Director, Global Forest Policy

~ Founded in 2008, Climate Advisers has rapidly become a leading mission-driven, full-service consulting firm focusing on climate and energy policy. Our mission is to help clients and partners halt climate change in ways that further the public interest and improve their return on investment. ~

Working globally but headquartered in Washington, DC, Climate Advisers specializes in U.S. climate change policy, international climate cooperation, global carbon markets, demand-side and trade-based climate strategies, low-emissions development, and climate-related forest conservation. Over the past eight years, we have carried out important original research, convened leading climate change stakeholders, forged new political coalitions, mobilized new voices for climate action, and advised senior policy makers in the Obama Administration and Congress. Our supporters and partners include leading national governments, international financial institutions, companies, think tanks, philanthropic foundations, conservation organizations, and climate advocacy groups.

Climate Advisers is a new type of organization that cuts across traditional boundaries. We combine the rigorous analysis of an independent research institution, strategic approach and responsiveness of a consulting firm, mediation skills of a professional facilitator, and, vitally, mission-driven values of a public interest advocate. In brief, Climate Advisers marries the professionalism, talent, discipline, and nimbleness of the private sector with the values and goals of the non-profit community.  Visit us at http://www.climateadvisers.com for more information.

Climate Advisers is proud to be a Certified B Corporation, a new kind of company that meets higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.  Learn more about B Corporations here.

Position Overview

Are you looking for an opportunity to play a bigger role in shaping the global agenda on forests and climate change?

Do you want to develop and put into practice new policies and tools to shift financial flows away from businesses that drive deforestation and land degradation and into the green economy?

Have you been itching to help financial institutions, investors and regulators to understand why investing, directly or indirectly, in the business of deforestation and unsustainable land use is a bad investment?

Are you attracted by the opportunity to work with globally recognized thought leaders in the development and application of tools to identify the companies, individuals, banks, investors and products that are associated with deforestation?

Do you have a vision for expanding and improving accountability of companies around the world for eliminating deforestation from their commodity supply chains?

Climate Advisers, a growing mission-driven consulting firm, is seeking a smart, talented and self-motivated Director of Global Forest Policy to join its Forest Research and Policy Team, which promotes climate policies and solutions through original analysis, outreach and international diplomacy. We are seeking a policy director with the senior-level policy and research network, strategic vision, high energy and winning attitude required to accelerate climate action, with a focus on advancing global forest goals through non-traditional, non-forest sectors, including the financial sector.

The successful candidate will participate in major research projects as well as interact with the firm’s diverse clients and implementation partners (including several of the world’s leading philanthropies, influential non-profit organizations, globally important corporations, and forest & climate champions within governments). This Washington, D.C.-based position provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative policy solutions to halt climate change through protecting the world's tropical forests in ways that support economic growth. Climate Advisers will give strong preference to candidates who are based in Washington, DC.

This position offers an opportunity for the successful candidate to marshal existing networks of policy makers and opinion leaders to achieve big climate results with a high degree of independence in a collegial and nimble organization. The successful candidate will be someone who cares deeply about international climate action and is able to develop and promote innovative policy proposals that catalyze international response to global problems. Candidates with expertise in economics and/or data compilation, analysis and visualization will receive special consideration. 

The Director will have opportunities to contribute to the firm’s continued growth, and to expand his or her own role and compensation by building a client base and leading new initiatives. The Director’s ability to assume greater management and leadership roles will be limited solely by his/her talent, creativity and energy.

Responsibilities

• Research and write high-impact policy briefs, background papers, and other materials.
• Develop political and policy strategies for global forest & climate policy advocacy.
• Drive external outreach and communications and interact with policy makers and partners.
• Lead proposal writing and fundraising efforts.
• Develop and execute plans for Climate Advisers forest policy projects.
• Collaborate with internal and external peers on research and policy analysis.
• Arrange, attend and participate in meetings with government officials, clients, and climate change stakeholders.
• Coordinate projects to ensure efficient operation of the forest research and policy team.
• Working closely with, and under the direction of, the Managing Director of Policy and Research.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in International Forestry, Environmental Science or Natural Resource Economics, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of experience as a researcher, policy analyst, policy advisor, or equivalent level, with experience in global climate change policy.
• A thorough understanding of the Paris Agreement, the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, the New York Declaration on Forests, and related multi-lateral and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Experience in conducting global environmental analysis and research, including authoring and presenting briefings, reports and funding proposals.
• Experience with economic thinking and quantitative analysis.
• Discretion, creativity, maturity, intellectual curiosity, initiative, and good judgment.
• Exemplary and proven communications skills in English, including writing and editing skills.
• Experience in organizing public and private events and interacting with international networks in the climate and forestry (or land use) fields.
• Strong knowledge of and passion for environmental policy and action.
• Strong research skills using library and online resources.
• Advanced project management skills and experience in managing budgets of more than $100,000.
• Ability to absorb and synthesize large amounts of information and data quickly.
• Excels in a rapidly changing and dynamic political and business environment.
• Exceptional collaborative style.
• Ability to work on small teams at a fast pace and under time constraints.
• Flexibility and desire to take on new roles and responsibilities as the firm evolves.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Compensation

• Climate Advisers offers an excellent benefits package and highly competitive compensation relative to senior research assistant positions at comparable think tanks and research groups.

~ Climate Advisers is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and strives to select the best-qualified person for each position in the organization. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, disability, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. Firm management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment. ~