Head of Nature Economy

We are looking for a talented, motivated and experienced individual to lead our Nature Economy Team. The Head of Nature Economy is responsible for overseeing WCMC’s work seeking the transition towards a nature positive, net-zero, and socially just future. You will be an experienced leader, capable of empowering and enabling a team of around 50 professionals working with government, finance and the private sector. As a member of WCMC Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic input to the overall running of the organisation, reporting directly to the Chief Impact Officer and working closely with the WCMC CEO and under the oversight of the WCMC Director.

We will give you the opportunity to deliver real impact through your leadership of this successful team, working at the cutting edge of international advances in this field. WCMC is the specialist biodiversity assessment centre of the UN Environment Programme, with a mandate to tackle the most pressing challenges facing humanity. We have a comprehensive package of benefits, and motivated, diverse and highly qualified staff and a unique role at the interface between science and policy.

Our Nature Economy team has tripled in size over the last five years. We have an established and resilient team, accustomed to delivering to an extremely high level. You will work with the Lead Economist, Principal Business and Biodiversity Specialist and Senior Programme Officers to oversee a portfolio of five focal initiatives. The team’s work covers: Economy Transformations, Nature and Trade, Finance for Nature, The Proteus Partnership, and Targets and Metrics.

Our work includes some of the most exciting and impactful projects and initiatives in this field.

We created ENCORE together with UNEP Finance Initiative and Global Canopy and through this work we’ve changed the way financial institutions think about dependency-related risk.

We are delivering the TRADE Hub, a 5-year research project engaging 40 partners in 15 countries which is developing a roadmap to sustainable global trade.

Our Proteus Partnership has been changing the way the private sector engages on biodiversity since 2003.

We’re working with the UK Government to explore how the landmark Dasgupta review can be implemented at national-level.

You will be a demonstrated thought leader in one or more topics within the Nature Economy portfolio. In addition to your experience leading a diverse and multi-disciplinary team, you will contribute your expertise to ensure projects within the portfolio are technically and scientifically robust. You will be accustomed to providing expert input across all stages of a project lifecycle, and in particular will be able to deliver the highest level of quality assurance.

You will be adept at managing relationships with senior counterparts in other leading organisations operating in this field. The Nature Economy team hold relationships with organisations such as Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, the Science-based Targets Network, the Business for Nature Coalition, the Capitals Coalition as well as with leading universities, research institutes, businesses and financial institutions and with national governments and central banks. The Head of Nature Economy will play a core role in maintaining and building these relationships, developing new collaborations, and coaching and mentoring the team to seek impactful interactions with all partners and stakeholders.

WCMC attaches great importance to addressing safeguarding and ethical considerations in all activities carried out by its staff, including where partner organisations or individuals are part of the delivery of our work. This includes children and vulnerable adults in the community who may be vulnerable to abuse. WCMC act with integrity, are transparent and expect applicants to share the same values.

WCMC is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of age; race; sex; disability; gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity; religion; faith or belief.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging post where you can inspire a team of committed professionals working towards a nature-positive economy, we want to hear from you. Please complete our application form and send it together with your CV and a short covering letter through the link at the bottom of the page by 24^th September 2023. Please note that this is a UK-based role and the successful applicant will be expected to reside within commuting distance of Cambridge and within the UK. Some of our roles are eligible for visa sponsorship, providing the relevant sponsorship criteria are met.

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