VACANCY TITLE: 34-008 | (Senior) Specialist: Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

TEAM: Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

LOCATION: Rotterdam, the Netherlands or Nairobi, Kenya

LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time – 40 hours per week

START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11 November 2024

SENIORITY: Seniority will be determined based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Who We Are

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization working to accelerate action on adapting to climate change. We support adaptation solutions at the international and the local levels, partnering with the public and the private sector.


Our focus is firmly on those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; communities least prepared to withstand the health, social, and economic impacts of the climate emergency are our priority.


Founded in 2018, our organization is based in regional offices across key global locations. Our Europe office is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in the largest floating office in the world. We also have regional offices in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, and Beijing, as well as a dedicated knowledge and research hub in Groningen, the Netherlands.


Our work encompasses high-level policy development, research, agenda-setting and advocacy to drive faster and deeper climate adaptation. We collaborate closely with partners to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of results where they are most needed.



What You Will Do
GCA seeks a dynamic and creative individual with strong analytical and communications skills to fill the role of Specialist Infrastructure and NBS, based at the GCA floating office and headquarter in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, or in our upcoming regional office in Nairobi. This role will focus on the implementation of a growing portfolio of infrastructure and NBS projects, including leading engagement with multiple stakeholders and strategic support to GCA’s Infrastructure and NBS program implementation in Africa and South-East Asia.
You’ll have the unique opportunity to contribute to the impactful implementation and development of the Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions Program, contributing across different activities:

• National infrastructure risk and resilience assessments to support countries to identify the key adaptation needs and prioritize a pipeline of infrastructure investments.
• Integrating adaptation and resilience into public and private infrastructure investment projects from MDBs. The identification and appraisal of adaptation and resilience options include structuring NBS investments as relevant to enhance infrastructure project’s resilience.
• Capacity building to mainstream climate resilience across the infrastructure lifecycle.

The Specialist Infrastructure and NBS will be responsible for managing independently a portfolio of projects, essentially in Africa, within an ambitious and scaling-up program, helping countries build climate-resilient infrastructure and leverage NBS at scale to address adaptation needs.


Responsibilities
Under the oversight of the GCA Global Lead for Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions, the Specialist Infrastructure and NBS is expected to perform the following activities:

• Strategically develop and implement a pipeline of projects across infrastructure sectors and countries in Africa and South-East Asia, formulate concept notes , design activities with innovative and solutions-oriented approach, lead procurement, implementation, reporting and management of GCA upstream technical assistance support to resilient infrastructure and NBS projects in Africa and South-East Asia. This is including but not limited to the preparation of project concepts, procurement documents, contract management, planning tools, and progress monitoring and reporting. This requires an in-depth understanding of how to use climate data and analytics and appraise innovative adaptation and resilience solutions (incl. NBS), with focus on quantifying climate risks to infrastructure and providing practical, innovative solutions to climate-proof public and private infrastructure investment projects.
• Lead the engagement with MDB task teams and development partners to identify forward-looking adaptation projects and investment programs on resilient infrastructure and NBS in Africa that contribute to the strategic development and implementation of GCA’s work under AAAP and in Bangladesh. Frequent travels in Africa / South-East Asia will be required to organise or participate to projects’ missions.
• Identify emerging climate change adaptation trends and challenges, evaluate and secure the potential for GCA to provide added value, develop internal and external project briefings and presentations to showcase technical insights and support learnings across projects.
• Develop and review reports, presentations, public communication material, and project briefs, ensuring that all project outputs are technically robust and with a clear narrative. Identify innovative and cutting-edge analytical approaches to be replicated in upcoming activities.
• Develop or contribute to the preparation of knowledge products – e.g., policy briefs, news stories, reports – on GCA’s activities and work program in Africa, as well as internal and external capacity building activities under the Resilient Infrastructure pillar of AAAP.
• Further strategically expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national, regional, and local stakeholders, including to present the impact of the work of the Infrastructure and NBS Program to external stakeholders globally.

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience in developing and implementing strategies, programs and projects in the area of infrastructure development projects (strategic, technical, financial, procurement), in relation to climate adaptations, demonstrated with:
  • Master's degree or Ph D in relevant fields.
  • At least 10 years and more (for Senior level) of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, with a focus on climate adaptation in Africa as a significant advantage.
  • Experience in advising government agencies, financial institutions, international organizations, or private sector in ongoing and new development projects infrastructure.
  • Strong understanding of key subject areas such as climate data analytics, resilient infrastructure, NBS, and project finance.

• Strong project conceptualization and management skills, with:
  • leadership, coordination, reporting and strategic thinking, with ability to articulate complex ideas into clear outputs with a coherent narrative to a diverse audience of stakeholders at technical and strategic levels.
  • Innovative thinking to conceptualize projects activities in line with strategic objectives and at the forefront of stakeholders needs.
  • Excellent planning, procurement, and communication skills with a solutions-oriented approach.

• Motivation to work in a global organization dedicated to accelerating action for climate adaptation, with:
  • Ability to collaborate effectively against ambitious targets in a multicultural team and to work with diverse stakeholders at different technical and strategical levels
  • Excellent English, additional language skills especially French is a plus.
  • Ability to travel internationally regularly.

WHAT WE OFFER
With our global headquarters in Rotterdam on the world’s largest floating office, and regional offices around the globe, the GCA offers a dynamic, high-profile, and international working environment in a growing organisation. You will be contributing to our global mission on climate adaptation. You will have the opportunity to draw upon the substantial expertise available at the GCA and its partner organizations across the world and you will be given an opportunity to support the shaping of international policies and global action on climate change, working at the highest governmental levels and collaborating with governments on all continents.


At GCA, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team where everyone feels valued. We warmly welcome applicants from all walks of life and do not discriminate in any of our programs or activities based on race, colour, religion, sex, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Join us and contribute your unique perspective to our collective success.


HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this position, please submit your motivation letter and CV by following the link https://gca.org/about-us/join-us/ before 11 November 2024.


Our recruitment process is designed to be both engaging and insightful. It begins with a written assessment, followed by three rounds of interviews. Throughout these stages, you'll have the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of GCA team members who are eager to learn about your personality, skills, and potential. This journey also allows you to gain a deeper understanding of GCA's objectives, culture, and values. We look forward to discovering how we can achieve great things together.


All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. The Global Center on Adaptation also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.