We sat down for five minutes with Jorge Salinas, who serves as a Program Associate on USAID’s Environmental and Social Safeguarding Support (ES3) project. Here he tells us about his experience at EI, the power of open conversations with supervisors, and his outlook on career opportunities.
How would you describe your role at EI?
As an Associate supporting USAID’s ES3 project, I provide environmental compliance related support to various USAID operating units. Every USAID project has to complete the environmental compliance process, whether or not it is an environment-focused project, which means there are thousands of environmental compliance documents to review across the Agency’s broad portfolio. Right now, I backstop the Europe and Eurasia Bureau and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mission Environment Officers and help them manage compliance processes. It’s kind of fun and really interesting, I get to look at all of these different USAID activities across the region and learn about a broad spectrum of development work.
What drew you to work at Environmental Incentives?
I actually heard about EI a few years before I applied to work here. I was in grad school for sustainability leadership at Arizona State and attended a Society for International Development (SID-US) panel that EI’s Amy Gambrill moderated. That was the first time I heard of EI and I wasn’t looking for a job at the time, but remembered the name when I eventually began my job hunt.
In 2020 I was working in the USAID contracting space and still hoping to transition to the environment sector. I applied for a role with EI and interviewed, but ultimately wasn’t hired. Then a few years later I applied to a different role and joined the Program Cycle Mechanism team in 2022 as a Program Associate.
EI appealed to me for a number of reasons. It was in the sector I wanted to be in, I liked the types of projects, and I was interested in working with a smaller company and the opportunities that provides.
What is your favorite part about working for EI?
The people at EI are such a great draw and it really contributes to the positive atmosphere. Especially in the world of hybrid/remote work, it’s nice to be able to go to the office a couple times a week and to know no matter who I sit with it will always be a nice vibe. Everyone is passionate about what they work on and so knowledgeable about different things, we really are a very cool bunch of nerds.
What is your proudest moment at EI?
When I was working on PCM I was handed a very complicated portfolio, it took a while for me to get my bearings. Eventually I got it to a place where I could hand it off to someone as I went on parental leave. I am very proud of working through that knot and being able to come back from leave and it was still fully functioning without me.
What inspired your transition between teams at EI?
I really credit my PCM supervisors Ryan Haik and Shawn Peabody—early on they were open about talking about career goals and aspirations. I told them I was interested in eventually moving to more technical work and they were super supportive. They gave me space to take on gigs to position myself for technical work. Then the timing worked out well, ES3 started right after I got back from parental leave, and it was a natural turning point.
What are your favorite pastimes?
I really like spending time outside, my wife and I moved out of DC a couple of years ago to Maryland, and I am enjoying having a yard. It’s nice to be around some green space and I love playing outside with my ten-month-old daughter. I love watching her take it all in, it’s really nice to share that love for being outside with her.
What is one food you can’t live without?
I have to say pupusas. Any time I’m about to go on a trip to Massachusetts where my wife’s family is from or to Europe, I have to get my Salvadorean fix before I leave so I know I’ll make it through the trip.
What is your biggest achievement to date?
Having a child. The transition to parenthood is a lot and really puts work life balance to the test. For me, switching projects right after parental leave and figuring out how to be a parent all at the same time was a lot all at once. But it’s been rewarding and amazing. My daughter is doing well and watching her grow is incredible. She’s not walking on her own yet, but she likes to try out her steps, any day now!
Any other thoughts or words of wisdom?
People often say you should follow your passions, and I have maybe an asterisk to add. Following your passions is important, but I think that you should always keep your mind open to what else you might be interested in and be willing to be passion adjacent. I think that mindset yields more opportunities, you don’t know where you’ll end up. I wanted to do more traditional environmental work, I had never even heard of environmental compliance, but I was open to the possibility. Now compliance is a big part of my job and I find it really interesting, you never know what you might discover if you have an open mind.
Thanks for chatting with us, Jorge!
