Climate Change Policy Specialist — New York, NY
Organization: Wildlife Conservation Society
Job Title: Climate Change Policy Specialist
Location: Bronx Zoo in NY, NY
Hours and Compensation: Full Time – compensation not specified
Application Deadline: open until filled
Posted On: 9/10/12
Organization Overview
The Wildlife Conservation Society, founded in 1895, has the clear mission to save wildlife and wild places across the globe. Our story began in the early 1900’s when we successfully helped the American bison recover on the Western Plains. Today, we protect many of the world’s iconic creatures here and abroad, including gorillas in the Congo, tigers in India, wolverines in the Yellowstone Rockies, and ocean giants in our world’s amazing seascapes.
During our 115 years, we have forged the power of our global conservation work and the management of our five parks in New York City to create the world’s most comprehensive conservation organization. We currently manage about 500 conservation projects in more than 60 countries; and educate millions of visitors at our five living institutions in New York City on important issues affecting our planet. Our parks include: the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo.
With a commitment to protect 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity, we address four of the biggest issues facing wildlife and wild places: climate change; natural resource exploitation; the connection between wildlife health and human health; and the sustainable development of human livelihoods. While taking on these issues, we manage more than 200 million acres of protected lands around the world, with more than 200 scientists on staff.
The WCS parks in New York City welcome 4 million visitors each year, and help the city to educate millions of schoolchildren in science and conservation issues.
Description
The successful candidate will evaluate and prioritize forest and other carbon opportunities at WCS sites globally, contribute to achieving sustainable funding streams through the development of carbon initiatives at WCS landscapes and seascapes and support the marketing of carbon and other PES (payments for ecosystem services) credits. The candidate will also provide project design and technical advice for the implementation carbon-based field projects (e.g. REDD) by WCS programs.
Responsibilities
Scope of work: Support the Climate Change Mitigation program in WCS Global Initiatives (Todd Stevens, James Watson and Tom Evans) in three main areas of climate change mitigation work, primarily REDD+.
1.Management of existing and prospective market REDD+ projects,
including:
a.Coordinate with current and prospective private sector partners
to identify potential projects for investment and project
development;
b.Communication with WCS field-based climate change technical
advisors and providing materials on evolving mitigation
landscape.
c.Coordinate and progress private sector partnerships in WCS REDD+
projects, including the Makira project and carbon activities
undertaken by COMACO.
2.Program Development:
a.Coordinate and contribute to relevant bilateral and multilateral
REDD+ financing opportunities, including contributing to donor
assessments
b.Help raise funds for WCS’s REDD+ activities, including site-
based activities and emerging policy work.
3.Policy and legal work on REDD+
a.Support selected country programs in furthering REDD+ regulatory
frameworks, including Papua New Guinea
b.Provide policy and legal analysis support to WCS-led REDD+
projects
Qualifications
Requirements include a masters degree or commensurate work experience in forestry, PES, economics, business, or a related field. Experience on climate change or forestry projects generally and REDD in particular, and other conservation finance mechanisms (trust funds, biodiversity offsets, etc.) would be an advantage. Additional skills include remote sensing, carbon stock accounting. An important part of the job will be organizing work programs, facilitating communication among geographically dispersed collaborators, colleagues and government officials, and interacting with ODA institutions and others active in supporting REDD programs
How to Apply
Apply through the WCS online application system:
