Climate Change Adaptation Specialist / Senior Specialist
Kenya | Netherlands
- Organization: GCA - Global Center on Adaptation
- Location: Kenya | Netherlands
- Grade: Mid level - Mid level
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Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Meteorology, Geology and Geography
- Climate Change
- Closing Date: 2024-05-15
VACANCY TITLE: Climate Change Adaptation Specialist / Senior Specialist
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
LOCATION: Netherlands or Kenya
LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time
START DATE: As soon as possible
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 May 2024
ABOUT US
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is seeking an innovative and multi skilled candidate to join its offices in Groningen or Rotterdam, in The Netherlands or in Nairobi, Kenya as a Climate Change Adaptation Specialist.
GCA is a leading international organization dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting adaptation action for resilient development. We collaborate with governments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), businesses, and communities to develop and implement innovative solutions that strengthen resilience and support adaptation to climate change impacts.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Join us as we grow our Research for Impact team, offering a pivotal role for experienced, creative, and highly motivated Climate Change Adaptation Specialist. This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of climate adaptation, driving transformative change and making a lasting impact on global climate resilience. At GCA, you will have the freedom to innovate and the support to bring your ideas to life. We are on a mission to enhance global climate resilience. If you are excited about contributing to something impactful and building a sustainable future, we would love to have you on board.
GCA’s strategy in Africa is implemented under the flagship Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), launched by GCA and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to scale up adaptation efforts and mobilize finance for climate-resilient development in Africa. To date, GCA has integrated adaptation solutions into $9 billion worth of investments funded by IFIs across Africa. GCA’s work under the AAAP focuses on four pillars where investments in adaptation and resilience building can yield high economic dividends for African nations, including: Food security; Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions; Youth entrepreneurship and adaptation jobs; and Adaptation finance.
The Climate Change Adaptation Specialist will play a key role in leading GCA's R4I (Research 4 Impact) work to advance the use of innovative climate analytics, particularly in data poor environments, to assess and inform the design of robust, cost effective, and transformational adaptation solutions. Furthermore, you will work with project teams to support the implementation of climate modeling activities, including producing high-resolution climate datasets using dynamical downscaling and statistical bias correction to understand the impacts of climate change in the relevant geographies.
PROFILE
The successful candidate will undertake advanced action in climate modeling, targeting areas with limited data to evaluate and predict climate risks accurately. By developing and refining comprehensive models, you will integrate atmospheric, oceanic, and socio-ecological interactions to inform our understanding of climate impacts.
In advising on policy, you will help make complex analysis and analytics accessible and actionable to GCA programmatic teams, policymakers, and stakeholders. Your insights will shape crucial climate policies and adaptation strategies, and you will contribute to influential reports and assessments. You will work closely with internal program teams and external partners and donors, when needed, to support adaptation efforts across the continent. You will provide technical expertise, guidance, and support to project developers, governments, and other stakeholders in accessing and mobilizing finance for adaptation activities.
You – through your extensive network - will champion international collaboration, fostering partnerships with scientists and policymakers worldwide. Your efforts will strengthen global adaptation by building local capacities and enhancing scientific capabilities.
Additionally, you will also mentor a group of junior specialists, promoting the creation of innovative models, tools, and scientific outputs, nurturing an environment that values knowledge exchange and pioneering thought.
Areas of responsibility:
- Advanced Climate Analytics and Modeling: Lead innovative research using dynamic meteorology, biophysics, and climate modeling to assess risks in regions lacking robust data. Develop and refine models to better predict climate impacts, integrating atmospheric, oceanic, and socio-ecological interactions.
- Policy Interface and Advisory: Generate high-quality knowledge products, synthesizing findings into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences. Provide expert scientific advice to policymakers and stakeholders, translating complex scientific findings into actionable climate policy and adaptation strategies. Engage in high-level policy discussions and contribute to key reports such as GCA’s flagship report on State and Trends in Adaptation, adaptation gap reports, and IPCC assessments.
- Technical Quality Assurance: Assess the technical quality of both internal and external reports, as well as thoroughly review Requests for Proposals (RfPs) to ensure accuracy, comprehensiveness, and adherence to GCA's high standards. Through meticulous evaluation and detailed feedback, you will play a crucial role in upholding and enhancing GCA's reputation for delivering findings and proposals that are impactful and of the highest quality.
- International Collaboration and Capacity Building: Foster international cooperation with scientists and relevant actors across different regions, including Africa, Asia, and Europe. Build capacities in communities of action and among scientific peers to enhance global adaptation efforts.
- Mentoring: Mentoring a team consisting of economists and geo-spatial scientists, encouraging the development of models, tools, and scientific products. Mentor team members and foster an environment of learning and innovation.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.