Sr. Analyst, Nature, UN Race to Zero, EDF +Business

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 850 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

We kindly ask that those interested in this position include a cover letter and any number of supplementary writing/work samples with their application submissions by a deadline of September 16, 2022.

Overall Function

EDF+Business has been working with the private sector to address the world’s most pressing environmental problems for over thirty years. The products we buy every day—from the food we eat to the beauty products we use—are an integral part of the global economy, but their production creates major climate, water and health impacts throughout the supply chain. The EDF+Business Resilient Food and Forest team aims to reduce these impacts by working with the food and agriculture sectors to enact change through their supply chains. We do this through high-impact partnerships with companies such as Walmart and Tyson Foods; bipartisan policy advocacy; and smart communications strategies to disseminate science-driven best practices. To align with a 1.5 degree future, there’s much work to be done to equip a company to best achieve its near term and long-term sustainability goals on the journey to net zero.

This role will be working both with the EDF+Business Resilient Food and Forest team and the UN Climate Champions team to align efforts on the UN-backed Race to Zero global campaign. The UN-backed Race to Zero program rallies leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. To win the race to zero emissions by 2050, the world must achieve near term, 2030 Breakthroughs through alignment and collaboration.

Job Description

The Senior Nature Analyst will focus specifically on the food and agriculture aspect of the 2030 Breakthroughs for Nature to articulate what key actors must do, and by when, to deliver the systems change we need to achieve a resilient, zero carbon world in time. With a strong emphasis on nature, climate, and agriculture, the Senior Analyst will focus efforts specifically on the journey to net zero for land use including the food and agriculture sector. This position will be executing on joint work between the UN-backed Race to Zero (RTZ) team and EDF. The position will be primarily focused on the “proceed” part of the RTZ, which has a focus on accelerating action. They will be reporting to the EDF+Business Food and Forest Manager.

Job Details

This is a 1-year fixed-term contract position with opportunity for extension. This role can be performed on a hybrid arrangement out of any EDF office or 100% remotely for US-based candidates. Candidates from select countries within the EU may be considered with exception. 

Key Responsibilities

• Align work between EDF Resilient Food & Forest team and the UN-Backed RTZ efforts.
• Support clarity of how natural climate solutions can be advanced within supply chain, not limited to major food corporations via research, partnership building, and stakeholder engagement. 
• Work with private sector actors to support actions on one or more of the 2030 Breakthrough ambitions. 
• Conduct a landscape review of requests that food companies face towards nature-positive impact as well as a review and gap analysis of missing resources to drive impact. 
• Assess guides for food companies on land use change to determine what more is needed to spur leadership, building off of guides EDF has already created.
• Develop communications materials, including easy resource guides, toolkits and factsheets, for the RTZ on land use & agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation in supply chains including in context of nature positive narrative and key messages. 
• Serve as a connector between the RTZ Nature team and the EDF Food and Forests team. Serve as a bridge between organizations for marketing and communication efforts including identifying case studies.
• Participate as a core member of the Resilient Food and Forest team as well as the RTZ Nature team and resilience team. Bring lessons learned to support the broader team goals and priorities.
• Effectively navigate a matrixed team of business, economics, science and policy actors across EDF and RTZ.
• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Identify nature-based solutions (NBS) investment opportunities in line with 2030 land use breakthroughs. Evidencing financial flows towards NBS will be a critical deliverable for COP27.
• Other relevant responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant work experience, or Master’s degree and at least two years of relevant experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analysis and in-depth research skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Knowledge of major climate impacts and opportunities from the food production, forests and land use.
• Strong understanding of IPCC 2021 and 2022 reports.
• Ability to translate scientific and technical concepts for private sector audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to flexibly adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities in a work environment.
• Demonstrated capacity to bring constituents together toward a common goal, build strategic relationships, and successfully advocate for environmental issues.
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of teams in a dynamic and creative environment.
• Ability to verbally and orally articulate and advocate for programmatic priorities among small groups and in formal presentations.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time per year.

Bonus Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience with greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting.
• Understanding of emerging regulatory frameworks, voluntary standards, & global reporting
• Previous experience working for or partnering with large multi-lateral organizations.