Policy Associate at Conservation International

Position Summary

The Policy Associate supports the policy function in Africa by providing administrative, logistical, and research support to assist policy work in Africa, including in relation to climate, biodiversity, oceans, restoration, and other policy engagements in the region. The Policy Associate is a member of the Global Policy and Government Affairs program and his or her primary duty will be to provide administrative support to the Policy Director and to coordinate various policy initiatives that are of importance to the Africa Field Division. The Policy Associate will have the opportunity to engage in a range of policy issues and work within a highly collaborative program across the region and the globe.

This position will require developing a broad and comprehensive knowledge of CI’s policies, standard operating procedures, and values. Must have the ability to make independent judgments related to administrative matters and have the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management both inside and outside of CI. The position requires administrative and organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, good relationship-building skills, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the highest degree of professionalism. The Policy Associate will have direct interactions with other CI Senior Staff and will need to be able to professionally represent themselves at all times to internal and external audiences.

This position does not manage staff. Duties are performed under general supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Policy Director and policy function in Africa, i.e. scheduling meetings, events, travel, procurement, ICT, etc.
• Assists in developing, proofreading, fact-checking, and reviewing documents, presentations, and data analysis on behalf of the policy program.
• Assists the Policy Director in the development and implementation of policy initiatives in Africa and leads with the planning and coordinating of policy-related workshops and meetings, as well as related travel.
• Conducts research and analysis to assist with policy engagements in Africa as and when instructed by the Policy Director.
• Takes independent initiative and actively and fully participates in helping to keep track of the Africa Policy Workplan and Strategy as well as its objectives, providing updates and keeping the Policy Director appraised of progress, bottlenecks, or requests for support.
• Attends and reports on briefings, hearings, meetings, and conference calls as needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in a typical office environment with work from home expected.
• No international travel is expected and minimal national travel is likely (15%).
• May be asked to work outside of conventional office hours (8 am – 5 pm)
• Must have a work permit to work in Kenya and be Nairobi-based.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Up to 2 years of experience in administrative, research, or policy work in the private or non-profit sector or related work experience.
• Demonstrated interest in climate change, and/or biodiversity, and/or environmental policy.
• Strong administrative skills with examples of logistical and planning efforts in complex settings.
• Courteous, tactful, and proven ability to work effectively with others from a variety of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and complete work in a timely manner.
• Ability to handle confidential matters with a high level of integrity.
• Proficiency in database operations, Microsoft Office applications, and basic computer operations.
• Must be organized with strong attention to detail, proofreading skills, and the ability to work independently and within a team framework.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, policy, business administration, or any relevant field.
• A demonstrated passion for and interest in conservation and human development issues.