VACANCY TITLE: Program Officer, Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions
LOCATION: Dhaka, Bangladesh
LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time – 40 hours per week
ANTICIPATED START DATE: As soon as possible
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 04 July 2024, 5 pm CET
ABOUT GCA
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyse action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure shared learning and collaboration for a climate resilient future. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam. Adapting to the impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security, gender equality 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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Job Profile
GCA seeks a dynamic and creative individual with strong analytical and communications skills to fill the role of Program Officer Infrastructure and NBS, based at the GCA South Asia regional office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This role will focus on the implementation of a growing portfolio of infrastructure and NBS projects, including engagement with multiple stakeholders and strategic support to GCA’s resilient infrastructure pillar under the AAAP.
The Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions Program is organized across three business lines:
- National infrastructure risk and resilience assessments to support countries to identify the key adaptation needs and prioritize a pipeline of infrastructure investments.
- Integrating adaptation and resilience into public and private infrastructure investment projects from MDBs. The identification and appraisal of adaptation and resilience options include structuring NBS investments as relevant to enhance infrastructure project’s resilience.
- Capacity building to mainstream climate resilience across the infrastructure lifecycle.
The Program Officer Infrastructure and NBS will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects in South Asia, especially Bangladesh, in coordination with guidance from the project team in GCA headquarter in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Key Functions
Under the oversight of the GCA Global Lead for Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions, the Program Officer, Infrastructure and NBS is expected to perform the following activities:
- Support the development of a pipeline of projects across infrastructure sectors and countries in South Asia. Activities include initial screening of the projects, participating in project missions, developing internal and external project briefings and presentations, and evaluating the opportunities for GCA to provide added value to the projects.
- Support the program lead in engaging with MDB task teams and development partners to identify forward-looking adaptation projects and investment programs on resilient infrastructure that contribute to the strategic development and implementation of GCA’s work program in South Asia.
- Take a proactive role in the conceptualization, design, procurement, implementation, reporting and management of upstream technical assistance support on resilient infrastructure and NBS projects in South Asia, including but not limited to the preparation of project concepts, procurement documents, contract management, planning tools, and progress monitoring and reporting. This requires an in-depth understanding of how to use climate data and analytics and appraise innovative adaptation and resilience solutions (incl. NBS), with focus on quantifying climate risks to infrastructure and providing practical, innovative solutions to climate-proof public and private infrastructure investment projects.
- Supporting further expansion and maintenance of GCA’s network of international, national, regional, and local stakeholders, including to present the impact of the work of the Infrastructure and NBS Program to external stakeholders globally.
- Develop and review reports, presentations, public communication material, and project briefs, ensuring that all project outputs are technically robust and with a clear narrative.
- Support the preparation of knowledge products – e.g., policy briefs, news stories, reports – on GCA’s activities and work program in South Asia, as well as internal and external capacity building activities.
Job requirements
REQUIREMENTS
- Field Expertise demonstrating sound understanding of infrastructure development projects (technical, financial, procurement), in relation to climate adaptations, demonstrated with:
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in relevant fields.
- Preferably 3+ years of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, experience in climate adaptation as a significant advantage.
- Experience in government agencies, financial institutions, international organizations, or private sector related to infrastructure.
- Understanding of key subject areas such as climate data analytics, resilient infrastructure, NBS, and/or project finance.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, experience with geospatial analysis software (QGIS, ArcGIS) will be an advantage.
- Strong project management skills, with:
- Coordination, reporting and strategic input, with ability to articulate complex ideas into clear outputs with a coherent narrative to a diverse audience of stakeholders at technical and strategic levels.
- Excellent planning, procurement, and communication skills with a solutions-oriented approach.
- Motivation to work in a global organization dedicated to accelerating action for climate adaptation, with:
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a multicultural team and global organization.
- Excellent English, and Bangla language skills.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
WHAT WE OFFER
With our global headquarters in Rotterdam on the world’s largest floating office, and regional offices around the globe, the GCA offers a dynamic, high-profile, and international working environment in a growing organisation. You will be contributing to our global mission on climate adaptation. You will have the opportunity to draw upon the substantial expertise available at the GCA and its partner organizations across the world and you will be given an opportunity to support the shaping of international policies and global action on climate change, working at the highest governmental levels and collaborating with governments on all continents.
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 04 July 2024, 5 pm CET. Kindly mention the date as of which you would be available to start in Dhaka.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
The GCA celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 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.
