Senior Program Officer, Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

LOCATION: Dhaka, Bangladesh

TERM: Initial contract duration 1 year with possibility of extension

INTENSITY: 40 hours per week, 5 days per week

ANTICIPATED START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 22 December 2023

WHO WE ARE

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate-related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR

Profile

Join us at the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) as Senior Program Officer – Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) focused on South Asia. As part of the Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions team, you will play a vital role in GCA’s mission as a solutions broker in the field of infrastructure climate adaptation. You will actively engage in and provide leadership on policy advocacy and programs for infrastructure climate adaptation as well as provide technical, content-focused support to advance GCA’s overall policy and advocacy work.

The Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions Program delivers technical assistance and implements activities across different scales, and especially: provides National level infrastructure risk and resilience assessments to support countries to identify the key adaptation needs and prioritize a pipeline of infrastructure investments; collaborates with Multi-lateral Development Banks and National Stakeholders to support the integration of adaptation and resilience into public and private infrastructure investment projects; and, lastly, develops and implement Capacity Building activities with global technical experts to mainstream climate resilience across the infrastructure lifecycle.

As Senior Program Officer, you will have the opportunity to cultivate and manage relationships globally with external partners and parties at the National and project levels, as well as to support the team’s ongoing work around implementation of the Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions program. Your expertise will shape and realize climate adaptation strategies for infrastructure resilience at a scale that works for all.

Responsibilities Reporting to GCA Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions Lead, the Senior Program Officer will carry out the following:

• Develop and implement a pipeline of technical assistance projects across infrastructure sectors (transport assets and corridors, energy systems, ITC, etc.) that shapes and expands GCA’s partnerships with leading Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank – to drive, scale up and accelerate on-the-ground infrastructure systems’ adaptation to climate change. This will include established adaptation practice while creating the space and energy for innovation as well.
• Closely collaborate with MDB task teams and governmental stakeholders to support the integration and implementation of climate adaptation in infrastructure development projects that may include, as examples, transportation (urban and regional roads and highways, railways, fluvial and maritime ports), energy (power generation including renewables, transmission and distribution), critical information and communication technology Infrastructure (terrestrial telecommunications and internet networks). This work will be done in collaboration with other GCA Infrastructure and NBS team members involved in the program’s implementation in South-East Asia and Africa regions.
• Take a proactive role in the conceptualization, design, implementation and supervision of highly innovative and transformative technical assistance to infrastructure climate adaptation and nature-based solutions investment projects and programs of MDBs. This will include frequent and in-depth interactions and coordination with task team leaders/managers of MDBs.
• Drive a multi-faceted program, in coordination with regional and international partners, to build capacity of national and local government and non-governmental stakeholders.
• Support the operationalization of knowledge development related to infrastructure adaptation and resilience and participate in relevant workshops and meetings to keep abreast with ongoing trends in climate adaptation, infrastructure development supporting Sustainable goals, and their implications on the GCA agenda and strategy.
• Further expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national, and local stakeholders in the water-urban adaptation sector.
• Support the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms) and manage services implementation contracts with consortium of firms, to deliver results at high technical quality on the program’s projects.
• Support the preparation of knowledge products (e.g., policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA’s activities.
• Support on-the-job strengthening of capacity of GCA staff and partner organizations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have a deep expertise in at least one area and working exposure to others:

• A master’s degree in environmental or civil engineering, a field related to infrastructure development, or a field related to climate resilience. Training should be complemented by experience in infrastructure climate resilience as described below.
• 5 to 8 years’ experience in the implementation of large-scale projects or programs related to infrastructure resilience working directly for or with national or regional governmental authorities, infrastructure private developers and operators, or multilateral development banks. These projects and programs could be in any of the areas below:

– Climate resilience in infrastructure development (including any of preliminary infrastructure technical design; infrastructure projects finance; regional infrastructure planning and governance).

– Climate resilience in infrastructure development, across infrastructure sectors and including Nature Based approach for infrastructure resilience;

– Climate hazard specific projects or programs for infrastructure systems adaptation to: floods and storms; sea-level rise; coastal erosion; droughts; and extreme heat.

Preferred experience

• Working experience in Bangladesh or South Asia.
• Experience with a Development Bank or other financing institution.
• Experience in procurement of advisory services.
• Climate resilience in informal settlements upgrading, including community involvement.

Desired competencies, mindset and values

• Strong communication: Excellent written and spoken English to effectively engage key stakeholders (such as infrastructure implementation entities and financiers at technical and strategic levels).
• Collaborative process facilitation: Skilled in building and maintaining collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Multicultural teamwork: Able to prioritize tasks, deliver on time, and support team members so that workflows and the team portfolio are collectively executed efficiently.
• Constructive conflict resolution: Positive approach to resolving disagreements.
• A commitment to improve people’s lives through climate resilience and adaptation.

A sense of humor is always a great asset but is not a requirement.

WHAT WE OFFER

Joining GCA means becoming part of an international, high-profile and dynamic working environment within a growing organization. Our global headquarters in Rotterdam is located in the award-winning Floating Office Rotterdam, the world’s largest floating office, with regional offices around the globe.

As a team member, you’ll tap into extensive expertise available at GCA and its partner organizations worldwide, while actively shaping international policies and driving global action on climate change. Collaborating with governments on all continents, your work will make a tangible impact at the highest governmental levels.

In addition to a competitive salary, GCA offers 25 days of paid leave to ensure a healthy work-life balance.

GCA does not discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your motivation letter and CV using the provided link: https://gca.org/about-us/join-us/ before the application deadline of 22 December 2023. Kindly indicate your preferred start date.

The recruitment process is composed of a written test and four rounds of interviews.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. The Global Center on Adaptation also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.