Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction Policy Officer

Climate change relates to all eight of Plan’s programme goals and significantly affects several of them. Children’s futures – their education and employment options, their food and water security, their health prospects, and the chances of their engaging in or being affected by disasters or by conflicts over resources are more uncertain than ever before.

This new post is needed to coordinate the organization-wide development of Plan’s position on climate as it relates to our programmes. The post holder will lead Plan in establishing its reputation as the go-to agency for child-centered climate change work with other agencies especially multi-nationals who are focused on this topic.

The post will ensure our work on climate is focused and improved through clearer positioning and programme guidance.

Dimensions of Role:

• Coordination of the Plan-wide Climate Change Working Group providing advice and coordination across 50 country programmes and all the regional and northern offices • Reporting to DRM team on CCWG work and progress for submission to Executive Team • Preparing and managing a budget for funds needed to complete CC working group tasks • Commissioning of research in relation to Climate Change • Writing of Plan’s CC Policy and advocacy Position papers and briefings • Development and delivery of guidelines and tools on climate change and resilience building for programmes to adopt • Contributing to the development of Plan’s approach and global programme on Safe SchoolsThis post will not have line management responsibilities

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

Effective coordination of a strong and active Climate Change Working Group producing strong guidance and information for Plan’s work • Coordination of the CC WG, comprising policy, programme and support staff from across the organization. The group will meet virtually every 4 – 8 weeks. • Monitoring the group’s work plan. • Commissioning research as required to develop Plan’s positions on relevant issues and influence policy debates. • Supports collaborative research and publications with partner agencies, particularly members of the Children in a Changing Climate coalition. • Producing and editing of briefing papers for the working group. • Reporting on group progress through line management. • Position statements and programme guidance in place. • Primary goals established and achieved related to our One Plan strategy.

A set of global position papers and related guidelines/tools are informing Plan’s policy, advocacy and field work to mitigate the effects of Climate Change on child poverty • Support the development of core and reactive positions on child-centred climate change adaptation, DRR and resilience building that are relevant for long-term programming and disaster risk management work and related advocacy. • Develop and disseminate tools and guidelines for the implementation of effective work. • Supports Plan’s capacity building and training by integrating information and guidance on responding to climate change within in development and humanitarian work. • Identifies and develops training materials, programming guidance and tools on climate change adaptation and mitigation. • Develops and maintains an information resource accessible across Plan on climate change policy debates. • Identifies new sources of funds for climate change work and keeps resource mobilization colleagues in COs, NOs and ROs informed about new opportunities. • NOs would be raising more money for CC work, based on support from this post.

Dealing with Problems:

• The post-holder needs to be creative, determined and persuasive to make things happen even when Plan capacity seems inadequate. • Strategic in making and arguing for choices in an huge sector area • The job requires comprehensive analysis of situations and opportunities combined with an innovative and professional approach • Being effective in arguing for new policy positions where needed • Overcoming attitudinal and systemic barriers is critical for success. • Using network contacts effectively and assiduously for programme impact

Communications and Working Relationships:

Internally, the post holder will work closely with: • Head of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, to ensure that Plan’s DRR work minimizes the potential impact of climate related stresses and shocks, thus promoting children’s rights to a more secure future. • Grants acquisition staff across Plan, in order to help them raise funds from bi-lateral and corporate donors for climate change adaptation and mitigation work, and coordinate Plan’s engagement with multi-lateral donors (such as GFDRR in the World Bank) for climate change. • IH programming, policy, evaluation, research and communications teams, in order to ensure that the development and implementation of our policy positions are informed by and in turn, inform Plan’s policy, programming, advocacy and communications work. • Director of Disaster Risk Management, to ensure that Plan’s positions on climate change inform Plan’s contributions to high level internal and external dialogues on humanitarian issues. • Disaster Response Policy Coordinator and technical advisors, to help ensure that our emergency response work respects our positions on climate change and contributes to improving the climate-smart resilience of disaster prone communities. • Country office programme and disaster point people and Country management teams, in order to develop content and ownership of policy positions and programme guidance • NO programme, fundraising and disaster specialists, to support their programming and fundraising responsibilities

Externally, the post-holder will need to network and engage with:

Climate change specialists, DRM specialists in peer organizations, managers and coordinators in UN agencies in Geneva and New York; academics and thought leaders in the sector; influential contacts in relevant foundations and multi-lateral agencies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives: • Degree level qualification or equivalent experience supporting development of policy and programme guidance in international development. • Up-to-date knowledge of how climate change debates are informing international development and humanitarian policy and programming approaches • Knowledge of current debates about child centred development and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation • Knowledge of research methods and writing and editing for professional and public audiences in many countries • Knowledge of working within a large international organisation • Knowledge of analysing policy environments and understanding how rights-based and child centred approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation. • Knowledge of children’s rights in the context of development and humanitarian work and how rights-based and child centred approaches are relevant for climate change adaptation and mitigation. • Highly competent with computer-based communications and information management technology • Consistent decision making and sound judgement • Effective communicator using clear messages drawn from Plan’s work • Cross culturally adept • Proven ability to develop mutually trusting relationships within complex partnerships to deliver excellent outcomes • Excellent influencing and negotiating skills to enable working effectively with staff across the organisation • Excellent skills at developing strategy and organisational positions • Excellent skills to both write and edit engaging reports and briefing papers • Ability to work on a number or projects simultaneously and to manage competing demands and deadlines • A collaborative working style to support collegiate working and encourage the sharing of information by colleagues • Presence and authority to gain trust from colleagues across the organisation • An interest in and awareness of global development issues and how they affect children • An outgoing personality with the ability to network effectively and build good working relationships with colleagues across the organisation • An innovator with a desire to identify and explore new methods of working

Location and Travel: This role will be based from International Headquarters in Woking which is a typical office environment. Some international travel for short periods will be required, possibly at short notice.

Languages: Fluent written and spoken English required

Type of Role: 9 months Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Salary: c. £30,000

Reports to: Disaster Risk Management Director

Closing Date: 15 August 2013

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK without restrictions.

How to apply:

Please apply via our website: http://plan-international.org/about-plan/jobs