VACANCY TITLE: Senior Water Resource Management 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: 02 October 2023

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

Join us at the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) as Senior Water Resource Management Specialist to the Water and Urban team. As part of the Water and Urban team, you will play a vital role in GCA’s mission as a solutions broker in the field of water climate adaptation. You will actively engage in and provide leadership on policy advocacy and programs for climate adaptation as well as provide technical, content-focused support to advance GCA’s overall policy and advocacy work. You will have the opportunity to cultivate and manage relationships with external partners and parties as well as to support the team’s ongoing work around implementation of the Water program. Your expertise will shape and realize climate adaptation strategies for urban resilience at scale that work for all. We value diversity and inclusivity, offering a supportive and empowering work environment for all team members.

Responsibilities

Under the oversight of the GCA Water and Urban Lead you will carry out the following:

Support and operationalize GCA’s Climate Resilient Water Services Accelerator (CRWSA) in particular in relation to scaling up and acceleration of adaptation, and locally-led adaptation. This includes:

• Develop and implement a pipeline of technical assistance projects related to climate resilient water resource management that shapes and expands GCA’s partnerships with leading Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as Africa Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and World Bank – to drive, scale up and accelerate on-the-ground climate adaptation. This will include established adaptation practice while creating the space and energy for innovation as well.

• Closely collaborate with MDB task teams to support these teams on issues related to water resource management.

• Develop in coordination with the Water and Urban team Lead a principles and frameworks supporting good water resource management
• including resilient water policies, cross-sectoral organizations, and governance for implementation.

• Drive an innovative program, in coordination with regional and international partners, to build capacity of national and local government and non-governmental stakeholders on water resource management.

• Support (and operationalize) the conceptual development and the operationalization of the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and Integrated Water Resource Management, and the mainstreaming of water adaptation.

• Support the preparation of knowledge products – e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports – on GCA’s activities.
• Support and oversee the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms).
• Support on-the-job strengthening of capacity of GCA staff and partner organizations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

This role requires, at least, 4 to 6 field trips a year for the duration of one week (tentatively).

• Master’s degree in in environmental studies, development studies, public administration, climate resilience, water resource management or related fields.

• Minimum of ten years’ experience in the implementation of complex and large-scale innovative projects and programs related to water resource management in South Asia and/or Africa. Experience with MDBs is considered to be of added advantage.
• Experience in procurement and contract management of advisory services.

• Strong conceptual understanding of key subject areas such as climate adaption, urban water resource management, integrated water resource management, resilience building, and disaster risk reduction.
• Proven ability to translate concepts and strategies into technical assistance to national and local governments, and projects teams to support water resource management projects and programs in Africa and Asia.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders at different technical and strategic levels– senior government officials and other authorities, representatives of multilateral development banks, implementation partners, and so on.

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
• Constructive conflict resolution: Positive approach to resolving disagreements.
• Passionate about Climate Adaptation

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 02 October 2023.

The recruitment process is composed of 2 rounds of interviews with a possibility of a 3rd one.

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.

PLEASE SHARE

Thank you for sharing this vacancy with suitable candidates