Project Coordinator, Climate Adaptation and Protected Area Initiative, Resilience

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 220 people, plus over 150 associates and consultants, come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

IISD’s Resilience Program is a multidisciplinary team of policy researchers who work with governments, civil society, communities, and businesses to help them manage climate- and conflict-related risks. Its work focuses on planning, people, and nature—preparing for a different or uncertain future, making sure different genders and social groups influence and benefit from investments in resilience, and harnessing the role of ecosystems to help communities manage risks.

The Position

The Project Coordinator will provide coordination support for IISD’s new Climate Adaptation and Protected Area (CAPA) Initiative. The CAPA Initiative seeks to promote natural solutions to strengthening climate resilience and protecting biodiversity in and around Protected Areas and critical landscapes in the Global South. The Initiative’s intervention sites cover marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems and landscapes in Belize, Fiji, and the Greater Virunga and Kavango-Zambezi landscapes. The CAPA Initiative is jointly implemented with the World Wildlife Fund’s Regional Office for Africa and its country offices in Uganda and Zambia, alongside the Fiji and Belize offices of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The successful candidate will coordinate the overall Initiative and provide general program implementation, knowledge management, and administrative and communications support for the CAPA Initiative. This includes directing day-to-day activities of the Initiative, ensuring the timely delivery of activities and milestones, and leading annual work planning and progress reporting exercises. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with other IISD staff and affiliates. They will also be responsible for tracking the results of the initiative, distributing information, problem solving, and reporting findings to project leads and the director. The Project Coordinator is expected to build and facilitate ongoing relationships with the local partner organizations in Fiji, Belize, Uganda, and Zambia implementing the CAPA Initiative. The candidate should be a highly motivated self-starter with a genuine interest in working for a sustainable future.

Responsibilities

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

Project Coordination and Implementation (70%)

• Serve as the point person for the CAPA Initiative.

• Oversee the delivery of key activities and day-to-day operations of the CAPA Initiative.

• Lead the development of annual work plans and track their implementation.

• Organize and manage the governance bodies for CAPA, including organizing internal project team meetings, partner meetings, and Advisory Committee meetings.

• Work with project managers in preparing narrative and financial reports.

• Work with the Policy Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning to measure performance throughout the project life cycle, identifying areas for improvement, and documenting lessons that can be shared.

• Oversee the CAPA events and publications pipelines.

• Provide updates internally and externally about project progress across all sites, potential barriers, and proposed solutions.

• Support contracting and partner negotiations as needed, along with other tasks.

Communication, Outreach, and Knowledge Management (~20%):

• Document and provide inputs, such as case studies, statistics, and relevant updates, for the development of communications activities, knowledge products, and narrative reports.
• Prepare internal- and external-facing presentations and materials to effectively communicate information about—and increase interest in—the Initiative and its activities.
• Participate in the planning, organization, and documentation of peer learning events, presentations, briefings, seminars, workshops, and other initiatives hosted or facilitated by the Initiative, including identifying and inviting participants, developing agendas, and producing meeting reports.
• In collaboration with IISD’s communications team, maintain the CAPA Initiative’s website content on the IISD website using content management systems.
• Support, as needed, the implementation of the CAPA Research Strategy and the development of knowledge products.
• Design and facilitate regular internal knowledge-sharing events.

Business Development (~5%):

• Support other IISD personnel with the identification of new fundraising opportunities, the development of new project ideas and proposals, the management of external relations, and identification of new opportunities.

Representation (~5%):

• Establish and actively maintain a network of partners and contacts engaged in efforts related to nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation, including individuals from governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia.
• Represent IISD at international and national forums.

Please note that our Resilience team works across multiple time zones. We are looking for someone with a “can-do” work attitude and the ability to work autonomously while proactively engaging with other team members, particularly those working in a remote and/or hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

The Program Coordinator should possess the following qualifications:

Qualifications (Essential)

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field of the social or natural sciences.
• Availability to travel internationally.

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)

• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in project coordination.

• Relevant work experience in the field of nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, and/or conservation.

• Experience developing and managing work plans, budgets, and milestones.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications, and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, multi-project environment.

• Experience in international development and working in developing countries.

Skills (Essential)

• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including an ability to coordinate meetings and events.

• Good communications skills and ability to work interactively with stakeholders.

• Fluent in written and spoken English; ability to work (read, write, speak) in French or Spanish would be considered an asset.

• Analytical capacity and ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.

Behavioural Competencies (Essential)

• Results-focused, able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work comfortably across different cultures, commitment to inclusivity, positive demeanour, and ability to communicate effectively.
• A motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.

Location: Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal, or Vancouver

Term: Full-time

Salary: CAD 59,000–CAD 80,000 (based on experience)

Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: April 30, 2023, at 4 p.m. EST

All submissions must be in English.

Please apply to only one posting, as this role is posted to multiple cities.

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)

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted.  Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

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 2SLGBTQ+ to apply for the position.