and administrative support to provide and coordinate humanitarian assistance and maintain 24/7 response capability.

The Senior Humanitarian Environmental Advisor is a part of the Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Division in BHA’s Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO). The A&A Division includes BHA's authority for safeguarding environmental, social, and climate risks in BHA procurements and implementation. The Senior Humanitarian Environmental Advisor will contribute to this work by supporting the humanitarian-focused implementation of the USAID Biodiversity Policy, USAID Climate Strategy, USAID Inclusive Development, USAID Equity Action Plan, USAID Social, Economic, Environmental Accountability Mechanism at Bureau and Agency levels. This approach will support the Do No Harm humanitarian imperative, while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance programs under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Farm Bill.

The Senior Humanitarian Environmental Advisor reports to the A&A Division/Quality Assurance (QA) Team Lead or designee, with formal supervisory and evaluation functions performed by the contract supervisor. 

The Senior Humanitarian Environmental Advisor will perform the following responsibilities in direct support of the QA team:

• Lead A&A Staff in drafting appropriate language regarding integration of climate and environmental risk management, in particular amongst affected communities who are most in need of humanitarian assistance for competitive and non-competitive acquisition and assistance solicitations.
• Lead integration of such considerations in complex, highly specialized competitive acquisition and assistance solicitations throughout the entire procurement life cycle from pre-award to selection.
• Lead BHA in achieving Agency goals and objectives through the implementation of special initiatives in reducing climate and environmental risks through engagement in an equitable, inclusive and accessible manner.
• Resolve and respond to complex, highly specialized program issues and questions relating to acquisition and assistance policies and procedures—including on climate and environmental policies and requirements.
• Coordinate translation of acquisition and assistance policy, guidance, and processes into business systems and data management recommendations, interventions, and Bureau implementation strategies.

In support of the overall A&A Division:

• Function as the primary A&A Division point of contact for the social dimensions of climate and environmental risk management, with inclusive development engagement across HBMO, BHA, and USAID.
• Upon direction from the Team Lead, research, review, analyze, and/or interpret current and new acquisition and assistance statutes, regulations, policies, or procedures to ensure consistent adherence to USG and USAID requirements. Specifically, support the review of procurement documents to better integrate risk management using inclusive environmental and climate engagement drawing from local partner expertise and networks who are representative of communities experiencing high levels of humanitarian need.
• Lead discussions on the social and environmental dimensions of development and humanitarian assistance programs, internally and externally, with a focus on accountability to communities and participants of USAID and other Donor programs.
• Lead the development of BHA-specific assistance and acquisition tools, policies, guidelines, and resources to manage procurements in collaboration with other key BHA stakeholders, including but not limited to the two A&A Division teams (QA and Policy, Guidance, and Training), as well as offices and teams across BHA and USAID.
• Lead the creation, publishing, disseminating, and archiving of acquisition and assistance award management documents and information products such as but not limited to policies, procedures, briefings and presentations, guidelines, policy papers, thematic briefs, talking points, job aides, user manuals, newsletters, and other forms of documentation. For example, supports drafting briefing memos for BHA staff attending multilateral (including multi donor) humanitarian global events.
• Lead the documentation of best practices and lessons learned to strengthen internal office pre and post award processes/systems. Specifically, support review of reports and assessments from a multi-million-dollar resilience and food security activity in Africa and Latin America to enhance equitability and accountability of cross-cutting climate and environmental risk management-focused humanitarian interventions.
• Support communications of BHA policy guidance, templates, memos and resources to BHA and Agency staff in a manner that is accessible to a wide range of audiences, including local and regional staff (e.g., timeframes, multilingual, etc.) to promote more effective and efficient adherence to USAID standards.
• Lead capacity-strengthening, including with local organizations in understanding applicable USG and USAID regulations and policies for more effective and efficient award making and management. Such work will be more efficient when in partnership with other donors at the environment and humanitarian nexus.
• Contribute to internal strategies and work plans and participate in BHA and USAID working groups as needed to ensure that BHA assistance and acquisition needs are reflected in deliverables.
• Identify ways to actively build and sustain an equitable and inclusive work environment where global cultural diversity and lived experience contributes to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance.
• Support the Team Lead in creating an environment oriented to trust, open communication, creative thinking, strong team cohesion and workplace collaboration, and promoting and cultivating high team morale.
• Support Division activities to advise, guide, and train staff on team processes, templates, and standard operating procedures.
• Support quality assurance on final work products to ensure accurate and error free work products of the team. This includes information associated with data calls with short turnaround times and complex reports created and used to track the flow of work related to the team’s portfolio.
• Contribute to and complete other duties as assigned by the Team Lead.

• Minimum Education and Experience
  • PhD and 4 years of relevant experience, OR
  • MA/MS and 6 years of relevant experience, OR
  • BA/BS and 8 years of relevant experience, OR
  • Or high school diploma and 12 relevant years of experience
  • Experience must culminate in a set of responsibilities similar to those of this position.
• Preferred Education and Experience
  • PhD and 5 years of experience in emergency relief, development and humanitarian assistance or working on USG-funded acquisition or assistance awards or the social dimensions of environmental and climate risk management, OR
  • MA/MS and at least 7 years of experience in emergency relief, development and humanitarian assistance or working on USG-funded acquisition or assistance awards or the social dimensions of environmental and climate risk management, OR
  • BA/BS and at least 9 years of experience in emergency relief, development and humanitarian assistance or working on USG-funded acquisition or assistance awards or the social dimensions of environmental and climate risk management, OR
  • High School diploma and 13 years of experience in emergency relief, development and humanitarian assistance or working on USG-funded acquisition or assistance awards or the social dimensions of environmental and climate risk management.
• Relevant degrees, significant study, or work experience in areas that include but are not limited to political/social ecology, environmental sciences and engineering, anthropology, sociology, water resources, environmental health, or chemical or physical and social sciences.
• Required to have US citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.

Additional Qualifications and Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of USAID nature-based related strategies and policies.
• Prior experience working or engaging with a U.S. Government Agency.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and summarize technical or acquisition and assistance findings and recommendations to non-technical professionals.
• Ability to lead consultative processes involving a wide range of stakeholders.
• Possess excellent judgment and reliability;
• Have strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail;
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Have strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite;
• Be able to multitask and work under deadlines in a fast-paced and collaborative environment;
• Be capable of prioritizing tasks and follow up on actions without prompting;
• Be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances; and
• Be willing to go the extra mile and participate as an active team member who assists other team members as necessary.

Team Credence Values and Core Performance Competencies

• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to meet obligations. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to organization policies and procedures.
• Collegiality: Recognizes that everyone at BHA and USAID unites in a common purpose and respects each other's abilities to work toward that purpose. Treat others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations. Adheres to organization philosophies on culture, diversity, and inclusiveness.
• Capability: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the organization.

Full pay range for this position is $135,000.00 to $165,000.00 per year, with the starting wage determined based on candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.