Policy Advisor - Environmental Systems

About

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 200 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

IISD’s Water Program works in the intersection of natural science, economics, and policy to enable improved freshwater management globally. The Water Program does so by conducting whole-ecosystem research at the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area through multi-year efforts on improved understanding and adopting of natural infrastructure for water solutions in Canada and partnerships, such as with the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education to affect change in the African Great Lakes. We work to translate science and other forms of knowledge into clear, policy-relevant guidance to water managers, practitioners, and policy-makers. Our team includes scientists, engineers, economists, policy analysts, and communications specialists, among others, who are located across global regions.

The Position

IISD’s Water Program is part of a cross-program collaborative effort to support the Scaling Urban NbS for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project. The SUNCASA project focuses on engaging local partners and communities to design and implement nature-based solutions (NbS) to support climate adaptation and biodiversity in urban communities and watersheds in sub-Saharan Africa. The program also undertakes a range of research and implementation activities within Canada that focus on improving knowledge and the adoption of effective ecosystem management and natural infrastructure efforts.

The Policy Advisor Environmental Systems will be responsible for supporting a range of activities across the SUNCASA project in Africa, as well as ecosystem management efforts in Canada. The successful candidate will assist in developing monitoring protocols for NbS, analyzing data, and communicating the results of the monitoring efforts in regional and other relevant forums. The successful candidate will also fill an analytical role within the Water Program’s growing portfolio of environmental systems analysis projects. This will include developing methods for and providing quantitative estimates of outcomes from the implementation of natural infrastructure and beneficial management practices. Although analytical work will generally be focused on water, the candidate will contribute—and potentially lead on—carbon cycle and dynamics-related research and analyses. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with IISD staff, affiliates, consultants, and partners across a variety of projects.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s key areas of responsibility will include, but not be limited to:

Research and Development

• Undertake primary and secondary research required for the successful completion of water-related projects, working with funders, partners, and contractors as required.
• Undertake quantitative and qualitative analyses of environmental systems to provide estimates of ecological goods and services (EGS) at local and watershed scales in the areas of water quantity and quality, carbon sequestration and storage, etc.
• Deliver project outputs to the required standard, including research reports, policy briefs, and technical reports.

Planning and implementation of monitoring plan(s) for SUNCASA’s NbS activities

• Support the planning and development of monitoring systems encompassing key aspects of water, biodiversity, land, and other ecosystem elements to understand key impacts of NBS activities proposed under SUNCASA activities in three sub-Saharan African countries.
• Work collaboratively with project partners to support implementing activities related to monitoring, evaluating, and adapting impacts of NBS activities from the flagship projects.
• Support the Monitoring Coordinator for SUNCASA in establishing baselines and developing methods for tracking benefits.
• Apply methods to evaluate the impacts of NBS activities across monitoring systems, incorporating quantitative and qualitative assessments as appropriate.
• Contribute to reports within SUNCASA, NIWS, and other projects in the IISD Water Program

Engagement and Communications

• Work collaboratively with IISD, project partners, and others to develop, implement, and validate the biophysical impacts of NbS implementation and EGS outcomes.
• Support the preparation of knowledge products, training resources, and other materials to communicate monitoring protocols, implementation guidance, and impacts of NbS projects.
• Represent IISD at national and international forums, sharing the results of research through webinars, workshops, conferences, and other events.

Other Tasks

• Contribute to strategic objectives for IISD and its Water Program.
• Work with Water Program colleagues to contribute to program budgets, reports, and communications.
• Support IISD personnel with the development of new water project ideas and proposals related to environmental systems, EGS, and NBS.

Qualifications (Essential)

• A master’s degree or equivalent in the natural sciences, water resources management, geography, conservation, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in the desired fields.
• Based in Canada, with an ability to travel infrequently within Canada and internationally, particularly to Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.
• Experience with monitoring systems data for ecosystem management and EGS estimation.
• Experience extrapolating information, data, and methods from regionally relevant research for localized applications, with a broad understanding of typical limitations and considerations.
• Understanding of hydrologic principles and watershed processes.

Skills (Essential)

• Strong research writing skills and ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.
• Excellent data and statistical analysis skills, including knowledge of mixed methods; excellent quantitative data management, cleaning, and visualization skills, along with comparative and qualitative analysis skills.
• Technical skills related to ecosystem monitoring, incorporating knowledge of land, water, air, biodiversity, and other locally relevant benefits.
• Demonstrable ability to use geographic information systems (GIS) for remote sensing data gathering and mapping.
• Confident and engaging communication skills and an ability to synthesize information in plain language and tailor communications to different audiences.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Skills (Desired)

• Demonstrable ability to use GIS for spatial analyses.
• Strong statistical analysis skills, including familiarity with various standard probability distributions, capability of performing frequency analyses using hydroclimate data, and predicting return periods.
• Programming skills using R, Python, MATLAB, or other relevant science-centric languages.
• Experience working with technical and non-technical partners, including governments.

Behavioural Competencies

• Be results-focused and able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work comfortably across different cultures.
• Be inclusive, positive, and able to communicate effectively.

Location: Canada. Hybrid where IISD has offices in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto.

Remote work in other locations may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Term: 2 years, with the possibility of extension

Salary: $59,000 - $71,000, based on experience and location

Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing date: January 15, 2024

Application Procedure:

All submissions must be in English.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A one-page letter of motivation
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire(optional)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants' advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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