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Nature-based Finance Specialist

Ecosystems Knowledge Network

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Posted over 30 days ago...

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Be at the centre of financial innovation to harness the value of our natural environment for everyone. Be part of an award-winning UK-wide network. Help to equip the environment sector to deliver for climate and nature.

Overview

icon Salary

£27000 - £34000

icon Location

/ Wallingford/ Remote

icon Expires

Expires at anytime

Do you have the skills to accelerate nature-based finance throughout the UK? Would you thrive on the challenge of sharing innovation and know-how between initiatives that are improving the stewardship of land, water and nature around the UK?

The award-winning Ecosystems Knowledge Network is beginning an ambitious programme of work to support financial innovation among projects that restore land, water and nature in the UK. These projects now have the opportunity to attract new income through outcomes such as carbon storage and flood risk reduction. They expect to attract private investment.

The Nature-Based Finance Specialist will develop and lead a range of learning programmes online and in person. We are looking for a candidate with skills in supporting environmental enterprise, as well as an understanding of how finance and investment can support this. Taking a collaborative approach with our partners and funders, you'll be able to engage project representatives in the public, private and third sectors.

We are open to this role being a secondment arrangement with an existing employer.

About the Ecosystems Knowledge Network

We are working towards a time when the value of the natural environment for wellbeing and prosperity is harnessed to its full potential. Our mission is to equip people so that our vision becomes reality. We exist to provide an effective way of sharing know-how, innovation and ideas across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Our growing network involves over 3,000 professionals who work within and beyond the environment sector. This includes representation from over 600 local initiatives UK-wide that are improving the stewardship of land, water and nature. Through events, online resources and signposting advice, we deliver excellent learning opportunities. We share know-how across borders within the UK, as well as between a wide range of professions, sectors and interest groups.

In collaboration with the Green Finance Institute, and with support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, we are launching on a new programme of shared learning to catalyse nature-based finance in the UK.

Job description

Purpose

  • To deliver a programme of shared learning on nature-based finance in the UK. This programme is designed to support the emergent pipeline of projects in rural, urban and marine areas that are engaging in environmental markets and aspiring to investment readiness.

Key tasks and duties

  1. To proactively build working relationships with aspiring and emergent local and regional projects in the UK seeking to attract nature-based finance. To use this insight in order to understand their learning needs and to identify ways in which these can be met.
  2. To facilitate small group discussions in person and online on topics regarding environmental markets and finance for environmental restoration. This will involve identifying and managing external expert input where appropriate.
  3. To oversee our Nature-Based Finance Learning Hub, developed to support emergent projects and coordinated with the Green Finance Institute’s Hive.
  4. To research progress with nature-based finance in the UK and to report on the findings.
  5. To work proactively with contacts in government, public agencies and financial services businesses to understand their needs with regard to accelerating nature-based finance.
  6. To ensure that an agreed work programme keeps to time and budget.
  7. To integrate insights from nature-based finance relevant to other aspects of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network’s mission.
  8. To take a leading role in organising the Natural Capital Finance & Investment Conference.

Outcomes

The Nature-Based Finance Specialist will:

  • Make a measurable difference to levels of know-how among the 'pipeline' of projects to restore land, water and nature in the UK that are engaging in environmental markets and on the pathway to investment readiness.
  • Inform and inspire more projects to begin their investment readiness journey.
  • Build Ecosystems Knowledge Network’s reputation as a recognised independent and impartial source of insight on nature-based finance.
  • Grow the reputation of our Natural Capital Finance & Investment Conference in the UK and beyond.

Core requirements

  • Meet or exceed all operational targets, deliverables and outcomes within agreed budgets and on time. • Fulfil expectations of funders as agreed in contracts and offer letters.
  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues and partners, ensuring compliance with company employment policies and creating a positive work culture.
  • Make recommendations, secure necessary resources and implement agreed actions to develop and improve programme delivery.
  • Support other members of the Senior Management Team in providing timely reports and information as required.

Responsibilities for other people and resources

  • Oversight of interns and external consultants.
  • Budgets for events and the production of online learning resources.

Responsible to

  • Network Director.

Principal terms

  • Full-time post, focused on core hours of 9-5.30 pm. Flexibility in working hours will be required where events, travel or project deadlines require.
  • Salary in the region of £30,000 to £34,000, depending on skills and experience. We offer an employer pension contribution of 8% of salary. Leave allowance of 25 days per year, plus public holidays.
  • Fixed-term to 31st October 2023. Additional roles may arise in the longer term, especially if the candidate can secure the necessary funding.
  • This role is only for those who already hold the right to work in the UK.

Person specification

Qualifications and professional standing               

Essential

  • Higher education qualification relating to enterprise and the environment and/or sustainable finance.

Desirable

  • Qualifications relating to land management, marine management and/or environmental economics.

Experience

Essential

  • Production of case studies and reviews of best practice.
  • Facilitation of online and/or face-to-face technical meetings.

Desirable

  • At least two years of work relating to sustainable finance, environmental enterprise, or financial diversification for the stewardship of land and water.
  • Broad knowledge of the financial services sector.
  • Engagement with landowners in the private, public and third sectors.
  • Event design.
  • Work in a small, dynamic public-facing organisation.
  • Drafting of text for websites.
  • The production of training and e-learning modules.

Special aptitudes

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Self-motivated, well-organised, collaborative and able to implement a work programme with minimal supervision.
  • The ability to work in an impartial manner, respecting expertise in all sectors.

Desirable

  • A proven interest in improving stewardship of the natural environment throughout the UK.

Travel

Essential

  • The capacity and willingness to travel within the UK for face-to-face meetings and to support events, with overnight stays.         

Ecosystems Knowledge Network is an equal opportunities employer. We provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where all individuals can maximise their full potential.

Benefits

In addition to the remuneration, we can offer a host of wider benefits.

This role will enable you to gain a bird's eye view of the very best in the stewardship of land, water and nature in the UK. The postholder will be part of a growing team in an award-winning knowledge-sharing forum, respected for its insight and independence. By joining a small team in a growing organisation, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference to our charitable mission and our social enterprise. You'll also be making a difference for people and nature.

Enjoy a work base within the beautiful Howbery Business Park in Oxfordshire. Our office is within walking distance of the market town of Wallingford and has good bus connections with Oxford.

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