Careers at
NATURAL STATE
A career at NATURAL STATE means working hard to catalyze large-scale restoration globally by revolutionizing impact monitoring, developing new financial mechanisms and supporting local leaders. Our team of diverse people, ideas and skills help us achieve our impact goals and values.
Who We Are
Our goal at the NATURAL STATE research centre is to develop technology and financial systems that will catalyse large-scale restoration globally as well as help train future leaders for this sector. In the short term we are revolutionising impact monitoring for carbon, biodiversity and human-wellbeing, so that the success or failure of restoration efforts can be clearly defined. We are using this technology to help test a broad range of innovative financing mechanism that aim to support large-scale restoration, sequester carbon, and provide benefits to local communities.
About Our Team
NATURAL STATE's mission is brought to life every day by our talented team of individuals with unique perspectives and a deep passion for the natural world.
A career with us means working hard together to achieve our goals. From species diversity studies at the NATURAL STATE research centre, located at the base of Mt. Kenya, to analyzing data to help trigger nature-based solution markets. We all use our passions and skills to drive impact.
NATURAL STATES staff are lifelong learners, continually developing new approaches and new skills. We fail fast and learn fast with a “lean impact” approach. NATURAL STATE provides skill development opportunities through all career stages, and we do this in an inclusive and respectful environment. Our passion, dedication, and diverse backgrounds are what make a career at NATURAL STATE so special.
OPEN OPPORTUNITIES
Nature Finance Lead / Director
Location: Remote or NATURAL STATE Research Centre near Lewa Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya
Position Type: Full time
About NATURAL STATE:
Natural State is a 501©3 nonprofit conservation organization based in Kenya dedicated to preserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, and addressing climate change challenges. Through innovative research, community engagement, and sustainable practices, we work to create a healthier planet for current and future generations.
Overview:
Nature Finance is a focal area for NATURAL STATE, recognising that there are a multitude of potential impact-based financing structures that can catalyse finance in this space. The initial focus is to develop high-quality, integrated carbon-biodiversity credit, custodian credit, and a rewilding credit. These products will address key issues in the present market, providing measurable and outcomes-based impact data, accessibility to both buyers and sellers, and ensuring equitable benefit sharing with local stakeholders. It is critical to design such structures with the market to combine rigour with requisite simplicity. Given the complexity of “biodiversity” as a concept, these structures will need to be market-tested to ensure buyers understand the proposed metrics.
Opportunity:
The Nature Finance Lead/Director will be responsible for the strategic growth and development of the Nature Finance team, and the development and delivery of innovative nature financing solutions. The role requires technical skills and experience in one or more aspects of finance coupled with strong project delivery and collaboration skills, as well as creativity. The role will report directly to the President of NATURAL STATE, and work with strategic partners and a small, growing team. The Nature Finance Lead/Director will be based in Africa or Europe, with expectations for travel to understand projects, and meet with partners and market representatives. The title will be adjusted based on experience, with the “Director” title reserved for more experienced candidates.
Key Responsibilities:
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Develop an overarching Nature Financing strategy, working with NATURAL STATE’s Senior team, and integrating market research.
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Maintain and expand NATURAL STATE’s strategic partnerships and service providers, bringing together best-in-class skills to collaborate on the financial structuring of the credits or bonds.
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Lead an iterative process of engagement with potential buyers and market representatives to test the palatability of proposed impact measurement systems and financial structures.
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Identify and secure buyers to support product testing and to provide an in-principl commitment to buying pilot credits.
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Direct research on legislative and policy frameworks in key African jurisdictions to inform the structuring of financing mechanisms.
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Manage the development and implementation of metrics to track and report on the effectiveness of the Finance Nature Programme.
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Expand and manage the Nature Finance team to ensure the successful delivery of the plan and budget.
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Support fundraising, including contributing to proposal writing and reporting.
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Develop and deliver presentations, reports and other communications collateral to internal and external stakeholders to communicate project progress and outcomes.
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Serve as NATURAL STATES’s spokesperson in engagement with media on matters of Nature Finance.
Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree or higher and at least five years of experience in the finance sector, designing financial products or managing financial investments.
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Proven track record in strategic planning and project delivery.
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Financial analysis and risk management skills.
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Proven ability to think creatively and generate, design, and deliver novel ideas.
