The Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Until 22 February 2013
CALL FOR A SENIOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT EXPERT
for the project “Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of development of the Arctic”
related to the initiative on the EU Arctic Information Centre
On behalf of the project’s consortium of the EU Arctic Information Centre initiative, the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland is seeking for a Senior Impact Assessment Expert in Rovaniemi, Finland to work for the Preparatory Action: “Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of development of the Arctic” project funded by the European Commission. The Senior Impact Assessment Expert will be responsible for the leading, implementation, coordination and quality assurance of Work Package 2: Impact Assessment Process.
1. BACKGROUND:
The Preparatory Action: “Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of development of the Arctic” project is designed to contribute to identifying impacts of development of the Arctic in order to support decision-making processes and to enhance dialogues about Arctic.
The project aims to increase awareness about: the Arctic and its changing political, economic and environmental landscape; the impact of EU policies; and the importance of impact assessments for the use of decision- and policy-makers and the related legal processes.
The key idea of the project is to create an efficient application of science-based information and its fulfilment with views and perspectives of stakeholders both inside and outside of the Arctic. The work is based on the wide participation of leading communication and research centres as well as the direct involvement of the EU policy- and decision-makers, regional and local stakeholders in the project processes.
The proposed Preparatory Action is an effort to carry out an assessment and to develop methods and tools for improved outreach, communication and impact assessments for Arctic development.
The project is carried out by the following network: Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Arctic Centre of the University of Groningen, Arctic Portal, Committee on Polar Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Ecologic Institute, European Polar Board of the European Science Foundation, Finnish Meteorological Institute, International Polar Foundation, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sámi Education Institute, Scott Polar Research Institute of the University of Cambridge, University of the Arctic Thematic Networks and Thule Institute of the University of Oulu, Tromsø Centre for Remote Technology of the University of Tromsø, United Nations Environment Programme/GRID-Arendal, The National Research Council (CNR), Ecorys, FRAM Centre.
The post is available in the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland that is located in Rovaniemi, Finland. Foreseen starting date is March-May 2013, and the duration 12 months. According to the official salary levels of the Finnish University system the offered salary is between 4500 – 5100 euros depending on the applicant’s experience.
2. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT EXPERT:
a) Responsibility for implementation, coordination and quality assurance of Work Package on Impact Assessment Process within given time, assigned budget and by assigned team, and therefore reaching aims of the Work Package 2:
- To assess the impacts of development in the Arctic and of EU policies affecting the Arctic region on the political, economic and environmental landscape of the EU and the Arctic region, as well as to provide information on such impacts for use by decision- and policy-makers, including the role of impact assessments.
- To successfully implement the following project’s activities:
- Carrying out and concluding impact assessment process
- Carrying out Final Workshop in Brussels to present the results
- To ensure timely achievement of the following project’s deliverables together with responsible sub-package leaders:
- Factsheets (Political, Economic, Environmental) (month 8)
- Stakeholder consultation # 1 in Rovaniemi (month 9)
- Stakeholder Recommendation Report #1 incl. matrix (month 12)
- Stakeholder consultation # 2 in Tromsø (month 13)
- Stakeholder Recommendation Report #2 incl. matrix (month 15)
- EU Arctic Impact Assessment Report (EU AIAR) (month 15)
- Impact Assessment in Policy-making Report (IAPR) (month 15)
- Final Workshop in Brussels (month 17)
- Final Report (month 18)
- To strengthen information exchange between EU institutions and Arctic stakeholders, including civil society, and contribute to the assessment activities of the Arctic Council.
b) Responsibility to actively contribute to the Implementation Group - operational core of the project - consisting of 3 key experts: Project Leader, Senior Communication Expert, and Senior Impact Assessment Expert, supported by the Project Manager.
3. PROFILE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SENIOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT EXPERT
a) Essential requirements:
1. Higher education (university degree).
A Masters or PhD degree in economy or regional planning, social and/or environmental studies or related fields is required. Nonetheless an eligible person with proven years of relevant high professional experience will be given consideration.
2. General professional experience.
Proven senior level of experience of a minimum of 5 years in the field of impact assessment, management, policy-analysis or related areas.
3. Specific professional experience.
Minimum requirement of 3 years professional experience relevant to assessment of regional, social or environmental and political development trends in the Arctic region.
4. Project management experience.
At least 3 years of experience in managing and/or implementation of the programmes/projects financed by the European Union will be considered as an asset;
5. Languages: fluent English (spoken and written).
b) Qualifications and skills required:
- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of impact assessment techniques and participatory methodologies in the regional, social, environmental, political and/or economic fields.
- Strong analytical and presentational skills including preparation of reports.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and lead stakeholder consultations related to impact assessment.
- Organizational, communicational and managerial skills;
- Ability to delegate work and to supervise staff will be considered as an asset;
- Ability to cope with stress situations will be considered as an asset;
- Ability to identify problems and risks and to propose solutions will be considered as an asset;
- Analytical and strategic approach;
- In‐depth knowledge of the environmental, social and economic features of the Arctic region;
4. APPLICATION:
Interested applicants for the above position should submit the following:
1. Curriculum Vitae in Europass format (http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae)
2. A cover letter in English of no more than two pages, briefly describing the suitability and experience of the candidate for the position in relation to the tasks and qualifications relevant to the post.
3. Proof of main documents on education translated into English, professional experience and language knowledge will be requested in case of interview.
5. SUBMISSION:
All the documents shall be submitted in English with reference no: Reference no: AC - 22/02/2013: Senior EIA Expert.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to: kirjaamo@ulapland.fi not later than 22.02.2013.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE APPLICATIONS is 22 February 2013.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an online interview.
For further questions or information please contact Kamil Jagodzinski, Project Manager, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, kamil.jagodzinski@ulapland.fi or Paula Kankaanpää, Director, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, paula.kankaanpaa@ulapland.fi.
This position is co‐financed by the European Union through the Preparatory Action.