IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
JOB NUMBER: 450004
SALARY GRADE: 5
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
LOCATION: Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The state of Mato Grosso – encompassing 90 million hectares – has been the site of 40 percent of Brazil’s deforestation in the past five years, contributing to hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions. One third of the state has been converted, driven largely by rapid expansion of the soy and cattle frontiers. Building on strong state infrastructure, growing interest from agribusiness and civil society and an MOU signed between the state of Mato Grosso and the Federal Government in Bali, The Nature Conservancy is supporting a state-level program to reduce deforestation emissions in Mato Grosso. This program has the potential to significantly slow, if not halt, deforestation in the most dynamic agricultural frontier in the tropics.
The Conservancy is working with partners (including state and federal government agencies, other NGOs and the private sector) to develop a comprehensive analysis of the current situation and design a state-wide plan of action to reduce emissions from deforestation.
The state-level initiative will pilot the necessary elements of a program on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), and will be a globally relevant example of how this mechanism can work at very large scale. Demonstrating a successful program in Mato Grosso is a critical step to garnering support for similar efforts in other Brazilian states. 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.
The REDD Pilot Coordinator will direct all aspects of The Conservancy’s participation in the REDD Pilot in Mato Grosso. S/he serves as the main contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, private sector and the academic community as it relates to the pilot.
The candidate should possess deep knowledge and/or experience in the following areas: deforestation dynamics in the Amazon basin; public policy on forest-related issues in the Amazon; development of action plans to reduce deforestation; project management; carbon finance. Solid knowledge of initiatives to conserve forests in the Amazon 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 and teamwork abilities are also critical, as well as fluency and excellent writing skills in English and Portuguese.
This may include one or more of the following functions:
• Manages TNC’s participation in the REDD pilot development in Mato Grosso.
• Develops/refines project plan and coordinates work with partners.
• Works closely with the state government of Mato Grosso and ensures an adaptive strategy to the pilot coherent with TNC’s global REDD program and with the Brazilian national climate agenda
• Provides project management expertise and technical support to state government in pilot development and implementation and in defining the climate change agenda
• Acts as the primary contact with partners and state government on REDD issues
• Supports regional REDD discussions
• Acts as the key contact for TNC in Brazil for issues related to the Mato Grosso REDD pilot
• Ensures the production of documents and publications that provide wide communication of lessons and best practices from the state pilot
• Represents TNC as needed in external events within the state
• Writes proposals in support of the state level pilot
• Articulates the importance of forest carbon as it relates to reducing deforestation at the state level
• Leads and coordinates work groups consisting of multiple participants from TNC and other organizations
• Ensures appropriate consultation with stakeholders within Mato Grosso
• Works closely with other TNC staff in the state, such as Mato Grosso working landscapes coordinator, Mato Grosso state representative, and Federal Government Relations staff
• Works closely with TNC’s global team developing REDD pilot programs
• Through the work in Mato Grosso, establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within REDD sphere in Brazil
• Supervises work of technical staff and consultants, including development of scopes of work, oversight of deliverables, etc.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
• Graduate degree and experience in conservation practice.
• 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 Portuguese
• 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 Director I 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 30% of domestic and international travel
• require evening and weekend hours
This position will be based in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil and report to the Amazon Operating Unit Director
The applicant must meet requirements for employment in Brazil 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.
