Team Leader / Ecology Expert with Focus on Hydrobiology Mekong River Commission

Mekong River Commission

 

The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being

 

MRC Secretariat is now recruiting highly qualified consultants for the following consultancies

 

Team Leader / Ecology Expert with Focus on Hydrobiology

(International/Riparian Consultant)

Initiative for Sustainable Hydropower (ISH), Planning Division

150 working days from March 2013- July 2014

Home based and at the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR

 

Objectives:

The Team Leader will coordinate the implementation of the work and all team members. In addition, the Team Leader is responsible that the team cooperates closely with ISH and regional agencies to guarantee achievement of the required outputs for the Identification of Ecologically Sensitive Sub-Basins for Sustainable Development of Hydropower on Tributaries.

Main Tasks

• Responsible for coordination of all team members and related work to guarantee achieving the required outputs for the Identification of Ecologically Sensitive Sub-Basins for Sustainable Development of Hydropower on Tributaries.
• In particular the Team Leader will be responsible for the finalisation of all reports after review by team members and the ISH Team and National Stakeholders.          
• Responsible for close cooperation with NMCs and regional agencies and for facilitating the national/regional consultation process to agree on the study approach and especially the classification scheme as well as the pilot site.
• Coordinating the thorough gathering of existing data and methods in the region with the assistance of the team and regional institutes, research organisations, consultants and expert groups.
• Responsible for designing the classification scheme to identify and determine ecologically sensitive sub-basins/areas.
• With the IWRM specialist, responsible for the proposal development for an approach on planning and management solutions for sustainable hydropower development taking into account ecologically sensitive areas.
• Responsible for developing the strategy for up-scaling experiences of the pilot study and compile a detailed budget and practical implementation and plan.
• Responsible for reporting to MRCS ISH regularly and for the timely submission of well drafted reports.

 

Deliverables, Timeframe, Payment Schedule

Main Deliverables	Timeframe	Percent of Payment
Component 1 – Study development and draft classification scheme 1. Inception report including (after 1 month): ·         the regional/international literature review to develop the study on the classification scheme and overall approach (see Activity 1 of Component 1), ·         the results of an initial round of MRC Programme consultations, and ·         a detailed road map for the execution of the study. 2. Interim report on Component 1 including (after 7 months): a list of basic criteria (based on the literature review) for the classification scheme the classification scheme to identify ecologically sensitive sub-basins/areas proposals for thematic maps a proposal for an approach on planning and management solutions for sustainable hydropower development taking into account ecologically sensitive areas description of the agreed pilot basins. power point slides including approaches, findings and outcomes 3. Reports on the national consultations	60 days By month 7	40 %
Component 2 – Pilot basin testing 1. Pilot Basin Study including (after 14 months): a description of the testing approach, the classification scheme and the work performed including all applied criteria; a description of the related data collection process; an outline of existing knowledge gaps; ecologically sensitive areas in the pilot basin (respective mainstream and tributaries) and their ecological value; location of existing and future hydropower development; thematic GIS maps; results of the interactive planning and management consultation for testing how gained information can be applied towards sustainable hydropower development considering the ecologically sensitive areas; a proposal how to upscale the tested pilot approach to the basin-wide scale and a conclusion if the performance of Component 3 is feasible.   2. Reports on the national consultations – including rationale and decision on Component 3.	50 days By month 14	33 %
Component 3 – Scoping of work for basin-wide up-scaling 1. Report on basin-wide up-scaling including (after 15 months) a summary of all deliverables of the previous reports and including the scoping of work needed for basin-wide up-scaling of the tested classifications system to identify ecologically sensitive sub-basins as well as areas connected to the Mekong mainstream Detailed plan for the basin wide up scaling as agreed. 2. Executive Summary (to be updated by month 18) Readily translated language for non-experts 3. Reports on the national consultations (to be updated by month 18): Summary of key outcomes, findings and adaptations	40 days By month 17	27 %

 

Required qualifications

·         At least 15 years professional international experience and a higher degree in hydrobiology, water/natural resource management and/or environmental sciences (preferably PhD);

·         High-level knowledge and experience in relation to ecosystem and riverine classification and typology;

·         Sound knowledge and experience of the Mekong Region and the economic, social and environmental context for this work;

·         experience on classification and typology according to the EU Water Framework Directive or equivalent is an advantage;

·         Proven experience in the management of multi-disciplinary teams;

·         Demonstrated ability to write technical reports which can be readily understood by decision makers and the general public;

·         Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people;

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;

·         Familiarity with the LMB and Mekong River Commission but particularly in developing countries would be beneficial

The Term of Reference and other information can be obtained at MRC websitehttp://www.mrcmekong.org/working-with-mrc/employment 
Qalified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

 

Application procedures:

The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the requirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. (iv) Five-page brief of the methodology planned to be used (v) 3 referees with the contact details (vi) Financial Proposal. The position title must be indicated in the cover letter. The application should be sent to:

 

Mekong River Commission
Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV)
P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org

Closing date for applications: 14 January 2013