Senior GIS Analyst, Climate Change

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests   and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability, and any other protected group.

Position summary:

The Senior GIS Analyst, Climate Change will lead the geospatial research and analysis efforts related to the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) sector and Climate Change and providing spatial insights that inform and deliver action on Rainforest Alliance’s Climate Change Strategy. In this role, you will work across teams to deliver geospatial solutions that address climate change in the land use, forest, and agricultural sectors. Specifically, you will be responsible for advising on how Rainforest Alliance can use geospatial information, satellite imagery, and technology to support initiatives related to Rainforest Alliance’s Climate Change Strategy, including monitoring deforestation and land use change, and measuring, monitoring, and reporting on GHG emissions and carbon stocks. You will guide teams across Rainforest Alliance on the required data collection, modelling, and spatial analysis for assessing the climate mitigation impacts of Rainforest Alliance projects and initiatives. Work will encompass Rainforest Alliance key commodities (coffee, cocoa, tea, palm, forest products) around the world. The Senior GIS Analyst, Climate Change will work cross-functionally with various teams, including DMERL (Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning), Global Programs, Corporate Engagement, and Advocacy.

Responsibilities: 

• The Rainforest Alliance’s Core Values are Impact, Change, Collaboration, Openness and Trust and as such they form the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate

• Conduct research and analysis to further develop insights on forest monitoring, deforestation risk modelling, and greenhouse gas accounting

• Conduct land cover mapping in key landscapes and commodities and calculate GHG emissions associated with land use change

• Create geoprocessing workflows and conduct geospatial, statistical, and other advanced data analysis related to deforestation, land use change, and GHG accounting across Rainforest Alliance programs and projects and prepare visualizations and reports of findings

• Develop reports and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences on topics of focus

• Work cross-functionally with various teams to develop and implement workflows and new analysis methods

• Develop and implement methods for measuring and monitoring deforestation and GHG emissions across Rainforest Alliance’s Certification, Tailored Programs, and Landscape initiatives

• Develop and implement methods for measuring and monitoring changes in carbon stocks in agricultural landscapes (e.g., from agroforestry or restoration initiatives)

• Lead AFOLU research efforts to develop spatial insights to inform Rainforest Alliance’s Climate Strategy

• Conduct outreach to satellite and nature tech providers to form partnerships to support the implementation of Rainforest Alliance’s Climate Change Strategy

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Geoinformation Science and Analytics, Geospatial Technologies, Climate Change, Environmental Science, Forest Conservation, Earth Science, Land and Water Management, or related field, with 5 years’ of experience (volunteer and intern work considered), or a Master’s degree with 3-5 years’ of experience.

• Work experience in data management/processes is required

• Ability to understand and analyze data in various formats, aggregate information and report on trends and findings, and improve GIS processes.

• Work experience with the ESRI platforms and/or QGIS.

• Knowledge of programming language (Python, R), or Google Earth engine is a plus.

• Strong quantitative background in geospatial data analytics and tools (e.g., geostatistics, ArcGIS, QGIS)

• Demonstrated experience independently developing GIS methods and delivering robust analytical products

• Experience preparing reports and presentations to communicate complex technical topics to non-technical audiences

• Knowledge of monitoring carbon and land use change in agricultural supply chains and/or forests preferred

• Knowledge of tools and methodologies for carbon accounting in forests, agriculture, and landscapes

• Experience in spatial analysis of carbon stock measurements, carbon footprints, deforestation, and land use change preferred

• Ability to work in a cross-functional, multi-cultural team with members in different parts of the world.

• Accurate, analytical, quality-conscious, connector, great teammate and enhanced organizational skills.

• Experience in the coffee, tea, or cocoa sector (desired)

• Excellent English writing, editing and verbal communication skills; foreign language proficiency preferred (Spanish, French, Portuguese)

• Strong organizational skills to lead multiple priorities in a time-sensitive manner, meticulous, strong attention to detail

• Strong personal ethics and integrity and commitment to upholding the rules and values of the Rainforest Alliance

Job Level: 4A

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline: June 23, 2023

Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in the locations in which we are registered will be considered.

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: [email removed - click apply for more details]