Nature Finance Specialist

Stanfordlivetickets; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

The Stanford Natural Capital Alliance, part of the Doerr School of Sustainability, seeks a Nature Finance Specialist to advance nature-finance policy and practice in collaboration with IFIs and national governments.

The role involves leading program aspects, outreach, research, and dissemination, with opportunities for teaching and curriculum development. The position is a fixed-term, with potential renewal and a hybrid work schedule.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, global policy, environmental governance, environmental finance, or a related field.
• Experience working with multilateral development banks or other international finance institutions.
• Strong understanding of ecological principles, ecosystem services, and nature’s contributions to people.
• Collaborative and able to work independently and take initiative.
• Exceptional diplomacy skills and ability to build strong relationships.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English; proficiency in Spanish or other languages is a bonus.
• Ability to travel internationally and work in a matrix management context.

Responsibilities

• Lead nature finance-related aspects of a research and engagement program focused on mainstreaming natural capital approaches into IFI policies and operations.
• Coordinate outreach among country-focused project teams and collaborators at IFIs.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate mainstreaming of natural capital into policies and operations and advise NatCap leadership.
• Identify and fill research gaps relating to nature finance in collaboration with project partners.
• Share progress with the NatCap team, collaborators, and publish reports, white papers, and policy briefs.
• Represent the program at meetings, workshops, and conferences, including delivering oral presentations.
• Contribute to curriculum development and teaching on nature-finance topics as part of capacity development.
• Contribute to development of program strategies and funding proposals.

Skills

Diplomacy

English communication

Independent work

Collaboration

Travel readiness

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master’s degree in international development or related field

Job description

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus or at the Woods Institute Washington D.C. office with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite 3 or more days a week), subject to operational need.

Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

This is a one-year fixed term position with the possibility of renewal dependent on programmatic need and budgetary availability.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

The Natural Capital Alliance (NatCap) is a collaboration among interdisciplinary researchers, professionals, and leaders around the world. NatCap’s mission is to pioneer science, technology, and partnerships that enable people and nature to thrive. We develop scientific tools and technology to model and map the services provided by ecosystems, with the aim of making the world a more livable place: securing human well-being with thriving ecosystems and harmonizing conservation and human development goals. NatCap’s global hub is at Stanford University, located within the Woods Institute of the Environment within the Doerr School of Sustainability, and the Department of Biology within the School of Humanities & Sciences.

For more information on the Stanford Natural Capital Alliance, please click here.

The Stanford Natural Capital Alliance seeks an expert in nature finance to join a research and engagement program focused on mainstreaming natural capital approaches into standard financing offerings and processes among international financial institutions (IFIs, such as the Inter-American Development Bank and Asian Development Bank), as well as into country government policy and finance pathways. A key goal of the program is to inspire the mainstreaming and standardization of development financing approaches in IFIs that integrate natural capital and drive growth in overall investments, policies, and uptake of this approach among IFI member countries.

The Nature Finance Specialist will join an interdisciplinary team of scientists, analysts, and consultants working with at least six focal country governments and several IFIs to co-develop natural capital approaches that lead to nature-positive outcomes. The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of the current state of nature finance as well as practical experience working collaboratively to advance nature-positive policy and finance.

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Under the guidance of NatCap’s Co-Executive Directors, lead nature finance-related aspects of a research and engagement program focused on mainstreaming natural capital approaches into standard financing offerings and processes among international financial institutions (IFIs) and into country government policy and finance pathways.

• Conduct outreach to and coordinate among country-focused project teams and well as outreach to project collaborators (or prospective collaborators) at IFIs.

• Identify opportunities for the program to accelerate mainstreaming of natural capital approaches into IFI policies and operations and make recommendations to NatCap leadership.

• Identify and fill research gaps relating to nature finance and its effectiveness, co-developing priority research areas in collaboration with project partners.

• Share program progress and results with the internal NatCap team, with collaborators, and with other experts by leading and/or contributing to written reports, white papers, policy briefs and peer-reviewed publications.

• Represent the program and the Natural Capital Alliance at meetings, workshops, conferences and other convenings, including delivering oral presentations.

• Contribute to curriculum development, development of course materials, and teaching on nature-finance topics as part of the Natural Capital Alliance’s capacity development program, including in-person and virtual courses and training.

• Contribute to the development of program strategies and funding proposals to further the program’s goals.

In addition to the minimum qualifications listed below, our preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in international development, global policy, environmental governance, environmental finance, or a related field.
• Experience working with multilateral development banks or other international finance institutions, or ministries of finance.
• Strong understanding of scientific foundation of ecological principles, ecosystem services/nature’s contributions to people or related topics.
• Collaborative and able to work independently and take initiative in line with established project goals.
• Exceptional diplomacy skills and ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English; proficiency in Spanish or other languages is a bonus.
• Ability to work effectively in matrix management context and adapt to changing priorities/needs.
• Ability to travel internationally to meet with project collaborators.

The expected pay range for this position is $119,138 to $153,488 per annum.