Director, Ecosystem Service Unit (ECO)

Title: Director, Ecosystem Service Unit (ECO) Team: Environment & Energy (E2) Reports to: Senior Director, E2 Location: Remote, USA Winrock International is recruiting a Director of the Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO) within the Environment & Energy Group (E2). For more than twenty-five years, ECO has been a global leader in ecosystem evaluation, carbon accounting, climate change mitigation and adaptation, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), watershed management, and other forms of environmental services accounting. The Director is responsible for leading technical performance and management of the ECO Unit, which includes a dynamic team of analysts and geospatial experts. The Director will maintain and advance ECO’s leadership in applying scientific research to benefit countries, businesses, and people; ensure high-quality project management and technical implementation; and pursue new business development and strategic growth. S/he/they will have the opportunity to set, implement, and meet the strategic, long-term goals and objectives of a highly technical and mission-driven organization. As a senior member of the E2 management team, the Director will be emotionally intelligent and lead by example, fostering an environment that is collaborative, conducive to growth, respect, equity, and thought leadership. Ecosystem Services Unit ECO forms the cornerstone of Winrock’s scientific leadership, having been at the cutting edge of the evaluation of ecosystem services from forests and agriculture for twenty-five years. ECO excels at the translation and application of science to benefit countries, businesses, organizations, and people. Winrock employs state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies to generate and distil information for resource managers, land use planners, communities, and industries for use in low emission and climate resiliency development and spatial planning, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimation, and habitat mapping and restoration. Winrock is a leading innovator in applied climate and landscape sciences due to the pragmatic and scientifically robust approach Winrock applies. ECO’s focus areas include developing: GHG measurement and monitoring approaches Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land Use (AFOLU) and REDD+ measurement and monitoring protocols Capacity building toolkits and training programs Interactive tools for sustainability assessment and measurement and monitoring of GHG emissions and ecosystem services in the land use and forestry sectors Scientifically robust geospatial and remote sensing solutions Decision-support tools Coastal carbon assessments Approaches to support net-zero commitments Essential Duties Leadership, strategy, and impact: Provide scientific leadership, vision, and management to the ECO team in the fields of carbon accounting, climate change mitigation and adaptation, REDD+, watershed management, and other forms of environmental services accounting. Manage a staff of approximately ten (including REDD+/ecosystem service experts and spatial analysts) and provide oversight of projects, funded by diverse donors with a range of budgets. Develop a vision and provide guidance to strategically grow ECO’s portfolio, deepening impact, scale, and reach. Foster an environment that is collaborative, conducive to growth, respect, equity, and thought leadership. Lead the growth of the unit’s technical visibility with key stakeholders, practitioners, and donors with an eye towards identifying and engaging promising partners for collaboration and innovation through thought leadership activities including, but not limited to, authoring op-eds; serving as a technical panelist, peer-reviewed publication and identifying topics and convening technical fora/ensuring Winrock participation in relevant fora. Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in climate change and ecosystem services. Quality project implementation oversight Provide consistent direction and advisory support to staff to ensure accountability for project technical, financial, and operational excellence. Ensure program adherence to organizational policies, strategies, and quality standards and continuously monitor program results to ensure projects are on time, on budget, and delivering high-quality technical impact. Identify, elevate, and address risks quickly. Identify and develop new technical tools and approaches and promote existing tools and approaches that can be incorporated into the larger technical area. Work with relevant internal Winrock operating units to ensure that program staff have the tools and skills needed to maintain full compliance throughout program implementation, including financial forecasting and budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, subaward management, procurement, and staff management. Proactive new business development Lead and implement ECO new business efforts, in close collaboration with ECO team and other cross-cutting internal units. Support and grow ECO’s new business by surfacing and recommending opportunities, leading proposals, and/or serving as a technical lead, contributor, or reviewer; leading decisions on whether to pursue ECO new business opportunities; mentoring staff; and working closely with senior leadership to ensure the delivery of quality proposals. Utilize professional network to build and maintain relationships with current and prospective donors in the portfolio through regular outreach. Represent Winrock at external events, nationally and internationally, and position Winrock for expanded work in relevant fields. Qualifications and Background: Education: Masters’ Degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, ecology, climate change, or other related field required; terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) strongly preferred. Experience: Minimum 15 years’ experience in climate change adaptation/mitigation/resilience and GHG accounting for land use required. Additional years of experience are strongly preferred. At least five years of overseas experience with technical and/or operational issues related to GHG accounting and land use, or related issues strongly preferred. Experience working in developing countries is required. Proven experience working closely with government ministries and ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with officials at national and local levels. Experience working with non-profit organizations, the private sector, foundations, multilateral organizations, and the U.S. Government. Experience leading and building teams, demonstrated technical innovation and leadership in GHG accounting, ecosystem services, AFOLU, and related fields; excellent leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, interpersonal skills required. Experience in the development of AFOLU projects and/or programs in the voluntary and/or compliance carbon market. Demonstrated experience in research and public communication on technical issues, including peer-reviewed publications, blogs, op-eds. Strong experience with strategic planning, capacity development, project, and financial management. Track record leading and designing winning proposals. Experience managing technical projects with a diverse team of individuals and consultants. Understanding of/experience with Net Zero approaches and methodologies a plus. Fluency in English and excellent communication skills (written and verbal); fluency in a language in addition to English is strongly preferred. Willingness to travel to developing countries, between 10-20% of time Winrock offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package. Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization