Job Description

OFFICE LOCATION

Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta-Indonesia Program Office

A LITTLE ABOUT US

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. Whether it’s career development, work/life balance, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all of our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued.

Although you’ll see requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Passion, innovation, and diversity are all key components to advancing our Mission and we encourage you to apply.

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

Though our Protecting and Restoring Blue Carbon through Shrimp-Carbon Aquaculture (SECURE) in Indonesia, we aim to implement a new approach to restoring mangroves in Indonesia for carbon storage and coastal ecosystem resilience and to increase shrimp farmer livelihoods through an ecosystem approach to aquaculture. The project will explore the impacts of mangrove coverage in and around shrimp ponds.

The Blue Carbon Specialist provides technical and scientific support and leadership for a range of conservation initiatives in Indonesia. They may supervise and manage staff members, volunteers, interns, contractors, or temporary staff. 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 Jakarta and will be an in-country hire. No relocation or visa sponsorship or other immigration assistance is being offered with this position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Blue Carbon Specialist provides technical and scientific support for conservation initiatives in Indonesia through YKAN’s Coastal Resilience Strategy to help fill critical capacity and knowledge gaps and contribute to larger-scale expansion of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS), specifically in the area of shrimp pond and mangrove restoration. Natural Climate Solutions offer nature-based climate change mitigation through protection, sustainable management, and restoration of forests, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands. The Specialist will work in close collaboration with other staff and partnerships in supporting the guidance, design, and implementation of research, including impact analysis, assessment of co-benefits, and analysis of climate change mitigation potential for nature-based solutions (in particular blue carbon projects). The 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 the organization working areas. As part of a global learning network, the NCS Prototyping Network, they will connect and regularly engage with similar projects in multiple global geographies to share information and support peer-to-peer learning.

The Blue Carbon Specialist conducts scientific surveys and research, records data, and writes reports in order to administer and coordinate blue carbon projects and NCS research, analysis, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning specific to mangrove impact analysis, conservation and restoration in Indonesia. They lead projects and teams to guide and deliver science, reports, and publications to better understand and quantify climate change 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 the private sector. As a strong project manager, they develop and implement workplans and manage grants, contracts, and project budgets. They contribute to and build science capacity both for team program by actively engaging and contributing to the NCS Prototyping Network.

This may include the following functions:

• Develop and implement NCS research, especially in the context of mangrove conservation and restoration, multi-benefit aquaculture, blue carbon, and other related conservation activities.
• Perform fieldwork including ecosystem, carbon stock, greenhouse gas emissions, and/or co-benefit assessments and monitoring, and work with local communities and partners on data and knowledge collection.
• Lead and support the establishment of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks that provides knowledge to develop conservation strategies.
• Develop, collect, and analyze data, and maintain a database library, maps, spatial analysis systems, monitoring reports, and publications.
• Integrate multiple scientific workstreams and teams and ensures overall data quality.
• Actively engage in NCS Prototyping Network and trainings.
• Prepare program materials including presentations, memos, and other communications.
• Provides research and expertise in support of policy analysis, legislative, corporate and/or policy priorities.
• Represent YKAN at meetings and on committees where technical input is required.
• Develop strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, academic partners, conservation organizations, and/or the private sector.
• Facilitate engagement with stakeholders to support establishment of blue carbon projects, including designing, preparing, implementing, and evaluating workshops, meetings, and events.
• May occasionally support proposal development to include science content in priority proposals.
• The Blue Carbon Specialist will be based in Jakarta and report to the Coastal Resilience Senior Manager while also working very closely with additional Indonesia, regional, and global network.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Develop adaptive management work plans, conceptual models, and design conservation strategies.
• Develop, manage, and oversee programs within a conservation area or program.
• Deliver tools, data, field services, and training to staff and partners.
• Design and implement experiments relative to program area.
• Supervise staff on a project basis and coordinate fieldwork and logistical support for research, project development, and monitoring.
• May manage grants, contracts, or request for proposal.
• 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 in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in science related field (such as environmental science, climate, social science, natural resource management, etc.) and 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience collecting, manipulating, analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting scientific data.
• Experience preparing reports and publications of findings and communicating scientific information.
• Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people, such as local communities, partners/government agencies, research institutions, and the private sector.
• Fluency in oral and written Bahasa Indonesia and English.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Master’s degree in a related field and 5-7 years’ experience in related practice, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Research experience in mangrove and seagrass management, coastal biogeochemistry, extensive aquaculture, or blue carbon finance.
• Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and learning constructs and implementation.
• Experience with statistical analysis and/or GIS/remote sensing.
• Experience managing staff, project, workloads, and finances under deadlines.
• Experience coordinating complex projects in a decentralized organization, working across teams, operating units, and functions to achieve optimal results.
• Experience in building knowledge and technical capacity.
• In-depth knowledge and sensitivity with local and in-country social, economic, and political conditions and issues.
• 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.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 50912, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

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