The Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) was established by Section 7 (1) of the Environment Management Act (EMA) of 2017 as the principal agency for the protection and management of the environment and sustainable utilization of natural resources. MEPA coordinates, monitors, supervises and consults with all relevant stakeholders on all activities relating to the utilization and management of the environment and natural resources.

The MEPA is inviting applications from suitable, highly qualified, experienced and motivated candidates to fill the positions of: Director General, Director of Planning and Information Management Services; Director of Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Management and Director of Assessments and Inspections tenable at its secretariat situated in Arwa House, City Center Lilongwe.

1. DIRECTOR GENERAL (Re-advertised)

The Director General shall be responsible to the Board of Directors for the efficient and effective management of MEPA. The successful candidate shall have overall responsibility for managing the Authority for the achievement of its objectives and ensuring that its performance is in line with the policies of Government and the Board.

Grade: ME 1
Reporting to : Board of Directors
Directorate : NA
Staff Responsible for:

: Director of Planning and Information Management services
: Director of Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Management
: Director of Assessments and Inspections
: Legal Services Manager
: Finance Manager
: Human Resource and Administration Manager
: Procurement and Disposal Officer
: Senior Internal Auditor

PURPOSE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose of the Job

Take charge of Authority’s Secretariat by providing strategic leadership and management; for the achievement of the Authority’s objectives in providing the regulatory services for environment and natural resources management.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Management.

• Provide innovative leadership to the Secretariat geared at achieving MEPA’s objectives of promoting environmental management and its overall performance and progress;
• Lead in the coordination and regulation of the environmental, natural resources and climate change management activities in the country and issuing overall related reports for the MEPA;
• Provide support and technical advice in the formulation of environmental, natural resources and climate change policies, strategies and operation programs of action to ensure that they contribute effectively and efficiently to the goal of the Authority.
• Maintain a positive and ethical work climate that is conducive to attracting, retaining and motivating top-quality employees at all levels.
• Develop and recommend to the board; strategies, policies, work-plans and budgets ensuring the implementation of programmes in the Authority in line with government development policies, goals, objectives and initiatives while responding to the needs of Malawi and the world in general;
• Formulate, develop and recommend for Authority’s approval internal policies, long term strategies, business plans and budget;
• Serve as secretary to the board and its committees.
• Represent the Authority in public forums, conferences, and meetings, articulating the organizations position on environmental matters.
• Providing overall day to day leadership and administration, ensuring effective functioning of the Authority.
• Prepare and present appropriate reports to the Authority and government as required from time to time.
• Initiate and participate in scouting for new partnerships in environment, natural resources and climate change.
• Attend to queries related to environmental, natural resources and climate change management operations.
• Supervise work and supervises heads of Directorates.
• Ensure quality service, cost effective management of resources and promoting institutional accountability in compliance with public finance management act and other relevant legislations.
  Prepare reports on the exercise and performance of the environment, natural resources and climate change functions and status of the environment including financial reports is submitted to the Minister.

2. Knowledge Management, Visibility and Publicity.

• Coordinate documentation of analytical reports (technical and financial) for dissemination to stakeholders.
• Uphold the authority’s commitment to provide timely, accurate and balanced material information about the authority in accordance with the disclosure policy.
• Ensure effective relationships are established and maintained with stakeholders, investors, including governments, the financial community and the general public.
• Maintain a liaison with national and international bodies and organization to provide input and lobby for support to the Authority to achieve its objective
• Provide leadership for the development and execution of a comprehensive strategic visibility to advance the Authority’s position, reputation and brand;
• Engage with local and international communities on sustainable management of the environment by raising awareness on environment and natural resources and climate change management for sustainable development.

3. Financial/Business Management.

• Ensure that MEPA operates a proper and efficient accounting system and maintains books of account to reflect true and fair financial position of the Authority and in conformity with the Public Finance and procurement legislation and other relevant legislations;
• Engage in aggressive resource mobilization through development of program/project proposals to compliment the resources that the authority gets though fees and Government subvention.
  Ensure that funds raised by the Authority and those provided by government are properly managed following financial management standards, systems and procedures to ensure accountability, transparency and compliance;
• Develop annually, for consideration by the Board, sound business plans and budgets to meet the authority’s goals and objectives.

