Ministry of Mines & Energy: Environmental & Social Safeguards Monitoring Officer

VACANCY NOTICE 

ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS MONITORING OFFICER

The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) is a15-megawatt hydropower scheme located in Malango, ward 20 of Guadalcanal Province, 30 km southeast of Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The project is managed by a dedicated Project Office (PO) operating under the Solomon Islands Government’s Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE).

The project is designed to help the Solomon Islands develop its hydropower potential.

Solomon Power (as the offtake) signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on 6 December 2018 with Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), owned by Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and Hyundai Engineering Company Limited (HEC).

THL will build and operate the hydropower plant for 30 years as a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model of operation.

The Solomon Island’s Government (SIG) and THL have also executed an implementation Agreement (IA)and Government Guarantee Agreement (GGA) establishing rights and responsibilities between SIG and THL.

The project reached financial close on 12 December 2019, on which date the PPA, IA and GGA became fully effective.

The PO will be overseeing THL’s and SIEA’s implementation of the construction program for their respective Components of the Project, ensure that all requirements of the project financiers are fulfilled, and the project achieves the anticipated commercial operation date.

The PO is responsible for regularly reporting to SIG through the project steering committee and the project financiers on the implementation progress.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

•          Maintaining land ownership arrangements especially ensuring that the land Lease Agreement (LLA) between the Tina Core Land Company (TCLC) and THL is well understood by the parties and the parties continue to maintain their LLA obligations.
•          Implementing SIG’s safeguard and land obligations under the Implementation Agreement and Safeguard Documents including livelihood restoration activities, archaeological cultural sites survey and compensation, social impacts monitoring etc.
•          Conducting community engagement and consultation and implementing SIG’s obligations under the grievance redress mechanism and stakeholder engagement plan.
•          Monitoring compliance by THL and SIEA o the environment and social requirements in the Concessional Finance Party Agreements, On-lending Agreement, Safeguard Documents, and the Side Letter agreement between SIG and SIEA etc.
•          Gathering data and reporting on progress and compliance with environmental and social standards in SIG’s quarterly reports, alerting SIG to any significant non-compliances with the potential to halt SIG or Concessional Finance Party lending obligations.
•          Supporting the JSDF Community Benefit Share Pilot Project to comply with applicable environmental and social safeguards.

QUALIFICATIONS

•          University degree in environmental management, social sciences, environmental law or similar, with a minimum of 8 years post qualification experience
•          Experience preparing or reviewing safeguard documentation including Environmental and Social Impact Assessments or environment and social management plans
•          Experience implementing or monitoring compliance with environmental or social safeguard documentation, with experience in infrastructure and/or hydro projects preferred
•          Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, and proven tenacity to influence developers or private stakeholders to achieve safeguard outcomes
•          Ability to manage a complex project, work to deadlines, and establish procedures for monitoring and reporting.
•          Ability to work in a team, build professional skills, and set and monitor tasks and sub-projects
•          Strong interpersonal and communication skills including in a culturally diverse or multi-disciplinary environment
•         Experience in community consultant or engagement, with experience in Solomon Islands Pacific context preferred and ability to speak or willingness to learn Solomon Islands Pijin
•          Willingness to learn new skills and take on novel challenges, and a passion for development project delivery
•          Ability to review and manage contracts and advise on corporate governance obligations
•          Familiarity with Solomon Islands environmental consent beneficial

This is a full time position based in Honiara, Solomon Islands for an initial period of 2 tears with expected opportunity to renew up to a period of 3 years subject to performance.

There will be an initial probation period of 3 months.

Full curriculum Vitae and application letter detailing suitability for the position to:

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification

P.O Box G37

HONIARA

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Email: CVehe@mmere.gov.sb

Also Copy to the Project Office

Deputy Project Manager

Tina Hydro Project Office

Level 1 Anthony Saru Building,

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS

CC email to: office@tina-hydro.comor deliver your to the Tina Hydro Project Office

Applications Close August 24^th , 2022