Saturday, February 14, 2015

U.S. climate change coordinator for Guam, Marshall, etc., should be on Guam or nearby

The U.S. is hiring a "climate change coordinator" to cover all its islands, and then some. This person will have responsibility for coordinating federal policy as it pertains to climate change, for Guam, the Marshall Islands and others under the Compacts of Free Association. 

This person will be based in Washington, and will occasionally travel to meet with officials of these various islands. This is a mistake. The person picked for this job ought to be working from the islands most affected.

There is something to the Washington's inside-the-beltway mentality. That's my experience. This area is rich with policy wonks, and discussions always steer in the direction of the big global geopolitical view. This creates distance from the voices of the marginalized, and that includes the residents of Guam and Marshall Island residents and others.  

Since the low lying islands are experiencing the impact of climate change and rising seas firstly, it makes sense to have the climate change coordinator actually stationed in this region. In that way, this person could become attuned to the subtle, and irreversible, adaptations and impacts that island people are dealing with. 

Alternatively, the U.S. could make it a priority to hire someone from one of these islands who could speak to the impacts and urgency of climate change. 

What U.S. lawmakers and policy makers need are people who really understand this issue from an emotional as well as policy point of view. Ultimately, a climate change coordinator will also be an educator for the uniformed and an effective person will also be one who is living with the consequences. 



Job Title:Climate Change Coordinator
Department:Department Of The Interior
Agency:Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Job Announcement Number:OS-KN-15-MM1290203(DEU)

SALARY RANGE:

$76,378.00 to $118,069.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Monday, January 26, 2015 to Monday, February 9, 2015

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-0301-12/13

POSITION INFORMATION:

Full Time - Term NTE 3 Years

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

13

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington DC, DC View Map

WHO MAY APPLY:

United States Citizens

SECURITY CLEARANCE:

Public Trust - Background Investigation

SUPERVISORY STATUS:

No

JOB SUMMARY:

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Islanders.
This position is located in the Washington D.C. office of the Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Insular Affairs, Policy Division. The Office is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the U.S. Insular areas of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. Federal assistance provided to the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association.

The incumbent of this position works closely with senior management and will have primary responsibility for coordinating Federal policy and implementing national and local strategies in the insular areas to help them plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

This is a term appointment in the competitive service and will be for a period not to exceed 3 years with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointments to this position, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

Salary Range Information:
GS-12:  $76,378 - $99,296
GS-13: $90,823 - $118,069
* First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.
This vacancy is also announced as OS-KN-15-MM1290204(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

  • Occasional Travel
  • Travel will be required to meet with insular area officials to evaluate and coordinate Federal policy and to implement national and local strategies in the insular areas to help them plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

  • No

KEY REQUIREMENTS

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination
  • You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.