35-015 | (Senior) Specialist, Urban Resilience

VACANCY TITLE: 35-015 | (Senior) Specialist, Urban Resilience

LOCATION: Rotterdam, the Netherlands

LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full time – 40 hours per week

START DATE: As soon as possible

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled

SALARY INDICATION: 80,000 – 90,000 EUR (Gross base salary)

WHO WE ARE

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization working to accelerate action on adapting to climate change. We support adaptation solutions at the international and the local levels, partnering with the public and the private sector.

Our focus is firmly on those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; communities least prepared to withstand the health, social, and economic impacts of the climate emergency are our priority.

Founded in 2018, our organization operates with a unique dual-headquarters model. Our Global North headquarters is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, housed in the world’s largest floating office — a landmark of sustainable innovation. Our Global South headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, we maintain a growing global presence with regional offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, and Beijing, as well as a dedicated knowledge and research hub in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Our work encompasses high-level policy development, research, agenda-setting and advocacy to drive faster and deeper climate adaptation. We collaborate closely with partners to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of results where they are most needed.

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Join us at GCA as a (Senior) Specialist, Urban Resilience in the Water and Urban team. In this role, you will contribute directly to GCA’s mission as a solutions broker for urban climate adaptation.

You will provide leadership in policy advocacy and program development for urban resilience, while also offering technical and content-focused support to advance our global policy agenda. A key part of your work will involve building and managing relationships with external partners and stakeholders. You will also support the implementation of GCA’s Urban program, helping to shape and scale climate adaptation strategies that deliver real impact — and work for all.

Responsibilities 

Drive the implementation of GCA’s City Adaptation Accelerator (CAA), with a focus on scaling up urban climate adaptation and advancing locally led solutions. You'll play a key role in turning ambition into impact by operationalizing innovative, high-impact programs that support cities in adapting to climate change. Under the oversight of GCA Water and Urban Lead you will carry out the following:

• Develop and implement a pipeline of technical assistance projects in the urban climate adaptation and urban resilience sectors that shapes and expands GCA’s partnerships with leading Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank – to drive, scale up and accelerate on-the-ground urban climate adaptation. This will include established adaptation practice while creating the space and energy for innovation as well.

• Closely collaborate with MDB task teams to support the integration and implementation of climate adaptation in urban development projects that may include urban water management, housing, spatial planning, informal settlements, urban flood management and associated planning tools. This work will be done in collaboration with other GCA Water and Urban team members involved in integrated water resource management (IWRM), irrigation, urban service delivery, and so on.

• Lead the conceptualization, design, implementation and supervision of highly innovative and transformative technical assistance to urban climate adaptation and urban resilience building investment projects and programs of MDBs, in particular the ADB. This will include frequent and in-depth interactions and coordination with task team leaders/managers of MDBs.

• Drive a multi-faceted program, in coordination with regional and international partners, to build capacity of national and local government and non-governmental stakeholders.

• Play a key role in the operationalization of knowledge development related to urban water resilience and participate in relevant workshops and meetings to keep abreast with ongoing trends in climate adaptation, urban development and their implications on the GCA agenda and strategy.

• Further expand and maintain GCA’s network of international, national and local stakeholders in the water-urban adaptation sector.

• Support and oversee the procurement of external expertise (individual consultants, firms).

• Support the preparation of knowledge products (e.g. policy briefs, news stories, reports) on GCA’s activities.

• Provide mentorship and on-the-job guidance to GCA staff, strengthening their capacity through knowledge sharing, coaching, and skill development. Support the Global Water and Urban team in team management and performance enhancement.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

This role requires, at least, 6 to 7 field trips a year for the duration of one week (tentatively).