Senior Environmentally Sustainability Lead

LOCATION: Open – subject to OIS being able to establish an employment contract. Global South location preferred.

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term for 2 years

INTERNAL JOB GRADE:

DEPARTMENT and TEAM

Operations Department

SALARY: Determined by location

HOURS (FTE) Full time can be 36-40 hours based on location

FLEXIBLE WORKING

‘We believe flexible working is key to building the Secretariat of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. We think this role would work particularly well as a part time, job share, or compressed hours.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:

The Oxfam International Operations Department includes a range of functions including: Safeguarding, Finance, People and Culture, IT Systems, Risk and assurance, Legal and the project lead Global Green Team.

These functions provide safe, and inclusive operational services, that enable the Confederation to have greater impact and support the delivery of the OIS strategy. This to be achieved through the management and continual improvement of Oxfam International Secretariat’s key operational functions. This includes the provision of services and support to OI (OIS and Countries and Region); coordination of these functions across the Confederation to facilitate greater efficiencies harmonization of services for improved quality and consolidation of key operational data; operational support to countries and regions, in close partnership with the Oxfam Affiliates.

TEAM and JOB PURPOSE:

The Oxfam Confederation is a signatory to The Climate and Environmental Charter for Humanitarian Organisations. A key theme of this role is to support Oxfam to meet these commitments with our partners, in our programmes and in our operations. With the aim to reach Net Zero Carbon emissions across the entire Oxfam Confederation.

The role includes:

1. The creation of an Environmental Sustainability Strategy leading to net-zero carbon emissions and no harm for the environment in the operations of Oxfam
2. Lead the change in Oxfam’s operations that contribute to a better environment beyond carbon. For example, improve impacts on land, habitats, water, and air.
3. Contribute or lead climate and environmental policies: waste management policy, sustainable procurement policy, reduction of plastic policy……
4. Analyse carbon emissions data of Oxfam together with the Carbon Accounting Analyst. Propose, lead and support actions that significantly reduce the carbon emissions further.
5. Working together with Countries and Regions, Affiliates in their home countries, the Global Humanitarian Team and Partner Organisations in the South Oxfam works with.
6. Work strategically with the Supply and Logistics community and the technical teams of the Global Humanitarian Team in Oxfam in the road towards sustainable procurement.
7. Initiate capacity strengthening for Oxfam teams on climate and environmental commitments towards reaching zero carbon emissions.
8. Play a key role in exchanging knowledge, information and outstanding examples of projects to the wider Oxfam Confederation and external stakeholders (others NGO; Private sector, academic sector; etc..) as sharing knowledge and resources is also a commitment of the Climate charter. Be Oxfam’s spokesperson on operational climate and environmental issues in the sector and also to relevant stakeholders outside the sector.
9. Inform affiliates and OI on international environmental laws and regulations, donor-requirements and provide them support to improve our compliance with these standards.

ROLE REPORTS TO: The Oxfam International COO

ROLES REPORTING TO THIS POST: Carbon Accounting Analyst

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

Budget spend is included in the overall budget of the Operations department of around 25.000 euros.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Technical:

1. Knowledge and experience in the climate and environmental issues in Oxfam’s operations: internal operations and operations in Oxfam’s (Humanitarian) Programs and Campaigns.
2. Being able to think strategically and translate the strategy to concrete actions and plans.
3. Being able to analyse and report data (on carbon and other data) as the basis for plans and monitoring.
4. Being able to monitor the effects of carbon emission reduction initiatives like new policies, projects and actions implemented etc
5. Understand and keep up to date with developments in donor requirements and other legal requirements in respect of climate and environment and translate these to Oxfam’s ways of working.
6. Have a scientific understanding of the climatic and environmental impacts on people and planet from climate change.
7. Keep up to date with developments in standards and other best practice and how these may be translated to Oxfam’s ways of working.

Leadership

• Passion for and proven experience in environmental and sustainability and change
• Being able to coordinate processes in a complex organisation of 21 affiliates and over 60 countries where Oxfam works.
• Represent Oxfam to different stakeholders inside and outside Oxfam
• Represent Oxfam, promote important developments internally and externally, especially in the Humanitarian Sector
• Have excellent communication skills and experience

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Most importantly, every individual at Oxfam International Secretariat needs to be able to:

• Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and EQUALITY (read more about these here)
• Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct):

1. Be committed to our feminist principles, and to applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and your work. Be ready to keep learning, with accountability to those who experience oppression as a result of their identities, such as their gender, race/ethnicity, disability, class, or LGBTQIA identity.”

2. Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES

ESSENTIAL

• Systems Thinking
• Mutual accountability
• Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity
• Good communication Skills
• Self-awareness

In addition:

• Education and experience in sustainable development
• Understanding of and experience in making carbon footprints
• Knowledge and experience of environmental aspects in organisations
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating in complex situations
• Good project management skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical information in plain language

Desirable

• A working knowledge of French is an asset and Arabic is welcome.

SAFER RECRUITMENT: Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.