Conservation International Senior Manager, Climate Adaptation Policy / International Policy

Senior manager, climate adaptation policy/international policy

Source(s) : Conservation International (CI)

Closing date : 30 Sep 2012

Location : United States of America (Virginia)

Job description

Description:

The Sr. Manager for Climate Adaptation Policy will work as part of the International Policy team and will focus primarily on issues related to CI's Climate Change Adaptation initiatives. He/she will also support coordination of CI’s interdivisional Climate Policy Team and Core Team, which engage in climate policy more generally in areas including not only adaptation, but also REDD+, agriculture, climate finance, and mitigation. This person will be a leader within CI’s multidisciplinary Climate Policy Team and will be responsible for leading the development of CI's institutional positions on topics of climate change adaptation policy in the international policy arena and guiding CI’s engagement on climate change adaptation within the UNFCCC and other international policy fora. He/she will support regional and national programs in engaging their governments to influence these fora and achieve policy objectives. The Sr. Manager will work across CI divisions in HQ and in the field in order to achieve these objectives. The position will also represent CI to external organizations, including with national government representatives, and form partnerships to achieve climate change adaptation policy goals.

Responsibilities:

• Lead CI strategy, policy solutions and influence related to climate change adaptation policy.
• Work across the institution to articulate CI's objectives and policy positions on climate adaptation and lead CI's engagement in UNFCCC adaptation and other major policy fora.
• Identify and coordinate CI engagement in key leverage opportunities in order to support inclusion of CI perspectives in adaptation and related policies.
• Lead the development of guidance and support materials and support the ability of staff across CI to use those documents to inform national and international policies.
• Provide readout and analysis of international policy decisions so that CI science, field implementation, communications and policy work can be consistent with evolving international policy and best practices.
• Support the identification of CI research and field demonstration activities that are policy relevant and leverage results for policy impact.
• Participate in CI’s climate adaptation team.Other duties as assigned by supervisor
• Lead CI's engagement in outreach and coalition-building related to adaptation policy by engaging decision makers from developing and developed countries and work with partners (e.g. NGOs, indigenous peoples’ organizations, inter-governmental agencies, multi- and bilateral organizations, including through the development of coalitions) to collaborate for strong support of policy and practice in ecosystem approaches and rights and equal benefit distribution for local communities in climate adaptation.
• Represent CI externally to identify key leverage and partnership opportunities for achieving CI's climate adaptation policy and practice goals and lead engagement in these.
• Assist CI’s interdivisional Climate Policy Team and Core Team to develop and refine strategic direction and technical support for CI’s climate policy efforts.
• Support and coordinate the development of CI climate policy strategy, communications, position papers and other planning documents and processes. 
• Support the Senior Director for Climate Policy with strategic climate policy team deliverables and activities including annual planning, leading meetings, developing strategies, creating analytical documents, supporting team processes, and organizing team building activities.
• Assist with developing CI internal and external presentations.
• Provide managerial support to the Climate Policy program, including administration, reporting and communications.
• Contribute to internal CCG planning, proposal writing, fundraising, strategy development and budget processes.

Working conditions:

• Normal office environment, Frequent travel to international meetings representing 30% of the work time.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Understanding of key conservation issues and the nonprofit sector.
• Master's degree in conservation science, climate, policy or development related field or bachelor’s degree and at least three years of professional experience in topics related to international climate policy forums and processes and climate change capacity building. 
• Highly independent worker able to assess a situation, make the necessary decisions and execute them.
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills, able to form collaborative working relationships with multiple groups internal and external to the organization.
• Strong strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage time and diverse activities.

Preferred:

• Established relationships in the climate change policy community and foreign language skills a plus. 
• Strong communication and presentation skills that can be adapted to a wide variety of people of different cultures and backgrounds -- CI staff, government officials, community leaders, the press, partners, donors, etc.
• Experience leading and/or participating on an effective team.

To Apply:
http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH08/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=CONSERVATION&cws=1&rid=345