VACANCY NOTICE, COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER

The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) is a 15-megawatt hydropower scheme located in Malango, Ward 20 of Guadalcanal Province, 30 km southeast of Honiara. The Project is managed by a dedicated Project Office (PO) operating under the Solomon Islands 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 Offtaker) 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 Islands 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 responsibilities

Report to the Environment & Social Safeguards (ESS) Manager and or in his/her absence, the Deputy Project Manager (DPM)
Liaise and promotes to the communities the safeguard components of SIG’s and the THL contract with the ESS Manager and Community Liaison Officer – CLO (Gender)
Promotes and coordinates between THL/HEC and local communities, press and NGOs and prepare awareness on the social monitoring contractor to assist the communities in the implementation of the social monitoring baseline survey
Support the Cooperative Administrator in ensuring the tribal cooperatives are governed according to the Co-operative Societies Act (Cap. 164).
Engage and provide awareness to communities with THL as required to, in consultation with the ESS Manager and DP Manager
Prepare annual community engagement work plan to monitor THL’s obligations under the Safeguard Documents and Environmental & Social Management Plans (ESMPs), and local labour obligations under the Implementation Agreement, including preparing KPIs of THL’s safeguard obligations
Facilitate and conduct consultation with affected communities and ensure that consultants comply with concessional finance parties safeguards policies
Establish a record management system for the community engagement in consultation with the DPM and document community meetings and consultation through the Project Data Management System
Set up and work with community reference groups (e.g. men’s, women’s, youths, and leaders etc.).
Disseminate project information to affected or interested communities
Record community grievances in accordance with the projects Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
Assist the ESS Manager to monitor, and assist THL in implementing the project company’s GRM in accordance with the safeguard documents
Assist and support the Environment and Social Safeguard Monitoring (ESSM)Officer to implement the Land Acquisition & Land Restoration Plan (LALRP)
Support the implementation of the Japanese Government Social Development Fund (JSDF)/Community Benefits Share Project (CBSP) through working closely with the Community Benefits Share Project (CBSP) Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator.
Support the ESS Manager in liaising with the Tina Core Land Company (TCLC) Directors to ensure that the TCLC company rules and the Land Lease Agreement with THL are adhered to.
Engage and manage the archaeological cultural sites survey consultants to undertake mapping and lead the negotiation with the site owners, pay compensation or relocate cultural sites where appropriate
Review the Community Engagement work plan for the construction stage of the Project
Prepare quarterly report in deliverables to ESS Manager
Convene regular or as needed community awareness with all stakeholders quarterly to provide updates and discuss joint approaches to arising issues
Maintain an up to date contact list of Community Awareness Minutes

Required qualification & experience

University degree in Arts, Social development, management, social sciences, social 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 manage 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 consultation or engagement with experience in the country
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’ environment and land laws and environmental consents beneficial
ONLY Solomon Islands nationals are eligible to apply

Details of the position can be obtained (8.00am-4.30pm) working days from Deputy Director Energy Division gaimaea@mmere.gov.sb OR Director Energy Division j.korinihona@mmere.gov.sb at Telephone no. 21525

The position is on full-time basis for a period of 2years with expected opportunity to renew up to a period of 3 years’ subject to satisfactory 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

Email: CVehe@mmere.gov.sb

Applications close 4.30pm, Monday June 15th, 2020.

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