Junior Expert: Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions

Junior Expert: Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions

Do you want to contribute to making our cities better places to live by bringing nature into urban life?

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.

ICLEI‘s European Secretariat is based in Freiburg (Germany), with specialised offices in Brussels and Berlin. ICLEI Europe has more than 150 staff from all over Europe and beyond, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines and expertise.

Working with us, you will have opportunities to:

• Be part of an internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable urban systems;
• Work with leading urban researchers, politicians and practitioners on European innovation projects, to upscale and mainstream nature-based solutions to tackle the planetary crises including climate change and biodiversity decline;
• Help design and implement solutions for local and regional governments in fostering sustainable urban development ;
• Contribute to European and international processes that influence policy frameworks on fostering biodiverse urban systems through nature-based solutions, particularly those supporting the EU’s Green Deal and Biodiversity strategies and its Nature Restoration Law, the UN SDGs, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, etc.;
• Grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for professional development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange.

We are looking for a new colleague to join our Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions Team with the following experience, skills and character :

• Completed academic degree or relevant professional training in either green infrastructure, urban/regional planning or management, urban ecology, climate change, landscape design and planning, forest ecology, environmental management, environmental governance, etc.;
• At least 1 year of professional experience in relevant institutions/organisations, ideally for or with local governments or other public organisations;
• Sound understanding of biodiversity and nature-based solutions, key global issues about sustainability at the local government level and policy processes as well as familiarity with sustainable finance principles and practices, a broad understanding of the EU nature-based solutions market, its current trends and barriers is an asset;
• Very good oral and written communication skills and proficient in English and at least one other European language, spoken and written; more languages are an asset;
• Confident interacting and collaborating with a wide range of partners across disciplines, sectors and cultures;
• Curious, creative, collaborative, able to work in a dynamic international environment and a proactive approach to learning and skill development;
• Proficiency in common office programs (e.g., MS Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google suite) and similar software; basic skills in website content management is an asset.

Your position will include the following main tasks :

• Responsibility for defined tasks within projects or work areas in the team as delegated with close oversight from line manager (e.g., desk research, analyses, meeting & event organisation, etc.);
• Representative functions as far as they are part of the delegated tasks or especially defined (e.g., presentations and lectures, limited to internal or project meetings, etc.).
• Assist in developing formats of exchange, evaluation, peer-learning and capacity-building for cities (e.g., for UrbanByNature Programme);
• Support ICLEI Europe’s advocacy work on biodiversity and nature-based solutions at European and global level with a focus on the EU Green Deal;
• Support the development, promotion and application of ICLEI services and products underpinning the nature-based urban development;
• Input in the acquisition of future projects and writing of project proposals ;

We offer you the following conditions:

• Initial 24 months contract with high potential for extension;
• Gross salary according to the Junior Expert position in ICLEI’s salary grid (indicative: EUR 39.000 – 41.000 per annum);
• Place of work: Freiburg;
• 40h working week with flexible working time and the possibility to work up to 50% remotely;
• Six weeks of paid leave per annum;
• Working language is English;
• Occasional travel within Europe is foreseen.

Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or a valid EU residence permit and a valid German work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered.

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