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REPRESENTATION AND NETWORKING The Director for EU Policy will represent CI to the European policy community and related organizations (European Council, Commission, Parliament, individual state members, interested NGOs and other centers of influence). S/He will have the unique responsibility of establishing CI as a credible policy player in the Brussels community and will need to build partnerships in the policy arena to ensure success. Close collaboration with Birdlife Europe, IUCN Regional Office for Europe, WWF-European Policy Office and other members of the environment and development communities engaging on EU policy issues in Brussels is expected. S/He will seek the integration of CI in the Brussels-based environmental NGOs known as the Green 10. - S/He will be responsible for collaborating with the CCG teams working on related international conventions, US policies and any relevant international fora to ensure that our approach to EU policies is part of a coherent strategy on each topic. This will include identifying opportunities to bridge US and EU policy (e.g. bringing members of the International Conservation Caucus to meet with members of the European Commission and European Parliament).
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT He will lead CI’s strategic engagement on conservation in the EU’s Overseas Entities, an area of growing attention within the EU, particularly with regards to climate change. This engagement will serve as a strategic entry point for CI that combines geographic interests (the Caribbean, Indian Ocean islands, and the Pacific Islands) and thematic interests (biodiversity and adaptation to climate change) POLICY ENGAGEMENT S/He will be responsible for leading CI’s involvement in EU policy dialogues to inform and influence key EU policies that have a global impact on the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, biodiversity conservation and human welfare. This includes strategic decision making as to the best opportunities for CI to achieve tangible policy outcomes and the creation of collaborations to achieve those outcomes. Policy areas of focus will include, but are not limited to: Climate Change: Ensuring that relevant climate-related policies or funding mechanisms will support nature based adaptation and mitigation measures, supporting inclusion of REDD in the run up to Copenhagen (if timing allows), setting criteria for use of biofuels in the EU and the sustainability of the EU Biofuels directive. EU Overseas Development Aid: Actively participating in negotiations (already in initial phases) to determine the program and budget for the next round of EU ODA that will begin in 2013. Influencing the programming of the EU’s overseas development aid to ensure that on-the-ground development incorporates the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, through earmarked funding, improved safeguards and consideration of the economic value of ecosystems. EU Overseas Territories: Collaborating with the IUCN Regional Office for Europe for promoting a sound biodiversity conservation approach in the European Overseas Territories and more specifically those located in Hotspots and HBWA. Being a focal point able to support existing or envisaged CI field activities in hotspots with EU Overseas Territories, likes the Caribbean, the Guiana Shield, the Western Indian Ocean islands and New Caledonia. Economics of Biodiversity: Forwarding view that biodiversity has an economic value in policy discussions on development aid, relevant EU energy, research and agriculture policies, and future EU economic stimulus packages. QUALIFICATIONS: - Graduate degree in public policy, development studies, international relations/development studies or natural resource management and minimum 5-8 years experience in a policy context.
- Extensive knowledge of the European Union’s policy framework and context, specifically those EU policies that have a global impact.
- Established track record of policy work within the EU context, influencing the European Commission, Parliament and Council to achieve policy objectives.
- Extensive contacts within the EU policy community.
- Excellent understanding of conservation, development and political issues in Europe.
- Excellent understanding of the implications of the EU’s influence through development cooperation agreement, or presence through its overseas territories, in some important hotspots and HBWAs of the world.
- Strong knowledge of international policies related to biodiversity, climate change (including UNFCCC and CBD), and natural resource management.
- Proven ability to fundraise and network, developing and managing partnerships across a range of stakeholders
- Proven ability to synthesize and articulate critical policy information to help inform and shape the policy framework under which the global conservation agenda should be placed and communicate about the issues to peers, colleagues and general audiences.
- Excellent track record in developing, directing and managing policy work, including mobilizing and investing resources strategically.
- Strong writing and oral skills.
- Proven interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
- Expert understanding of current global scale trends and practices in major disciplines of global change and biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, economic development and policy, agriculture and trade, environment and health, and natural resource management.
- Knowledge of policy applied to field level
- Knowledge and interest for biodiversity conservation
- Fluent French and English and knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or German a plus.
- Ability to work in a culturally diverse environment that requires collaboration and networking with others in dispersed locations.
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