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Go DeeperClimate Change Team About The Nature Conservancy Careers at The Nature Conservancy |
REDD Program Specialist
POSITION TITLE: REDD PROGRAM SPECIALIST
JOB FAMILY: Conservation
JOB NUMBER: 250005
SALARY GRADE: 7
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
JOB LOCATION: Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
BACKGROUND:
Indonesia boasts tremendous natural resources, but forest loss and degradation has been extensive due to pressures for wood products, oil palm other agricultural products, and development. As a result, Indonesia is one of the top countries globally in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Eighty percent of Indonesia’s emissions come from forest loss and degradation, which is both planned and unplanned.
In 2007, Indonesia took a leadership role in the global dialogue on the topic of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) when it convened leaders of other forest-rich countries for a joint statement on the topic, and also launched a national REDD strategy development process. Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry convened international experts to support the development of a national REDD framework. Following a clear endorsement of demonstration activities at the UN climate conference in Bali in December, the Government of Indonesia is anticipating a demonstration phase including a range of initiatives throughout the country.
The Nature Conservancy has worked in the province of East Kalimantan for more than seven years, engaging in ecoregional planning, improved forest management, and collaborative management approaches. Through this work, TNC has developed strong relationships with the Provincial government, a number of district governments, communities, and key private sector partners. Building on this experience, TNC has begun working with provincial and district governments, and other partners to explore opportunities for REDD demonstration activities in East Kalimantan.
A successful program in East Kalimantan will pilot the necessary elements of a REDD program and will be a globally relevant example of how this mechanism can work at very large scale. It is one of several large-scale pilot projects that TNC is supporting around the world to test ways to link performance-based financial incentives to carbon emissions reductions.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The REDD Program Specialist will be part of a team at The Conservancy participating in the REDD program development in Indonesia. The main goal of this program is to help develop large-scale REDD demonstration activities that support the development of a national REDD program, serve as a global example that enables international REDD policy agreement, and contribute to TNC’s conservation priorities on the ground. The candidate should possess deep knowledge and/or experience in the following areas: deforestation dynamics in Indonesia; public policy on forest-related issues in Indonesia; development of action plans to reduce deforestation; project management; carbon finance. Solid knowledge of initiatives to conserve forests in Indonesia and the region, and climate change negotiations is also highly relevant. The candidate should possess strong academic training and graduate degree in a relevant field of the natural or social sciences. Leadership, the ability to manage technical staff, and teamwork abilities are also critical, as well as fluency and excellent writing skills in Bahasa Indonesia and English.
This may include one or more of the following functions:
• Provides project management expertise and technical support to provincial and district governments in pilot development and implementation
• Develops/refines project plan and coordinates work with partners
• Acts as a primary contact with partners and local government on REDD issues
• Supports regional REDD discussions
• Acts as the key contact for TNC in Indonesia for REDD pilot related issues
• Ensures the production of documents and publications that provide wide communication of lessons and best practices from the provincial pilot
• Represents TNC as needed in external events
• Writes proposals
• Articulates the importance of forest carbon
• Leads and coordinates work groups consisting of multiple participants from TNC and other organizations
• Ensures appropriate consultation with stakeholders
• Works closely with Indonesia REDD Advisor, Terrestrial Program Manager, National Government Relations staff
• Works closely with TNC’s global team developing REDD pilot programs
• Establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within REDD sphere in Indonesia
• Supervision of technical staff
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
• Graduate degree and 5-7 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong project management skills. Successful experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects.
• Knowledge about deforestation trends, forest code, forest carbon emissions and carbon finance
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans
• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives
• Delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers
• Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and Bahasa Indonesian
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising would be an advantage
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance.
• Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc); political savvy.
• Proven interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
• Diagnoses complex problems and identifies creative solutions
• Manages and prioritizes tasks from multiple sources
• Negotiates complex agreements, sometimes in political environments
• Interprets guidelines, evaluates information, and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances
• Designs, implements, and directs complex and diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization. Incorporates cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives
• Develops and implements creative ideas to improve overall performance in conservation strategies
• Formulates, evaluates, and decides broad organizational policies and long-term programs
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
• Ensures program accountability and legal compliance
• Assesses decisions’ potential impact on colleagues’ work, public image, scientific credibility and financial and legal standings
• Makes decisions based on incomplete or ambiguous information and accepts associated risks
• Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, experience and judgment
• Makes strategic decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
• Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development. Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives.
• Responsible for operating within budget guidelines to ensure sound financial performance. Develop and administer departmental budget and has authority to modify budget based on changing circumstances.
• Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
• Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
• Develops long-term strategies and achieves strategic goals and objectives
• Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
• Builds cooperative relationships and collaborates with diverse groups, including land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members, academic community, corporations, private sector, associations, indigenous groups representation and the general public
• Commands attention, changes tactics midstream as necessary, and manages group processes during presentations or discussions
• May speak with and in front of varied audiences on scientific topics and the Conservancy’s mission
• Work effectively in high-tension situations and maintain composure under pressure. Diffuses high-tension situations comfortably
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff, and others, providing and obtaining needed information
• Ability to articulate lessons learned regarding conservation initiative successes and failures
• Ability to simplify and explain complex scientific data to general audiences
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The Program Specialist may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions may:
• require occasional physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• present occasional possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings
This position may also:
• require up to 40% of domestic and international travel
• require evening and weekend hours
This position will be based in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia and report to the Indonesia REDD Advisor. The applicant must meet requirements for employment in Indonesia such as appropriate visa.
TO APPLY:
Submit cover letter and resume by May 23, 2008 to climatejobs@tnc.org. Please include job title in subject line of email.
