Climate Change Specialist – Remote / Work From Home

Program Background

Climate Resilient Communities

Action on climate change is at the heart of Australia’s International Development Policy. The policy commits the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to respond to the needs of Indo-Pacific countries and evidence of the accelerating climate crisis by increasing our climate investments and better addressing climate risks.

Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) is DFAT’s new flagship climate change program designed to help achieve Australia’s International Development Policy and meet Australia’s climate finance commitments over the next nine years (2024–33).

CRC will incentivise the flow of funds towards inclusive climate change programming—targeting community resilience in the water, food, and energy sectors— by co-funding bilateral and regional programs and attracting new sources of climate finance, while also raising the quality of climate integration across the sectoral programs.

Climate Resilient Communities Support Unit

DT Global has been contracted by DFAT to establish and manage the Climate Resilient Communities Support Unit (CRCSU). The CRCSU provides a mechanism for DFAT Canberra and Posts to deliver enhanced climate and disaster resilience and integration programming, with the aim of enabling people in the Indo-Pacific to become more resilient to climate change and disasters.

The CRCSU will help achieve this through supporting a sustained increase in organisational capability and services for DFAT, providing access to specialist expertise, resources, and networks, through an efficient operational platform. The CRCSU provides this through the following core services:

• Program cycle support
• Climate change integration technical assistance across all development sectors (integrating gender equality, disability equity and other cross-cutting issues), including embedded personnel within DFAT
• Knowledge and learning support
• Public diplomacy support

About the Role

Sitting within the CRCSU’s Program Enabling Unit, the Climate Change Specialist will support the delivery of services of the Support Unit for DFAT and respond to their requests for technical assistance to strengthen integration of climate and disaster resilience and support the program cycle.

The Climate Change Specialist has responsibility for providing technical advice and guidance as well as coordination of support service tasks and management of experts to strengthen gender-responsive and inclusive climate change and disaster resilience in Australia’s international development program. This will include a focus on building integration of resilience to climate change and disasters through actions for mitigation, adaption and resilience building, with a gender responsive and inclusive approaches across different sectors of international development programming. It will require advice and support for multiple points of the program management cycle across a diverse range of implementing partners as well as support for designs of new climate focused programming, particularly in food, water and energy sectors.

This role is open for remote work based in Australia.  

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: http://surl.li/hmjlbg

Roles & Responsibilities

• Work with the CRCSU team to provide timely responses to DFAT requests for technical assistance to strengthen integration of gender responsive and inclusive climate and disaster resilience across development sectors and program cycle including supporting actions such as review and development of strategies and reports, vulnerability risk assessments, and targeted advice and guidance.
• Work with the CRCSU team to support the development and comprehensive processes for design of gender-responsive and inclusive climate and disaster resilience focused DFAT investments, ensuring accurate application of investment design quality standards and criteria, including review of draft designs and oversight of design teams.
• Coordinate and project manage task requirements and delivery as well as engage and manage experts to support delivery of tasks.
• Build effective working relationships with DFAT Canberra, Indo-Pacific Posts and implementing partners to support collaboration, planning and implementation of the CRC’s activities.
• Work with the CRCSU team to identify and contribute to opportunities for knowledge sharing and capability building of DFAT, implementing partners and CRCSU colleagues on climate and disaster resilience.
• Work collaboratively with other CRCSU Business Units to incorporate MEL, gender, disability and social inclusion, First Nations, locally led development and other development priorities into advice to provide cohesive, consistent and high-quality support to DFAT.
• Contribute to CRCSU reporting and deliverables, including working with CRCSU’s MEL team to ensure Program Enabling activities are accurately captured in the MERLA system and support CRCSU’s knowledge sharing, communication and learning agenda.
• Contribute to developing harmonious working relationships with DFAT, colleagues and key stakeholders, and assist to build the profile and reputation of CRCSU as a high performing support unit.
• Contribute to incorporating CRCSU’s commitments on promoting and mainstreaming GEDSI in the delivery of all CRCSU advice, processes, decisions and activities.
• Other tasks and duties as required to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of the CRCSU.

Selection Criteria

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Tertiary qualifications in in climate change, environmental or social sciences, natural resource management, environmental engineering or a related field.
• Strong knowledge and experience in relation to building climate and disaster resilience (including adaptation, mitigation and intersection with inclusive approach and disaster risk reduction), with a preference for the sectors of food security, water security or energy transition.
• Extensive experience and contemporary knowledge of international development activities related to strengthening climate and disaster resilience and sustainable development in Indo-Pacific.
• Comprehensive understanding of Australia’s international development and climate commitments including Australia’s International Development Policy, DFAT’s Climate Change Action Strategy and other policy including the investment design quality standards and criteria.
• Proven capacity to translate complex climate and scientific information for non-technical professional and local audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of national and regional climate and disaster resilience priorities in Indo-Pacific such as outlined in National Adaptation Plans (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other national and regional policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate and maintain productive working relationships across geographically dispersed teams, with demonstrated experience in working sensitively and collaboratively in complex cross-cultural operating environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
• High level of computing skills with experience in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 
• Understanding of and commitment to Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Child Protection, PSEAH, prevention of human trafficking, environmental protection, anti-corruption and other DFAT safeguarding policies.

How to Apply

We welcome your interest in joining the team. Apply by submitting your updated CV and tell us why you think you are the ideal candidate (no longer than 1 – 2 pages).

About DT Global

DT Global is shaping a future where sustainable development and innovation empower individuals, communities, and nations. We work in partnership with local stakeholders to foster inclusive prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship. Our global team of 2,500 staff and experts work in over 90 countries to solve complex problems in the peacebuilding, governance, economic development, environment, and human development sectors. With a track record of technical excellence and more than 60 years of international development experience and relationships, we deliver innovative solutions that transform lives.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

DT Global is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. We are committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and bribery prevention. DT Global is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply. This program is funded by the Australian Government and Managed by DT Global.