JOB TITLE: Source Water Protection Specialist
JOB FAMILY: Conservation
JOB NUMBER: 250005
JOB LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
BA/BS Degree and 5 years’ experience in water management, natural resource management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience negotiating complex agreements and communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, Web browsers, etc.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Source Water Protection Specialist is responsible for implementing strategic activities and working with numerous partners to explore the feasibility of, and potentially develop, a Water Fund (payment for ecosystem services) arrangement in Zambia.
She / He works closely with the Africa Region staff, other divisions of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), government agencies, regional institutions, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral agencies, land and water managers, communities and the private sector to develop, coordinate and implement TNC’s Water Fund strategy in Zambia. Water Funds engage large public and private water consumers—utilities, downstream industries, agricultural producers, and/or private donors and aid agencies—to invest in a fund that pays for the protection of water quality and quantity upstream. Water Funds are an innovative way to invest money in conservation projects that protect the upstream ecosystem services of clean freshwater while simultaneously ensuring that water quality and quantity is improved and maintained for downstream water users. The upstream conservation projects that are central to the Water Fund are also designed to support human health improvements and poverty alleviation measures. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has helped to establish successful Water Funds in several countries throughout the world, and is currently leading the development of a Water Fund for Nairobi, Kenya.
The Source Water Protection Specialist will develop relationships and partnerships with various governmental, non- governmental, and international organizations that share The Nature Conservancy’s goals of maintaining 1) healthy ecosystems and communities in the Kafue River watershed; and 2) adequate water quality and quantity for downstream users through a payment for ecosystem services model, or other similar approach.
The Source Water Protection Specialist will collaborate with stakeholders to build upon a range of past and current watershed assessment and restoration projects in the Kafue River watershed. This will require the Source Water Protection Specialist to meet frequently with Government of Zambia officials from various agencies, major water users, international bodies, community groups, and non-profits. The Source Water Protection Specialist will lead a feasibility assessment that gathers existing information on the technical feasibility and on-the-ground opportunities for a Water Fund for the Kafue Basin. She/ He will also assess financial, governance, and institutional arrangement alternatives for the Water Fund. In this work, the Source Water Protection Specialist will consistently communicate with, and be supported by, TNC staff and partners within Africa, Latin America, and the United States in his/her efforts to explore and advance the Water Fund model.
Essential functions include:
Maintain and establish key partnerships with international, regional, national and local governmental, multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental organizations that can help advance payment for ecosystem services (Water Funds) efforts with partners in Zambia.
Raise awareness of TNC’s mission, goals and capacity among key government, multilateral, bilateral, NGO and local authority officials that would be instrumental in Water Fund development.
Lead the feasibility assessment of a collaborative Water Fund project, including the definition of pilot sites and interventions, incorporating best available information and considering the objectives and capabilities of our partners.
Assist TNC in defining the legal limitations and opportunities to implement a Water Fund under existing national and local laws.
As part of a feasibility assessment, make recommendations on Water Fund governance and institutional structure alternatives, in consultation with partners.
Help TNC and partners raise private and public funds for Water Fund development through outreach and proposal development assistance.
Lead the coordination of learning exchanges between water users and watershed managers in Zambia, Kenya, the United States, and Latin America.
Act as a key contact with TNC’s existing donors and staff by participating in, and setting up, meetings and field visits.
The Source Water Protection Specialist works closely with TNC’s Zambia Program Director and staff of the Africa Region, as well as TNC’s Global Freshwater and Central Science Teams.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Bachelor’s degree in either water management, natural resources management, natural resources policy or a related field and 5 years of work experience in natural resources conservation and government relations (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
Ability to make sound decisions on legal, financial, conservation and reporting issues
Knowledge of integrated water resources management, in particular in conjunction with community groups, local governments and the Government of Zambia.
Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities
Experience in partnership development (partners, community and government) including extensive networking with high-level government and NGO contacts. This position requires a politically acute and high energy individual to drive results with partners. Must have knowledge of and experience interacting with operations of multilateral and bilateral institutions.
Demonstrated experience communicating effectively with the public and/or media
Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s)
Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
Knowledge of the institutional and policy frameworks of water management and land tenure in Zambia.
Knowledge of current trends in conservation, integrated water resources management, and community-based conservation in Zambia.
Demonstrated leadership qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
Ability and willingness to travel frequently within Zambia, Africa, the United States, and Latin America as needed.
Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
Coordinates multiple projects with several variables, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes
Interprets guidelines, evaluates information, and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances
Compiles data, resolves disparities, and modifies processes to generate plans
Resolves routine issues independently, consulting with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of complex and unusual problems
Cultivates and develops creative ideas to improve conservation strategies
Applies diversified knowledge of scientific principles and practices to a variety of assignments
Negotiates complex agreements in political environments
Identifies and disseminates lessons learned, best practices and methods, tools, consistencies and inconsistencies across plans
Ensures program accountability and legal compliance
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
Ability to make sound decisions for TNC in the following areas (legal, financial, conservation, reputation)
Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment
Performs tasks with minimal supervision
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development. Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives.
May need to gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets.
Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements
Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
Networks with diverse groups, including land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy efforts
Provide a variety of information to staff and others, contributing to conservation projects and assisting workflow throughout the organization.
Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff, and others, providing and obtaining needed information
Collaborates with a wide range of conservation partners to identify research needs, present technical concepts at national or international conferences, and support fieldwork
Provides training for internal and external colleagues on ecological and conservational scientific principles
Ability to simplify and explain the principles of conservation science and practices to technical and non- technical audiences
Communicates strategic project goals and objectives.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The Source Water Protection Specialist may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions:
require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain
present frequent possibility of injury
require long hours in isolated settings
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, please submit a resume/CV and cover letter to Africa@tnc.org subject line: SOURCE WATER PROTECTION SPECIALIST.
Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 18th, 2014 to be considered.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.