Blue Carbon Specialist at Nature Conservancy

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Blue Carbon Specialist provides technical and scientific support for conservation initiatives in Kenya through TNC’s Africa Ocean Strategy to help fill critical capacity and knowledge gaps and contribute to larger-scale expansion of NCS, specifically in the Northern Coast of Kenya. As part of a larger learning network at TNC, the NCS Prototyping Network, they will connect and regularly engage with the NCS Prototyping team and similar projects in multiple global geographies to share information and support peer-to-peer learning. The Blue Carbon Specialist will be reporting to Africa Forest Carbon Catalyst Director while also working very closely with Africa Fisheries Strategy Manager.

This is a termed position scheduled to end December 2023 with the possibility for extension subject to funding and meeting project outcomes. The location for this position is Lamu or Mombasa in Kenya, with frequent travel to Lamu.  No relocation or visa sponsorship or assistance is being offered with this position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Blue Carbon Specialist (Kenya) conducts scientific surveys and research, records data, writes reports and conducts other tasks in order to administer and coordinate Kenya Blue Carbon Projects and NCS research, analysis and monitoring, evaluation and learning specific to mangrove impact analysis, conservation and restoration in the North Coast of Kenya. They work in close collaboration with other staff and partnerships in supporting the guidance, design and implementation of research, impact analysis, assessment of co-benefits and the analysis of carbon mitigation potential for nature-based solutions (in particular blue carbon projects) that can be linked to carbon markets. The Blue Carbon Specialist provides scientific, technical, and project management support and leadership to priority projects. They will help execute ongoing blue carbon project, design priority projects to test key assumptions, verify progress, and evaluate impacts of specific conservation interventions, while also identifying or developing approaches and tools that can be used more broadly across TNC. They lead projects, guide teams and deliver science, reports and publications to better understand and quantify carbon mitigation and other co-benefits specifically related to blue carbon. They liaise with and develop strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, academic partners, conservation organizations, and/or industries. They use project management skills to support the development and implementation of workplans, grants, contracts, and project budgets. They contribute to and build science capacity both for the Kenya and Africa Regional programs but also for TNC by actively engaging and contributing to the NCS Prototyping Network. They also use TNC’s Code of Conduct and Competencies as a baseline to conduct their actions and be an example for others.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Develop and implement NCS research, especially in the context of mangrove, blue carbon, and restoration/conservation activities.
• Perform fieldwork including ecosystem, carbon and/or co-benefit assessments and field monitoring and working with local communities on data and knowledge collection.
• Facilitates engagement with stakeholders to support establishment of blue carbon project, including designing, preparing, implementing, and evaluating workshops, meetings and events.
• Lead and support the establishment of a MEL plan that provides knowledge to develop conservation strategies.
• Develops strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, academic partners, conservation organizations, and/or the private sector.
• Develops, collects and analyzes data and maintains a database library, maps, and spatial analysis of key habitats and resources, and monitoring reports.
• Integrates multiple scientific workstreams and teams and ensures overall data quality.
• Provides research and expertise in support of policy analysis, legislative, corporate and/or policy priorities.
• Deliver spatial analysis, data, field services and training to teams and partners.  
• Represents TNC at priority meetings and on committees where technical input is required.
• Provide limited support to include science and MEL content in priority grant proposals.
• May prepare program materials including presentations, memos, and other communications.
• May supervise volunteers, interns, contractors or temporary staff.
• Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
• May work flexible schedule and travel frequently throughout the region. Works independently, working with supervisor as needed.
• May work over the weekends, in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in biology, environmental science, climate, environmental engineering, natural resource management or related field, and 1 year of related work experience in science, research and/or equivalent combination of education/experience.   
• Experience collecting, manipulating, analyzing and interpreting scientific data, spatial analysis and/or GIS.
• Experience preparing reports of findings.
• Experience working with local communities, partners/government agencies and the corporate sector.
• Fluency in oral and written English. Fluency in Swahili is highly desirable.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Master’s degree in a related field and 3-5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Experience with mangrove ecology and mangrove conservation and restoration.
• Experience with statistical analysis and/or remote sensing.
• Blue carbon analysis, accounting and or expertise in developing Blue Carbon credits, especially in mangroves or other marine habitats.
• Experience with Measures, Evaluation and Learning constructs and implementation. 
• Intimate knowledge, and sensitivity with local and in-country social, economic, and political conditions and issues.
• Experience coordinating complex projects in a decentralized organization, working across teams, operating units and functions to achieve optimal results.
• Experience in building networks or organizational capacity, facilitating informational sessions, increasing internal knowledge and capacity, 
• Experience identifying key stakeholders and building and maintaining strategic partnerships.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements and contracts.
• Experience in taking initiative and working independently or with minimal oversight.
• Excellent organization skills and coordination skills.
• Politically savvy.