International Institute for Environment and Development
Climate Change Group
Job Description
Job Title:
Senior Coordinator – Climate Change Group
Responsible to:
Senior Coordinator, Climate Change Group
Main purpose:
To provide financial and administrative support to the Climate Change
Group
Main contacts:
Internal: Climate Change staff, other IIED staff especially Group
Administrators and Finance department
External: Consultants, partners, donors, members of the public
Salary:
Grade 4 £34,563 - £38,055 per annum depending on experience, plus
benefits with up to £42,941 for exceptional candidates
Contract:
Full-time Fixed-term contract (to end of 2015)
Location:
Edinburgh preferably but can be London based if candidate is unable
to relocate.
Background to the post:
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy research
organisation that provides expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable
development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others, we are
helping to tackle the biggest issues of our times – from climate change and cities to the
pressures on natural resources and the forces shaping global markets. With 116 members of
staff working with associates and partners around the world, IIED has been at the forefront
of policy-making in sustainable development for over 40 years.
The Climate Change Group of IIED, in conjunction with partners, seeks to secure an
equitable deal for the poorest communities in developing countries who are exposed to
increasingly severe and unpredictable weather events that can devastate communities,
destroy livelihoods and exacerbate poverty. IIED places particular emphasis on capacity
strengthening through collaborative research with individuals and organizations in the South.
Achieving an equitable climate change regime raises issues of power and hegemony,
interaction of stakeholders, and processes of redistribution. Underpinning this is the belief
that development policy and practice is a government-led process driven by economic and
political considerations that tend to favour dominant groups. Knowledge in itself is not
enough to change policy — it must be integrated with, or linked to, power. Improving
institutional frameworks and governance systems to support local adaptation therefore
requires a two-pronged approach based on:
- Building the capacities of those who have less knowledge, power, or ‘powerful
knowledge’ (e.g. dryland communities and their advocates) to articulate a vision of
change based on their own priorities, in a language that can be understood by others, to
challenge prevailing paradigms and to participate more effectively in shaping the policies
and practices that affect their livelihoods and adaptive capacity.
- Improving the knowledge and understanding of those that are ‘in power’ (e.g. national or
local government, MPs) of the rationale, dynamics and adaptive qualities of local
livelihood systems, and build their capacities to use this ‘improved’ understanding to
design policies and programmes that support adaptive planning.
Currently, the Climate Change Group has three action-research and advocacy objectives
that address the knowledge and power dimensions for improved development and
environment policy and governance:
1.
2.
3.
Building capacity to act on the implications of climate change for equitable and climate
resilient development in the drylands (http://www.iied.org/drylands-building-climateresilience).
Achieving more equitable climate change negotiations by engaging in different arenas
and processes in support of vulnerable developing countries
(http://www.iied.org/helping-vulnerable-countries-achieve-equitable-solutions-climate-lawpolicy-making-processes)
Supporting public policy responses in delivering climate-resilient development outcomes
for the most poor (http://www.iied.org/supporting-public-policy-delivers-climate-resilientdevelopment).
Please check the IIED website for more information: www.iied.org
The Climate Change Group is made up of the following staff:
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Simon Anderson, Group Head
Ced Hesse, Principal Researcher
Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow
David Dodman, Senior Researcher (joint appointment with Human Settlements Group)
Achala Chandani, Senior Researcher
Nanki Kaur, Senior Researcher
Susannah Fisher, Researcher
Neha Rai, Researcher
Janna Tenzing, Researcher
Brianna Craft, Researcher
Vacant, Researcher - Drylands
Hohit Gebreegziabher, Senior Co-ordinator*
Beth Henriette, Senior Co-ordinator
Marika Weinhardt, Senior Coordinator
Vacancy, Senior Co-ordinator
Teresa Sarroca, Coordinator
*Line manager for this post
Key Responsibilities:
The aim of this post is to provide day-to-day administrative support to the Climate Change
Group in all aspects of its work. Specifically the post-holder’s responsibilities will be to;
Finance
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Project manage a major action research project in collaboration with the CCG
objective 2.3 team leader and partners in developed and developing countries.
