IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
JOB NUMBER: 750002
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
JOB LOCATION: Brasilia, Brazil
BACKGROUND:
Forging a comprehensive global policy framework on climate change will require bridging the historical divide between the interests and obligations of developed and developing countries, one of the most contentious issues in the international negotiations on climate change. Brazil, as one of the largest developing economies in the world, and the third largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, is one of the most important players in the international climate and forest debates. Developing effective climate policies and positions in Brazil is critical to catalyzing positive momentum towards a global climate policy framework.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Senior Policy Advisor develops, coordinates and implements a strategy to interact directly with government, national, and multi- and bi-lateral agencies within South America to build support for policy and funding initiatives that support our global and regional climate change objectives. S/he will develop strategies for climate change policy that help protect TNC’s priority ecoregions and conservation areas from the threat of climate change, as well as leverage the potential linkages between conservation efforts and the climate change agenda. The Senior Policy Advisor monitors emerging policy issues and legislation of importance to the Conservancy’s climate policy strategy, identifies climate change policy and funding opportunities, evaluates the potential for TNC and NGO partner involvement, and develops and implements strategies and builds partnerships to influence relevant South American state and national climate change policies, as well as official government positions in international climate negotiations, with an initial emphasis on Brazil.
S/he will work with others inside and outside the Conservancy to develop and build support for climate policies that:
• Include long-term commitments to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases
• Recognize the impact of land use change activities on climate change
• Create incentives for forest protection, restoration, and sustainable management
• Assure an appropriate role for high-quality forest and land use carbon credits, including creation of financial incentives to avoid deforestation emissions
• Promote nature-based strategies and provide resources to assist people, plants and animals in adapting to climate change.
Within Brazil, initial focus is expected on the proposals under development for the Amazon / Mato Grosso, specifically related to State expectations on reduced deforestation, as well as supporting the development of conservation-based carbon payment mechanism(s). In addition to influencing policies and positions on climate change, the Senior Policy Advisor provides expert policy analysis and contributes directly to the Conservancy’s strategies for increasing funding for climate change work by providing input to bilateral and multilateral agencies and building support for state and federal appropriations.
The Senior Policy Advisor reports to the Director of External Affairs for South America and liaises with external affairs counterparts within and outside South America, with a multi-disciplinary global climate team and with conservation staff within South America to provide and extract useful lessons and experience from TNC’s work, and to coordinate on joint policy approaches. S/he works with others to reach out to influential policy makers, international negotiators, key opinion leaders and the press. S/he also serves as contact with the external professional community in the policy arena to keep abreast of new developments and opportunities that may be useful to the Conservancy and to report on and share the Conservancy’s experiences with others. The Senior Policy Advisor will play a role in educating Conservancy staff and volunteer leaders within Brazil and elsewhere in South America about proposed national and international policy positions, and the Nature Conservancy’s perspectives on these proposals.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
• Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant field (e.g, political science, public policy, economics, law) and 6+ years related experience or equivalent combination. Three or more years’ direct national government and/or international agency experience, or experience working closely with national government and/or international agencies.
• Extensive knowledge of public policy issues related to climate change and energy, including political, social, economic, and scientific conditions and issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills in English and Portuguese (Spanish highly desirable).
• Familiarity with biological carbon sequestration, forest conservation, cap-and-trade program design and/or issues relating to helping people, plants and animals adapt to climate change desirable.
• Strong network of relationships with Congressional staff and other policy makers, the climate community, and industry.
• Demonstrated experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives. Ability to analyze legislation quickly and accurately, with an eye toward strategic implications.
• Experience researching and analyzing information from divergent sources and compiling it into a cohesive structure.
• Demonstrated ability to be a focused, effective and persuasive advocate.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including ability to meet deadlines and manage time and diverse activities.
• Ability to achieve results in a constantly changing environment.
• Proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience in MS Office, Word, and Excel. Ability to use advanced computer functions including navigating the Internet. Ability to manipulate, analyze and interpret data.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
• Diagnoses complex problems and identifies creative solutions.
• Cultivates the creative ideas of others to identify potential solutions. Experiments to find creative solutions – thinks outside the box.
• 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.
• Negotiates complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
• Significant opportunity to act independently within broad program goals.
• Makes strategic decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
• Decisions may have program-wide impact.
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT –FINANCIAL & SUPERVISORY:
• Serves as a team leader for assigned projects which may require gaining cooperation of geographically dispersed team over whom there is no direct supervisory authority and whose members have multiple competing objectives.
• Supervises no staff but may help plan and direct the work of volunteers or interns.
• May assist with program budget preparation and monitoring.
• Responsibility and accountability for meeting departmental strategic goals and objectives.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
• Ability to persuasively convey the mission of TNC and its climate change policy messages to diverse groups.
• Ability to develop constructive and effective relationships both inside and outside the Conservancy.
• Ability to prepare and present proposals for projects and strategic initiatives and negotiate with internal and external partners to achieve program goals.
• Work in partnership with other organizations in a collaborative and advisory capacity.
• Effectively directs and or participates in complex negotiations.
• Ability to write and edit informational materials that capture policy nuance and detail.
• Communicate with a wide range of people – Conservancy staff and volunteers, government officials, community leaders, the press, partner organizations, the public, program leadership, donors, and others.
• Consistently demonstrate professional, positive, and approachable attitude/demeanor and discretion.
• Good team-playing skills, including diligence, creativity, good personality, and a healthy sense of humor.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
• Work requires only minor physical exertion and/or strain. Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements.
• Work requires willingness to travel up to 30% of the time, often on short notice.
TO APPLY:
Submit cover letter and resume by May 23, 2008 to climatejobs@tnc.org. Please include job title in subject line of email.
The Nature Conservancy
