Climate Adaptation Specialist in Santo Domingo

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The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Climate Adaptation Specialist will provide wide-ranging leadership and support to the Resilient Islands Program in the Dominican Republic, focusing primarily on managing and implementing a set of select activities carried out at the site and national level. Activities will fall under major strategies that have been developed with the Program team, the Climate Adaptation Specialist will work very closely with other members of the RI Program Team in the Dominican Republic (Geography director/manager and administrative support staff), the RI Project Manager, the RI Program Management Unit, and regional staff. This position reports to the Director of Climate Adaptation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Climate Adaptation Specialist will be directly responsible for the following areas of work, in particular:

• With the support of the Program leadership (Director and Project Manager), develop country-level work plans.
• Lead the implementation of approved country-level work plans.
• Manage the technical aspects of the full range of activities in the country work plans in close coordination with the Director of Climate Adaptation, Project Manager, Greater Antilles Director/Dominican Republic Manager, and relevant TNC project staff and partners.
• In coordination with the Greater Antilles Director, manage relationships with relevant RI country partners and ensure their work is in line with overall project scope and on track for delivery as agreed in contracts.
• Be main point of contact for program leadership on implementation issues.
• With the support of relevant project technical teams (science and policy), plan and execute country project meeting/workshops logistics, create agendas and compile needed meeting materials beforehand.
• Proactively alert the program leadership of any obstacles or delays in the project process and propose options for fixing.
• Develop/manage contracts covering country-specific activities and checking that activity implementation is on track and any problems are identified in advance.
• Support the RI Project Manager in the preparation of project deliverables required by the donor agency including annual work plans, semi-annual and year-end technical reports, financial reports.
• Assist the Greater Antilles Director and Dominican Republic Manager represent and coordinate the program with Dominican Republic government.
• Identify/promote key stories and successes and liaise with program leadership and Marketing-Communications staff to ensure accuracy of content.
• Support strong RI related community relations, involving close liaison and coordination with TNC’s main local partners on the project.
• Write and edit, as needed, select communication materials in order to fulfill the program’s contractual obligations to the funding agency and meet other TNC and external communications needs, in collaboration with Marketing-Communications staff.
• Provide additional support as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Work with TNC team toward shared Resilient Islands program goals.
• Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
• Support budget development and tracking.
• Draft, negotiate and manage contracts.
• Communicate Resilient Islands plans and progress (written, verbal, presentations).
• Ensure program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
• Under minimal supervision, make independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BSc, and 5 years of experience in natural resource management (ideally marine / coastal conservation).
• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and Spanish.
• Relationship building experience to facilitate effective partnerships (e.g. government officials, NGOs, community groups, scientific researchers, educators, and rural communities).
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
• Experience with completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• MA, MsC and 5 years of experience in climate-related field, preferably Ecosystem Based Adaptation
• Knowledge of marine / coastal conservation practice, conservation science and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation.
• Knowledge of nature based solutions such as mangrove planting and reef enhancement techniques.
• Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
• Previous experience implementing projects funded by German federal grants
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in integrating people and nature, ecosystem-services and conservation, community-based resource management, participatory planning, and climate adaptation
• Proven ability to write professional reports, assessments, proposals, fact sheets, letters to government officials, and other professional level communications.
• Familiarity and experience with methodologies and tools related to the social science and economics dimensions of natural resources management.
• Experience working with Humanitarian Organizations (e.g. Red Cross National Society)

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION

Term: This position has an end date of June 30, 2021; an extension may be considered, but is not guaranteed.

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to position number 45468, submit resume (required) and cover letter as a combined document using the upload buttons. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 14, 2017.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of *The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.*

Job Title: Climate Adaptation Specialist

Location: Dominican Republic

Job ID: 45468

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time