Senior Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary on National Climate Agenda & Environment at Palladium International

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The expert will be embedded in the Cabinet Secretary’s office to:

• Provide strategic advisory support to the Cabinet Secretary for effective engagement with development partners, stakeholders and on international matters.
• Facilitate inter and intra-ministerial coordination by supporting structured engagement across forestry, energy, agriculture, water, and finance sectors to promote integrated climate and environmental action.
• Advise on donor alignment to ensure support is consistent with national priorities and strengthen Kenya’s access to climate finance.
• Offer technical guidance on carbon market readiness, including interpretation of the 2024 Climate Change (Carbon Market) Regulations and positioning Kenya to benefit from nature-based and carbon market opportunities.
• Guide on preparation of high-level policy briefs and statements to support Kenya’s participation in global and regional forums (e.g., COP, Africa Climate Summit, UNGA) with technically credible and impactful messaging.
• Advise on inclusive policy development by identifying entry points for integrating gender, youth, disability inclusion and Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives into climate and environment strategies.

Required Qualifications:

Academic Competencies

• A master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field: This could include Forestry, Environmental Science and policy, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change, or a related discipline.
• Specialized training or certification: Additional certification in climate finance multi-stakeholder coordination, governance, or institutional development is desirable.

General Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience: In senior-level public sector advisory in climate/environment policy- supported by broader experience in diplomacy and international relations, demonstrating a strong track record of supporting ministers or senior government leaders and facilitating inter-ministerial or multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Proven leadership capacity: Experience providing high-level policy advice, building institutional capacity, and managing cross-government or donor coordination processes.
• Extensive sectoral and/or regional expertise: Strong understanding of Kenya’s climate, forestry, and environmental governance landscape, with demonstrated engagement at both national and regional levels.