The Forest and Climate Specialist will be the primary point person to advise on forest management in both British Columbia (B.C.) and Manitoba (MB) and advance the implementation of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) in B.C. with a focus on forested ecosystems. This 3-year position will ensure Nature United’s National and B.C./ MB goals for reducing GHG emissions through improved forest management are connected to on-the-ground projects. They will identify opportunities for on the ground projects to realize emissions reductions and strengthen conditions for large-scale protection, management, and restoration of ecosystem functions that result in captured or avoided emissions. As we expect this to be achieved through catalyzing many on-the-ground projects, they will work closely with Nature United’s NCS Program Director and Director of Strategic Partnerships to effect changes in policy, market and legal conditions. Approximately three quarters of the effort associated with this position is allocated to work in B.C., while approximately one quarter is allocated to work in Manitoba.
Nature United is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to support increased recognition of the authority of Indigenous peoples to steward their lands and waters. The Forest and Climate Specialist will focus on activities that advance climate mitigation and resilience goals through strategies that align with our rights-based approach to conservation and in collaboration with Indigenous communities, industry sectors, governments and other civic organizations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Forest and Climate Specialist will play a pivotal role on the Nature United team by providing key strategic advice and expertise to inform ongoing and emerging efforts to realize forest-based Natural Climate Solutions with a focus on the B.C. coast, as well as providing forestry and forest management expertise to other programs of Nature United, particularly in Manitoba. This person will work with a team to assess opportunities for on-the-ground carbon mitigation activities – taking into consideration relevant political, regulatory, and market factors and addressing barriers/realizing opportunities – and then leading on and/or supporting the implementation of land use and management changes.
This person will also work as part of a larger team designed to deliver forest and climate outcomes, supported across the west coast of North America by The Nature Conservancy’s Emerald Edge (EE) Program with funding from the Bezos Earth Fund. Their work will contribute to the Bezos Earth Fund and EE project objectives and will therefore require close coordination with that team.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Report to the BC Program Director and collaborate through a matrixed decision-making structure with the whole Nature United team including the Manitoba Program Director, the lead scientist, the Natural Climate Solutions Program Director, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and the Director of Conservation;
- Participate as a member of the core team for the Emerald Edge Program Climate Mitigation Accelerator representing the NCS work that B.C. is doing and helping to establish and advance shared goals at the scale of the Emerald Edge (coastal temperate rainforest of North America);
- Act as the Nature United lead in collaborating with other TNC programs on the west coast of North America to better understand and map carbon mitigation opportunities and develop a pipeline of project opportunities that deliver climate benefits through forest-based solutions;
- Manage contracts and grants with a variety of experts and interest groups, working within Nature United’s Standard Operating Procedures and processes;
- Build and/or maintain respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities, including working to identify outcomes of shared interest and advancing work in partnership;
- Advise on the implications of policy and regulatory matters related to the forest sector and climate change with a broad focus to advancing NCS in B.C. and MB;
- Build and maintain effective partnerships with relevant non-governmental organizations, Provincial governments, and key industry stakeholders;
- Participate in team planning and strategy discussions for work in B.C., MB, and elsewhere Nature United works;
- Make independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context, foreseeing risk and proactively seeking advice as needed; and
- Participate in skill building and professional development opportunities