Oversee and monitor donor contracts, including a multi-million pound international
research consortium, keeping track of contract milestones, reporting requirements
and invoices, and liaising with IIED’s Finance and Partnerships staff.
Assist the Adaptation Secretariat in the Kenya National Drought Management
Authority at all stages of the project cycle of the Isiolo Climate Adaptation Fund,
including developing procedures, and advising on project proposals, budgets,
procurement, financial reporting and the audit process.
Provide project implementation support and administration to in-country partners,
including as necessary training local level partners and co-facilitating large multistakeholder workshops on financial management, systems and tools – travelling as
needed.
Help manage partner relationships at all levels (local, national, international).
Maintain and assist researchers in the management of project budgets and finances,
authorise expenditure on projects within the budget and adjust budgets as necessary
during the life of the project.
Prepare and monitor partner/consultant sub-contracts, ensuring reporting
requirements are met and payments are made on time.
Pay supplier invoices and prepare invoices for payment.
Provide ad hoc support to Group Coordinator on finance matters.
Administration
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Plan and prioritise own work activities, responding to line manager’s requirements in
addition to own responsibilities.
Maintain and update the Accountable Grant tracker of outputs for allocated projects.
Liaise with researchers in the planning, production and delivery of communications
outputs under the Dfid Accountable Grant projects
Organise travel arrangements for other staff, consultants and partners, including
accommodation and visas.
Communicate and respond promptly to queries from staff, donors and consultants,
often based overseas.
Respond to correspondence on behalf of staff on request and to promptly handle
general enquiries - replying directly whenever possible and referring to other staff
when necessary.
Attend internal and external meetings.
Provide administrative and logistical support for meetings, workshops, conferences
and seminars both at IIED, other venues in the UK and overseas. This could include
flight and accommodation bookings for participants, assistance with their visa
applications, assistance in preparation of documentation, and taking minutes as
required.
Provide general administrative support.
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Provide research assistance to researchers and draft narrative reports for donors if
required.
This job description defines the level of responsibility and areas of involvement of the post;
the details of the duties may change over time and do not form part of the contract between
IIED and the post-holder.
Person Specification:
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
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First degree or equivalent level of education
Relevant work experience – e.g. office-based administrative work; supporting busy
individuals
Advanced knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office Suite, e.g. Word, Excel,
Outlook and PowerPoint, and the internet
Good written communication skills with close attention to accuracy and detail
Good verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills (to deal with multicultural
staff and partners at all levels, and with external bodies and the general public) and
ability to work effectively as part of a team
Some experience in event administration and co-ordination of travel arrangements for
international collaborators
Experience in managing budgets and general finance procedures
Good numeracy skills
Good personal organisational skills (working to deadlines and under pressure,
prioritising workload, multi-tasking, and the ability to be adaptable and flexible in a
challenging environment)
Good time management skills (managing and structuring a range of responsibilities
without close supervision)
A good understanding of the issues involved in sustainable development.
Desirable skills and experience
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Working knowledge of a second language of wide relevance to IIED’s work, e.g.
French or Spanish
Understanding of working within the voluntary sector and particularly in nongovernmental organisations.
Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject
Behavioural competencies
The top four most important behavioural competencies that will apply to this role are shown below. This does not mean that others are not
important but these are the most important for this particular role. At Grade 3 postholders would be expected to demonstrate 11 competencies
at level 2/3.
Competency
Description
Level required
Communicating with Impact
Delivering Excellence
A concern for delivering high quality work and
improving performance. Consistently looks for ways
to add value to colleagues, partners and
stakeholders
Level 3
The ability to understand and appreciate issues from
a wide range of perspectives and adapt one’s
thinking and approach based on this understanding.
Level 3
Thinks ahead and takes decisive action to make the
most of opportunities and avoid future issues.
Demonstrates a commitment to the values of IIED
and acts in the best interest of the organisation and
its partners / stakeholders
Level 3
Develops Others
Empathy
Flexible Thinking
Information Seeking
Initiative
Integrity & Commitment
Leading Others
Understands Context
Working Collaboratively
Level 3