Wetlands International is the only NGO dedicated to the safeguarding and restoration of wetlands. At the heart of our vision is a plan to demonstrate whole landscape recovery in large wetland landscapes including mangroves, peatlands and freshwater wetlands across the world. These are landscapes which are among the top global biodiversity treasures, but which are also sources of much of the world’s land-based climate emissions and where people are most poor and vulnerable. To make a global difference we seek to inspire and mobilise society to act and to influence levers of change.

We have an exciting and rare opportunity for a Senior Technical Officer, Wetland Carbon Developer to accelerate landscape recovery. In this role, you will be at the heart of our global efforts to conserve and restore wetlands for people and nature.

About our work to reduce climate risk

Urgent action at scale is needed to address the combined challenges of climate change and ecosystem degradation. Healthy ecosystems – particularly wetlands - store vast amounts of carbon in their soils and biomass, but can become a source of emissions upon degradation. Wetlands also buffer climate change and enhance resilience. Despite the potential for nature-based solutions to deliver both the emission reductions and adaptation needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, investment has so far been limited. By helping countries to include wetlands in their NDCs we seek to leverage investments. A further opportunity for landscape recovery is the fast emerging carbon investment funds specifically targeting natural capital. Our new wetland carbon programme comprises a rapidly growing portfolio of projects and programmes, working to reduce climate risks across wetland landscapes all over the world and involving a range of sectors. The work is collaborative, done in and through strategic public and private partnerships and with cutting edge networks.

Purpose of the role

The Wetland Carbon Developer is responsible for the inception of integrated wetland carbon projects in the context of Wetlands International’s strategic partnerships and programmes, to enable upscaling of our impact. This work involves scoping of suitable landscape scale sites, project idea development, carbon accounting and business case development according to the highest standards. The Wetland Carbon Developer will translate the latest scientific knowledge into policy recommendations and best practices and will support capacity building within the network of offices. To achieve this, the Wetland Carbon Developer will act as part of the global wetland carbon programme and will work closely with the network offices and stream teams as well as our key public/private partners for project initiation and resource development.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Scoping of potential sites to protect and restore wetland carbon stores while enhancing biodiversity and community resilience.
• Translating the latest scientific insights into policy recommendations and best practices to influence standards, actors and sectors.
• Develop project idea notes for integrated wetland carbon projects at the landscape scale with technical staff from network offices, associated experts and partners.
• Calculating preliminary carbon footprints for projects as well as value chains according to the highest standards.
• Support development of business cases and innovative financial instruments.
• Support development of wetland carbon partnerships and associated fundraising.
• Building the capacity of and support the Wetlands International network to initiate, develop and implement holistic landscape scale wetland carbon projects through the community of practice.
• Management of associated project contracts and budgets according to Wetlands International policies and standards.
• Nurture and maintain specialist expert networks relevant to the field of wetland carbon.
• Represent and promote Wetlands International with external partners and networks on various levels and in a multitude of international settings as appropriate.
• Carry out other tasks according to the organisational needs as agreed with the Programme Head in individual workplans.

Working relations

INSIDE Wetlands International:

Global Management Team, Programme Heads, Communications and Advocacy staff and other technical and operations staff in head office; Heads of Office and technical staff from network offices, Associate Experts.

OUTSIDE Wetlands International:

Institutions, conventions, governments, company/ private sector representatives, NGOs and specialist partners and wider networks of Wetlands International.

Profile

The Wetland Carbon Developer is a purposeful and creative analyst and initiator with the professional insights, active networks and carbon accounting experience to swiftly initiate integrated wetland carbon projects in close collaboration with a network-wide team and related partners. S/he proactively recognizes opportunities and acts upon them and has an entrepreneurial attitude. S/he is a team-player, number cruncher and quick thinker. 

Education and experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience with carbon accounting according to e.g. Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard, GHG accounting protocol and/or Science Based Target initiative.
• At least 5 years of professional experience with the policy, technical and practical aspects of carbon project initiation and development, working with dispersed teams and diverse partners.
• Experience/affinity with land use sector, specifically nature based solutions and/or wetlands.
• Knowledge of key issues, debates, trends and key global processes related to mobilising integrated carbon projects.
• Proven ability to translate complex science on carbon emission and sequestration into practical guidance and recommendations.
• Strong willingness and ability to learn, share and innovate; proven ability to build capacity and mobilise ideas in close collaboration with colleagues.
• Diplomat, good listener with strong interpersonal skills and comfortable working across different cultures and levels of society.
• An elaborate international network with relevant (international) NGOs, academics, knowledge institutes, governments, and other regional & global institutions.
• Education: minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Language: excellent communications skills in English, essential: written, oral and presentation. Knowledge of other languages (especially French, Spanish, Dutch), a plus.
• Commitment to Wetlands International’s mission, values and ways of working.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly.

 Core competencies

• Analytical Thinking - Adopts a systems perspective, assessing and balancing vast amounts of diverse information on the varied systems and subsystems that comprise and affect the working environment.
• Entrepreneurship - Transforms innovative ideas into actions that achieve business or people results.
• Accuracy - Consistently delivers work of a high standard of quality, precision and according to standards, procedures, rules, regulations and expectations.
• Planning and Organizing - Adapts to large, complex and/or frequent changes. Ability to get things done under pressure (result oriented), while maintaining oversight and planning.
• Organizational and Environmental Awareness - Demonstrates broad understanding of social and economic context within which the organization operates.
• Teamwork - Facilitates collaboration across the organization and with other organizations to achieve a common goal.

 How to apply

To apply for this vacancy, please send us a resume and an application letter indicating your motivation to Jozefa van der Veen, HR Officer hr@wetlands.org. Please mark in the subject: “Application – Senior Communications Officer, Mangroves. Questions about the vacancy and/or procedure can also be sent to this email address.

Deadline for the application is Sunday 9 May 2021.

Interviews will take place in the week commencing 24 May 2021.

“Due to the high amount of applications, we can only contact short listed candidates.”