VACANCY TITLE: Senior Urban Specialist
LOCATION: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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: 30 March 2024
SALARY INDICATION: 85,000 – 100,000 EUR (Yearly – all inclusive)
ABOUT GCA
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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Profile
Join GCA’s Water and Urban Team as Senior Urban Specialist Africa! You will take on a leading role to pursue and implement transformative technical assistance projects on urban climate adaptation and resilience under GCA’s Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), which aims to scale up and accelerate climate adaptation and locally-led adaptation in Africa. The AAAP is a comprehensive climate adaptation program to accelerate and scale up climate adaptation in Africa. The AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africa’s adaptation plans. It will support all African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post-COVID recovery development paths. The AAAP is an Africa-owned and Africa-led response to the climate crisis. African leaders have asked for this Program and have endorsed its design.
You will have the opportunity to shape a climate resilient future for Africa, by promoting and guiding integration of climate adaptation into a wide range of investments and programs by cultivating close collaboration with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), such as the World Bank and Africa Development Bank, and national and local governments across Africa. You will be prompted to innovate climate adaptation strategies and solutions that are inclusive and scalable.
Responsibilities
The Senior Urban Specialist Africa will operationalize and implement AAAP through projects on urban policies, urban spatial planning, nature-based solutions, housing, and informal settlements, as well as activities at the urban-water nexus such as urban water and flood management, urban services and infrastructures.
They will report to GCA Water and Urban Team Lead and work closely with the enitre team members. The responsibilities of this role will include, but not be limited to, the following:
Project Management:
• Conceptualize, design, implement, and supervise highly innovative and transformative technical assistance projects to accelerate urban climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in Africa.
• Foster strong partnerships with MDB task teams to support the integration climate adaptation and resilience solutions in their urban projects, programs, and investments.
• Coordinate with international, regional, and local partners to build climate risk informed decision making capacities of national and local governments and non-governmental stakeholders.
• Oversee the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms) and implementation of their work.
Pipeline/Business Development:
• Develop a pipeline of technical assistance projects on urban climate adaptation and resilience in close collaboration with partner MDB task team leads and managers.
• Explore and promote innovative approaches to climate adaptation in urban areas and sectors.
• Expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national and local stakeholders in the water-urban adaptation sector.
Knowledge Management:
• Lead the preparation of knowledge products (e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA activities, in line with recent developments and trends in climate adaptation and urban development.
• Quality assure knowledge products and other outputs from external experts.
• Promote capacity strengthening internally among GCA staff and externally with partner organizations.
• Represent GCA’s Water and Urban Team in relevant workshops, capacity building events, and meetings to promote GCA’s agenda, strategy, and programs.
Requirements
• Master’s degree in in urban planning, a field related to urban planning or a field related to climate resilience.
• Minimum of twelve years’ experience in the implementation of complex and large-scale innovative projects and programs related to the urban development and urban resilience sectors, with a minimum of five years in Africa. Experience in working directly for or with city or urban authorities and/or with a multilateral development bank is considered to be of added advantage.
• Conceptual understanding and/or working experience of key subject areas such as climate adaption and urban resilience.
• Proven ability to translate complex concepts and strategies into technical assistance to national and local governments, and project teams to support implementation of climate adaptation in the urban sector in Africa.
• Experience in procurement and contract management of advisory services.
Desired competencies, mindset and values
• Strong communication: Excellent written and spoken English, backed by an ability to articulate complex ideas into clear outputs to effectively engage key stakeholders at different technical and strategic levels – senior local and national government officials, representatives of MDBs, implementation partners, and so on. Working knowledge of French considered to be of additional advantage.
• Collaborative process facilitation: Skilled in building and maintaining collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Able to work in a multicultural team: Enjoy working with people from various cultures and genuinely curious about different ways of life, fostering smooth 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.
• Passionate about Climate Adaptation
A sense of humor is always a great asset but is not a requirement.
WHAT WE OFFER
GCA offers a dynamic, high-profile, and international 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.
Joining our team means contributing to our global mission on climate adaptation. You will have the opportunity to tap into the extensive expertise available at GCA and its partner organizations worldwide. Furthermore, you will play a role in shaping international policies and global action on climate change, working at the highest governmental levels and collaborating with governments on all continents.
This staff position will be based at GCA’s global headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA offers a competitive salary, 25 days of paid leave, and a public transport travel card for free business commuting within the Netherlands.
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
If you are interested in this position, please submit your motivation letter and CV by following the link https://gca.org/about-us/join-us/ before 30 March 2024
The recruitment process is composed of 4 interviews and a written assessment.
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.
