Job Title: Marine Carbon/Biodiversity Impact Monitoring Contractor
Line Manager: Head of Marine Strategy
Position Type: Part-time Contractor minimum 20-hours a week
Duration: 6 months with possibility to extend
Kenya-or Africa-based preferred: remote location acceptable
Application instructions: Please follow the full instructions at the end of this job advert, failure of which may disqualify a candidate.
The Organization:
NATURAL STATE is a not-for-profit organisation head-quartered in the savannas of Kenya with the aim of catalysing nature restoration globally. We design and test new nature financing mechanisms and the supporting impact monitoring systems, and train local leaders to access this finance and deliver large scale restoration projects. Our location on the doorstep of vast ecosystems means that our team can be in the field every day, testing solutions in the places, and with the people, facing the challenges.Founded in 2021, we have built a team of 50+ team members who have a wealth of experience and proven track records in the fields of landscape monitoring, nature financing mechanism creation, the development of IT solutions, and the design and implementation of leading conservation education training programmes. It is important to us to nurture a new generation of experts in the region, so we also recruit talented career starters from the local communities who undergo rigorous on-the-job training under the wings of our more experienced team members.
Our partnerships make us stronger, and we believe that by bringing together the best-in-class partners, we will accelerate the creation of the transformative solutions needed to address the greatest issues facing humanity. We will scale our impact by making our solutions open science, packaging them up for use by the broader sector and into training programmes that we provide for local leaders to mobilise action on the ground.
We have a supporting 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the US. For more information, visit www.naturalstate.org.
Job description:
The Contractor will be instrumental in advancing NATURAL STATE’s (NS) goal to scale our impact monitoring systems to the marine realm. By researching and advising on state-of-the-art impact monitoring and best practices for the regenerative Blue Economy, the consultant will provide expertise and recommendations on current carbon and biodiversity methodological gaps that limit the scalability and growth of blue nature-based solutions (NbS). Working with the Head of Marine Strategy, this role will focus on supporting the delivery of an impact monitoring framework for two Blue Economy projects (mangrove, seagrass plus algae focus) in Kenya, as well as the Natural State’s strategy to fill current impact monitoring gaps and create methodologies that are cost-effective, robust, and scalable for the Blue Economy markets.
Key Deliverables:
Blue Economy Pilot Projects:
Support the Head of Marine Strategy in conducting a monitoring needs assessment (gap analysis) for two Blue Economy projects on the Kenyan coast.
Provide technical support and recommendations on how to fill gaps and improve impact monitoring for the two Kenyan pilot projects.
Support the Head of Marine Strategy in producing key documentations (gap analysis report, standardized impact monitoring framework, final report).
NS Marine Strategy:
Research and provide advice on state-of-the-art impact monitoring and best practices in interventions for blue Nature Based Solutions (NbS) projects globally (focus on mangroves, seagrass and seaweed).
Identify, and participate in meetings with, marine impact monitoring experts with the aim of broadening the NS knowledge base of existing methodologies, key global players, and potential partners.
Provide technical recommendations for NS Marine Strategy on how to adapt our impact monitoring solutions to the marine biome by improving on existing methodologies, filling global gaps, and integrating new technologies into the NS Impact Monitoring Portal.
Required Qualifications:
Minimum master’s degree in marine ecology, environmental science/ conservation (or similar).
Technical expertise in mangroves and/or seagrass restoration and impact monitoring methodologies.
More than 5 years’ work experience in the field of marine conservation/marine habitat restoration.
Understanding of cutting-edge impact monitoring technologies.
Excellent research skills.
Compensation:
A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Application process: To apply, send a detailed cover letter describing how you meet the above qualifications and a resume/CV as one document to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org
Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025.
How to apply
Application process: To apply, send a detailed cover letter describing how you meet the above qualifications and a resume/CV as one document to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025.