Climate and Indigenous Affairs Policy Specialist

**About Wildlife Works**

Wildlife Works is a community-centered conservation company that implements market-based initiatives to protect the planet’s threatened wilderness and endangered wildlife. The company was founded on the premise that if we want wildlife in our world, it must work for local communities who share their environment. Wildlife Works’ conservation projects drive direct financing to forest communities to fund their own economic development while preventing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere annually.

**Position Summary**:
The Brazil Climate Policy Specialist position is a mid-level role that will be responsible for analyzing climate and forestry policy REDD+, carbon market regulation as well as biodiversity market regulation at national and sub-national levels to support WWC’s mission for Brazil. The position will cultivate and maintain strong and positive relationships with indigenous and local community representative groups and relevant government and non-government stakeholders in the country.

The position will be based in Brasília and be a member of two teams within WWC: the Brazil Country Team, as well as the global Policy and External Affairs Department (PEAD), based in the UK.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities include**:

- Develop and execute the company's institutional relationship strategy, liaising with government agencies to support the REDD+ project cycle, including prospecting, FPIC (Free Prior and Informed Consent), certification, and operationalization.
- Develop and implement high-level government engagement strategies to foster South-South collaboration between governments in creating investment environments and regulating REDD+ to attract private finance. Collaborate within the Latin America Regional Department and with other regional departments at WWC.
- Conduct comprehensive research on existing and emerging domestic climate policies, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), forest conservation strategies (REDD+), as well as voluntary and potentially emerging compliance carbon pricing plans and approaches at the national and subnational levels in Brazil. Ensure that findings contribute to our advocacy work in favor of private sector REDD+ projects, to promoting direct investment in indigenous and local communities and their territories, as well as to safeguard implementation.
- Identify opportunities to influence the design of regulations to incentivize high-quality IPLC-centered REDD+ project investments (IPLC: Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities). Develop and implement an advocacy strategy to leverage those opportunities and support the company's mission and project development goals in Brazil.
- Create impactful presentations, reports, and training materials tailored for local use in Brazil, while being globally applicable. Effectively communicate key climate policy concepts, advocacy positions, and promote understanding among stakeholders.
- Engage and maintain relationships with NGOs and learning institutions active in the policy space for REDD+ and indigenous rights. Organize and participate in events and collaborate on positioning and advocacy work.
- Support the development and execution of communication and engagement strategies targeting diverse audiences, including the general public, and public and private expert communities, to foster public policy debates on climate change and REDD+ in Brazil.
- Provide valuable insights and recommendations for internal strategies and initiatives that facilitate the company's adaptation to regulatory and public policy changes impacting our operations. Support feasibility studies for new projects, identify and propose measures to address emerging challenges and capitalize on new opportunities.
- Fulfill additional assigned duties, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in addressing evolving needs and priorities.

**Requirements**:
**_ Knowledge and experience:_**
- Bachelor's degree with a Specialization or Master's degree in environmental law, environmental policy, public policies, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the environmental sector and the carbon market in Brazil and preferably proven experience working with indigenous communities.
- In-depth understanding of national climate policies, Nationally Determined Contributions, and interlinkages with forest and land use sector strategies in Brazil as well as indigenous rights.
- Familiarity with policy, legal, and institutional frameworks relevant to the implementation of private REDD+ projects, including forest and land licenses, and land titling.
- Language: Excellent oral and written communication skills in Portuguese, with business-level oral and written proficiency in English.

**_Skills and Abilities:_**
- Proficiency in accurately interpreting legal documents and effectively communicating their contents.
- Strong communication and reporting skills, with