At the Rainforest Alliance, we are building an alliance to create a better future for people and nature by making responsible business the new normal. To advance our mission, we focus on amplifying our impact on the ground through systemic transformation: change across the entire supply chain, change in the relationship between people and nature, and change within our own organization. We achieve this transformation by working in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders to create a stronger Alliance. Together, we amplify the voices of farmers and forest communities, improve livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and help people adapt to climate change in bold and effective ways. We embrace transparency because we believe that the best way to build trust across our alliance is through openness about our tactics, our impact, and partners on the ground. Together, we can achieve our vision of a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

Job Description

Position summary:

The Global Lead Climate Change advises and supports our strategy on climate change adaptation and mitigation as follows:

• Provide dynamic and creative leadership and coordination for the development and implementation of Rainforest Alliance’s innovative global field strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation and its landscape approaches;
• Co-lead innovative program, project, and proposal design and development for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the context of landscape interventions and support the implementation of field programs and projects within these areas of expertise;
• Support overall fundraising strategy, including cultivation and support for key partner, company and donor relationships;
• Work effectively with other theme leads and technical staff across the organization as well as externally to advance Rainforest Alliance’s overall mission and strategy.

The Global Lead Climate Change will be part of the Environment team where he/she will work together with the Global Leads on Community Forest Enterprises, Deforestation and Sustainable Forest Management; he/she will report to the Team Lead Environment who also serves as the overall lead on Climate Change.

Responsibilities:

• Actively engage in thought leadership, advocacy, strategy development, global engagement and leadership;
• Ensure strategic ambitions are embedded in sector, regional and advocacy strategies and that they are consistently applied across the organization;
• Support of the regions with regional strategy, project development and implementation and developing technical capacity on priority themes;
• Together with the Markets team (tailored programs), engage and support companies in the development and implementation of thematic strategies;
• Provide technical advice, evidence and lessons learned and feed back across the organization to regions, supply chains, markets, re-imaging certification and communications;
• Provide input and guidance to donor and partnerships development;
• Ensure continuous learning, knowledge management, coordination of communities of practices, awareness raising and technical capacity building across the organization;
• In coordination with advocacy and partnerships teams, represent the organization at events and conferences.

Required Skills or Experience

• At least a master’s degree or equivalent degree in climate change or natural resources management, or related field;
• A minimum of 7 years professional experience in program and project development, with demonstrated field experience developing impactful, innovative field programs in climate change adaptation and mitigation and landscape management and/or conservation, preferably in a developing country;
• Technical experience in sustainable agriculture projects, GHG accounting and related carbon standards;
• Good knowledge of landscape and jurisdictional approaches and
• Strong organizational skills and efficient management of multiple tasks and priorities
• Experience in advocating with governments, companies and/or civil society on issues related to sustainability standards certification or similar;
• Experience in fundraising, including the design of complex proposals and projects, with bilateral or multilateral donor agencies and company partnerships;
• Strong writing capacity, including the ability to write for a diverse set of audiences, including local stakeholders, development practitioners, donors and the general public;
• Thought leader in a climate change area;
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Strong team-based orientation and demonstrated familiarity with project management within a team environment;
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written. Additional languages in particular French and/or Spanish are an asset;
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.