Fresh Jobs at Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)

Responsibilities

Under the oversight of the GCA Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions Lead, the (Senior) Program Officer will carry out the following:

• Lead Technical Assistance Projects: Develop and implement a diverse range of projects in collaboration with top Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including the African Development Bank and the World Bank. Your role will be pivotal in driving innovative and effective adaptation practices across various infrastructure sectors.
• Collaborate for Impact: Work closely with MDB task teams and governmental stakeholders, integrating climate adaptation in key infrastructure projects. You'll be focusing on sectors such as transportation, energy, and critical ICT infrastructure across Africa and Southeast Asia.
• Innovate in Adaptation: Play a proactive role in conceptualizing and supervising cutting-edge technical assistance projects. Your creativity and leadership will guide nature-based solutions and infrastructure climate adaptation efforts.
• Build Capacities: Coordinate with regional and international partners to strengthen the capabilities of national and local governments and NGOs.
• Develop Knowledge and Networks: Engage in knowledge development related to infrastructure adaptation and resilience. You'll participate in workshops and meetings, contributing to GCA's strategic direction and expanding our network in the infrastructure adaptation sector, and prepare various knowledge products like policy briefs and reports, highlighting GCA’s impactful activities.
• Manage External Expertise: Oversee the procurement and management of external consultants and firms, ensuring high technical quality in project delivery.
• Contribute to the on-the-job development of GCA staff and partner organizations.
• Take on other related duties, as needed, in this dynamic and impactful role.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A master’s degree in environmental or civil engineering, or a closely related field emphasizing infrastructure development or climate resilience.
• At least 3 to 7 (for Senior level) years of experience in managing large-scale infrastructure resilience projects. Your expertise could be in any of these areas:
• Technical design and finance in climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Cross-sectoral resilience, including nature-based solutions.
• Specialized projects addressing climate hazards like floods, storms, and extreme heat.
• Effective Communication: Excellent English proficiency, oral and written to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and report information at the executive level.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Skilled in facilitating processes and working efficiently in diverse team settings.
• Flexibility and Travel-Ready: Willingness to travel internationally (5 to 8 times a year).

go to method of application »

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 PhD 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.