4. Quality Assurance

• Monitor the implementation of environment, natural resources and climate change management standards so that the practice is consistent with both regional and international standards and best practices.
• Ensure the Authority develops and maintains a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement and accountability and professional development.
• Ensure lead agencies in the environment and natural resource management and climate change sectors comply with all relevant laws
• Establish, monitor and maintain appropriate management systems to provide effective internal controls of operations

5. Human Resource Management

• Lead in implementations of responsive Conditions of Service including Performance Management System
  (PMS) and staff development plans.
• Lead in developing and maintaining a continuous plan for the development and performance management of senior officers, including appointment, training, mentoring and monitoring of their performance.
• Exercise disciplinary control over the staff under him or her.
• Identify organizational structure changes and staff skill requirements and put in place required management systems and processes to manage the motivation of staff;

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Minimum Academic and Professional Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in the fields of Environmental Sciences, Law, Natural Resource Management or a relevant Social Science degree
• At least ten (10) years of experience in a relevant field of environment and natural resource management, climate change and social management.
• A PhD in Environmental Sciences, Law, Natural Resource Management or a relevant Social Science degree will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience at senior management level managing multilateral and bilateral-donor funded programs

Additional Skills and Abilities

• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skill, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational management, including budgeting, resource allocation, and staff supervision.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with government agencies, NGOs, industry representatives, and community organisation.
• Strong advocacy and public speaking skills, with the ability to represent the organisation in public forums.
• Passion for environmental conservation and sustainability, and a commitment to promoting environmental stewardship
• Demonstrated experience and evidence in resources mobilisation especially in development of funded project proposals with multilateral and bilateral institutions.
• Vast experience in partnership management through collaboration, networking and south-south cooperation.

2. DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Directorate: Environmental Planning and Information Management
Reporting to: Director General
Responsible for : Environmental Planning, Monitoring and Research Manager; Environmental Information Management and Education Manager

PURPOSE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose of the Job:
To oversee environmental planning, monitoring, evaluation. Learning, research and environmental information management programmes in the authority

Key Roles and Responsibilities 

• Coordinate the review of Malawi 2063 on the ENRM sector;
• Provide economic advice on the benefits of sound environmental management;
• Oversee the evaluation and monitoring of environmental projects, programmes and plans in the ENRM sector;
• Plan and develop strategies, plans and programmes/projects for the protection and management of environment, natural resources and climate change.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of programmes of the protection and management of the environment, natural resources and climate change.
• Facilitate and commission research on the protection and management of environment, natural resources and climate change.
• Develop and manage projects including all projects falling under waste and chemicals management, biodiversity, climate change and Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
• Provide environmental information management and publication services
• Collect, process and disseminate information on the work of authority.
• Any other duties assigned by the Director General.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE FACTORS

Qualifications and Experience

• Masters of Science or Master of Arts in Environmental Sciences or Environmental Economics or Business Administration or Policy and Planning or Communication for Development or any related field.
• A PhD in Environmental Economics or Environmental Planning or Natural Resources Management or Environmental Sciences or Environmental Management will be an added advantage.
• At least ten years’ experience in planning and information management
• Demonstrated experience in documentation of business case studies and success stories

3. DIRECTOR OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Grade: ME2
Department: Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Management
Reporting to : Director General
Responsible for: Biodiversity Conservation Manager ; Climate Change Manager

PURPOSE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose of the Job:
To oversee biodiversity conservation and climate change management

