Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA)
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.
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.
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
NB: Candidates who previously applied for the position of Director General can reapply.
MEPA is an equal opportunity employer and only short-listed applicants will be acknowledged and invited to the interviews