Guatemala Climate Adaptation Specialist

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

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The Guatemala Climate Adaptation Specialist oversees all aspects of program implementation, including science, stewardship and stakeholders’ relations in Guatemala with a geographic priority on the Western Highlands.   Provides scientific leadership and support for TNC’s conservation planning work and establishes overall conservation and adaptation priorities in the region.  Supplies technical and program support regarding changes in climate patterns, climate change impacts and adaptation, and Conservancy field operations. She/he serves as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community at the national and local level.   

The Guatemala Adaptation Specialist will support communities, municipalities and local and national organizations of Guatemala to reduce vulnerability to climate change.  S/he is tasked with achieving a broad climate adaptation approach founded of the needs of marginalized, rural populations of the Western Highlands of Guatemala.  In general, the functions of the Guatemala Adaptation Specialist may include but are not limited to: 

• Establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation and climate adaptation partner within Guatemala
• Defines conservation and adaptation priorities in Guatemala
• Leads and manages team which supports and improves natural resources management and adaptation efforts
• Builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field
• Develops key partnerships with public & private, national and international organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices
• Develops innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the natural system needs
• Engages local community support for climate adaptation efforts
• Negotiates complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and municipal staff and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities in order to improve the adaptation capacity
• Develops and implements watershed management plans, climate adaptation plans, and other activities to mainstream climate change interventions.

More specifically, the Guatemala Climate Adaptation Specialist may lead strategies including but not limited to:

Support a National Climate Change Adaptation Policy and Strategy for Guatemala by developing vulnerability analysis, producing landslides and flooding maps, and conducting sector-based economic analysis.

• Developing integrated watershed management plans to promote best agricultural, grazing, and forest management practices to alleviate vulnerability and improve adaptation to climate change impacts.
• Modeling the possible transition to new crops or the movement of existing crops to the conditions of the future climate in the Western Highlands of Guatemala
• Implementing training processes for the staff of the departmental delegations and for local governmental and non-governmental organizations on vulnerability, climate change impacts and adaptation to climate change in the Western Highlands
• Establishing information systems platform related to climate change impacts available to communities, local government and civil society institutions.
• Establishing early warning systems in communities at risk in the Western Highlands, incorporating traditional knowledge and social networks, and linking them to national early warning systems.
• Collecting and systematizing traditional knowledge regarding adaptation and forecasting of climatic conditions in the Western Highlands
• Developing adaptation plans in priority municipalities, identifying threats and strategies for adapting local populations to threats.
• Developing climate change adaptation demonstration sites with a multiple local partners.

• BA/BS degree and 5 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads, and finances under deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.in a relevant discipline such as environmental science, forestry, geography, climate change, ecology, or environmental-related field.
• Budget management, time management, and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
• Successful experience in developing, directing and managing complex projects.
• Solid knowledge of Guatemala’s forest/natural resources sector, biodiversity conservation, risk management and climate change policies, laws, development and management issues.
• Familiarity with projects financed through international cooperation .
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
• Motivating team members, setting goals, and leading efforts.
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
• Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc); political savvy.
• Proven interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills. 

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

To apply to position number 41194, submit resume and cover letter as one document.  All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 1, 2013.

Failure to complete all of the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. The information entered in the education and work experience sections are auto screened by the system based on the basic qualifications of the position.

You must click “submit” to apply for the position. You may select “save for later” if you prefer to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited.

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The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process