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Provide overall technical advice, support and assistance to the Authority on biodiversity conservation and climate change management matters;
2. Provide direction in the development, implementation, coordination of regulatory frameworks on climate change and biodiversity conservation
3. Provide direction in the implementation of national and international commitments relating to biodiversity and climate change
4. Contribute to the effective operations of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Division by participating in strategic planning processes and making recommendations on operational matters of the division;
5. Supervise and lead management of biodiversity and climate change issues; being accountable for effectively managing budgets, work plans, resources and personnel that would influence the shape and direction of outcomes, and services for the Authority
6. Develop regulatory framework for climate change management.
7. Develop standards and guidelines for climate change management and climate proofing.
8. Provide direction in the development, implementation and coordination of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and legislation, regulations and policies affecting the management of biodiversity;
9. Build and maintain a cohesive and motivated biodiversity management team through technical backstopping, coaching, mentoring and planning and implementation of capacity building activities on biodiversity conservation and management issues targeting MEPA staff and partners;
10. Support preparation of new funding concepts and proposals on biodiversity conservation and management related issues.
11. Support Review of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments with a view of ensuring that adequate measures to ensure biodiversity and climate change management are incorporated in development programmes and projects;
12. Provide specialist technical support in biodiversity and ecosystem services management as may be required by different Government sectors and institutions, NGOs/CBOs, the Private Sector, Academia and individuals;
13. Provide technical support to ensure the integration of biodiversity and climate change management considerations into the District Environment Action Plans and Development plans;
14. Monitor the management biodiversity and climate change interventions by sectors, institutions, private sector and individuals to ensure compliance with the Environment Act and other relevant laws;
15. Document analytical reports (technical and financial) for dissemination to stakeholders
16. Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Director General.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE FACTORS

Qualifications and Experience

• Masters’ of Science Degree in Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, Environmental Sciences or other Natural Resources Related field,
• Those with PhD in the above fields will have an added advantage
• At least ten years’ experience in biodiversity and climate change
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization.

4. DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENTS AND INSPECTIONS

Grade: ME2
Directorate: Assessments and Inspections
Reporting to : Director General
Responsible for: Inspection and Enforcement Manager; Environmental and Social Assessments Manager; Licensing and Permit Manager

PURPOSE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose of the Job:
To oversee environmental and social assessments, licensing of operations and inspection of projects, sites and companies

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate Advisory Committee on Environmental and Social Assessments (ACESA) documentation including minutes, annotated agenda and issuance of certificates;
2. Develop and implementing ESIA environmental regulations that ensure the protection and restoration of environment and natural resources;
3. Provide technical advice to the Director General, ACESA and Board on environmental and social assessments;
4. Initiate development of standards for pollution control in collaboration with Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS)
5. Guide and coordinate environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), inspection and compliance of environmental standards and legislation.
6. Enforce ESIA provisions in accordance with the EMA, ESIA regulations, guidelines and other legislations and development projects.
7. Coordinate the monitoring of industries development projects to ensure that the activities do not degrade the environment and are not a danger to the public health.
8. Coordinate the implementation of the polluter pays principle extended producer responsibility and any other pollution control instruments or schemes.
9. Initiate the development and review of ESIA guidelines and regulations.
10. Provide advice on projects to ensure that these are compatible with sustainable development principles.
11. Liaise with relevant ministries, departments, NGOs and the private sector to enhance environmental quality
12. Represent the Authority in key environmental meetings in international, Government, and key stakeholders such as industry representatives, non- governmental organizations.
13. Prepare annual work plans, budgets and progress reports for the directorate
14. Represent the Authority at local and international fora and events.
15. Support in the preparation of Board documentation including minutes, annotated agenda and matters arising;
16. Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Director General.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE FACTORS

Qualifications and Experience

• Masters of Science (MSc) in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Social Science or any related field.
• A PhD in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management will be an added advantage.
• At least 10 years’ experience in environmental assessment and inspections
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization

APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION

The successful candidates shall be offered a five (5) year contract which can be renewed once for another five years, with an attractive salary and gratuity package commensurate with seniority of the posts and qualifications of the candidates.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications including a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), photocopies of relevant certificates, names and addresses of three traceable referees, one of which must be from the most resent employer should be sent to the following address not later that 26th March 2024.

Comptroller of Statutory Corporations
Department of Statutory Cooperation
Capital Hill, New Building, New Building, Ground Floor
P.O. Box 30061
Capital City, LILONGWE 3

MEPA is an equal opportunity employer and only short-listed applicants will be acknowledged and invited to the interviews