Biodiversity Conservation, Latin America

Position: Project Management Specialist, International Cooperation & Conservation
Organization: Birds Canada
Location: Port Rowan ON (Hybrid) or remote, anywhere in Canada
Language: English professional fluency and advanced Spanish language skills (spoken & written) are required

Are you looking to channel your skills into meaningful, energizing work that will directly contribute to protecting our natural world? Do you want to work with an exceptional group of passionate and caring colleagues? Birds Canada is the country’s premier national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 100+ dedicated staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds – will you join us?

The Conserva Aves project at Birds Canada is an innovative biodiversity and climate change adaptation initiative supporting locally-led and gender equitable change through the establishment of protected areas to benefit birds, biodiversity and communities in eight countries: Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Colombia. This $15 million project, funded by the Government of Canada for the period 2024-2027, scales up and scales out the already proven Conserva Aves model delivered by international bird conservation partners. Conserva Aves will help drive sustainable conservation through: 1) Strengthened protected area establishment and management practices by local communities, especially women, Indigenous and Afro-descendant groups in priority areas for bird conservation; 2) Reduced barriers to equitable decision-making for conservation actors, especially women, Indigenous and Afro-descendant groups; and 3) Increased collaboration between communities, especially Indigenous communities, along flyways of birds migrating between Canada and Latin America.

Sound interesting? Keep reading…

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Project Management Specialist role is all about helping bring people together to address the complex and overlapping crises that nature and communities in Latin America face today. With our partners in the Conserva Aves Initiative, you will be supporting the establishment of new protected areas – working at the intersection of biodiversity conservation for birds, gender equality and inclusion and community-led sustainable economic development. The role of the Project Management Specialist is to support the Director and others in the International Cooperation & Conservation team to facilitate and coordinate the efforts of partners in Mexico and South and Central America to deliver and report on the sustainable establishment and conservation of protected areas for birds and the habitats they depend on by local communities. You will lead on ensuring project reporting processes meet the needs of partners and funders and support key operational, contract management and administrative needs of the Conserva Aves project. You will collaborate on a variety of processes relating to the Conserva Aves project’s implementation, monitoring, reporting and other accountability mechanisms.

To fit seamlessly into the flock, you must feel inspired by other conservation and social justice actors, be willing to learn from them and play the role of a partner committed to collective results.

Strong spoken and written Spanish and English are essential in order to be considered for this role.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

This full-time role reports to the Director, International Cooperation and Conservation and can be performed fully remotely or via a hybrid model. Offsite and in-person meetings will be required periodically, but the majority of collaboration (including with counterparts in Latin America) will be undertaken in a virtual manner. This role will require occasional international travel to Latin America (approximately 10%).

TOTAL COMPENSATION

Birds Canada is proud to offer an exceptional Total Compensation Package, including a competitive starting salary and 5% RRSP matching after 12 months of service. In addition, staff enjoy a primarily employer-paid extended benefits package including health and dental coverage, Basic Group Life Insurance, Group out-of-province travel insurance, Vision, ADD&D and short- and long-term disability coverage. We offer all staff 4 weeks’ vacation per year to start along with 12 personal health days and additional paid vacation days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

STARTING SALARY: Starting annual salary for this role is up to $80,321, commensurate with your previous experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the day-to-day implementation and management of the Birds Canada component of the Conserva Aves project in Latin America.
• Lead processes with Conseva Aves teams in Canada and Latin America to develop high quality project narrative reporting. Includes providing ongoing support and capacity building to teams. Ensure consolidation and finalization of reports prior to submission to the funder (Global Affairs Canada).
• Support Birds Canada’s Senior Director and Director, International Cooperation & Conservation in the development and implementation of the Conserva Aves project vision, managing funder and partner relationships and creating a culture of collaboration, learning and accountability.
• Work with Birds Canada’s Senior Director and Director, International Cooperation & Conservation in collaborations with Project Leads in Latin America to ensure adaptive project management and stakeholder accountability in Conserva Aves.
• Support operational, contract management, logistical and administrative needs of the International Cooperation & Conservation team within Birds Canada. This includes, but is not limited to, research, event coordination, preparation and editing of documents, and travel support.
• Promote and support wellness-focused team dynamics and collective responsibility for wellbeing and success.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge and/or experience (4+ years) supporting or working with diverse teams implementing or managing conservation or international cooperation programs in Latin America
• English professional fluency and advanced Spanish language skills (spoken & written) are required
• A passion for biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, ecosystem-based approaches, and inclusive and participatory community development
• Experience using or knowledge of Results Based Management approaches and tools
• Experience working with and supporting teams in preparing complex and/or multi-country reports on project results
• Experience using or knowledge of quantitative and qualitative tools for learning and measuring impact
• Understanding of institutional funder requirements, especially Government of Canada, and experience ensuring accountability to government and private funders.
• A strong interest and willingness to learn about bird conservation, protected area establishment and community engagement
• Self-motivated, committed to own professional growth and seeking to work in a results-focused and psychologically safe team
• Experience partnering with women-led or Indigenous or Afro-descendant organizations is an asset.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the Conserva Aves program, such as biodiversity conservation, environmental management, climate change, international development, community economic development, gender or women’s studies. Alternative credentials that demonstrate learning, skills and knowledge will also be considered along with lived-experience in supporting biodiversity conservation and community development actions in Latin America.

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a covering letter outlining how your experience makes you the perfect candidate for this role via the Birds Canada Online Job Portal by 11:59pm on February 5, 2025.

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Please note that interviews will occur on a rolling basis and may commence before the closing date. Birds Canada will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

At Birds Canada, we are committed to fostering a culture that values Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation, and Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, as integral approaches that shape all that we do in our organization and for nature (read our full commitment to inclusion at this LINK). We oppose prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination, and aim to ensure that people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences feel a sense of belonging and can participate in protecting wild birds and their habitats.

We are actively seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or who have a disability, are therefore welcome to mention this in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.