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Productive networks within the finance sector.
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The ability to communicate complex financial concepts to a range of technical and non- technical stakeholders, including landowners, community leaders, investors, regulators, colleagues and the media.
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Passion for NATURAL STATE’s mission and a commitment to making a positive impact for nature.
Optional:
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Working knowledge of environmental issues, including conservation, climate change, and biodiversity.
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Carbon market experience.
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Experience in the conservation/nature finance sector.
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Broad knowledge of innovative impact-based financing mechanisms.
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Proven ability to secure project funding, including successful proposal development and maintaining strong relationships with sponsors/donors.
Apply by 15th August 2024.
Projects Coordinator
Location: The role is based at the NATURAL STATE Research Centre, with extensive fieldwork within Kenya and some international work
Position Type: Full-time
Report to: Director of Impact Monitoring
Term: 1-year contract with possible extension
Positions reporting into this role: Field Implementation Lead, Social Impact lead, Field Botanist
Application instructions: Please follow the full instructions at the end of this job advert
The Organisation
NATURAL STATE is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in the savannas of Kenya with the aim of catalysing nature restoration globally. We design and test new nature financing mechanisms and the supporting impact monitoring systems, train local leaders to access this finance, and deliver large-scale restoration projects. Our location on the doorstep of vast ecosystems means that our team can be in the field every day, testing solutions in the places and with the people facing the challenges.
Founded in 2021, we have built a team of 40+ members individually selected to bring together decades of experience and proven track records in landscape monitoring, nature financing mechanism creation, the development of IT solutions, and the design and implementation of leading conservation education training programmes. It is also important to us to nurture a new generation of experts in the region, so we also recruit talented career starters from the local communities who undergo rigorous on-the-job training under the wing of our more experienced team members.
Diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment are central to Natural State's mission, and we are deeply committed to social justice. We are proud to have cultivated a diverse and multicultural team, where individuals from various backgrounds come together to drive innovation, creativity, and excellence. Nevertheless, we recognise the harm racism and inequality have wrought in the communities where we work and in the conservation field generally. We appreciate the urgency of including new voices and perspectives from historically marginalised communities. If you come from a disadvantaged community, we urge you to reach out to us before applying, even if you are unsure about your fit for the advertised position, as we continue our efforts to remove barriers to equitable opportunity.
We have a supporting 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the US. For more information, visit www.naturalstate.org.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Project Coordinator to join our teams focused on biological monitoring and human well-being across landscapes, with an initial focus on African savannas but broadening to other biomes. The Project Coordinator will work with Natural State’s Directors of Impact Monitoring to coordinate the successful delivery of project activities and ensure the timely achievement of the department’s milestones. As a young organisation, Natural State requires employees to be flexible, quick to learn new skills, and ready to tackle evolving responsibilities and challenges.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Scientific
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Manage, guide, and mentor the Field Implementation and Social Impact teams in implementing their data collection activities to meet Natural State's goals and commitments to donors.
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Work with the heads of the Biometrics, Carbon Sciences and Technical Delivery divisions to ensure that all field and social data collected are accurate, appropriately categorised and labelled, and in the format required by NS protocols.
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Coordinate with the heads of division on the planning and implementation of activities between the different divisions of the Impact Monitoring department.
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Coordinate with division leads to write and format reports to partners and donors on the activities undertaken by Natural State’s Impact Monitoring team.
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Coordinate with division leads to develop and optimise data models for collecting field observations.
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Work with the Carbon Sciences and Biometrics team to write and publish scientific articles on Natural State's work in peer-reviewed publications.
Logistical
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Foster and maintain partnerships and collaborations with external stakeholders, organisations and institutions.
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Attend meetings with landowners and stakeholders to build and maintain collaborations across the landscape.
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Assist with budgeting and logistical planning for the Impact Monitoring department's work.
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Work with the Director of Impact Monitoring to manage resources and ensure timely completion of activities, documentation, and communication of funding and reporting deadlines.
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Represent the Impact Monitoring department with visiting donors and partners.
Operational
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Assist Natural State’s fundraising team in developing funding pitches and grant applications tailored to research and development projects of specific interest to the Impact Monitoring team.
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Coordinate with Natural State’s Operations department to facilitate the procurement of field equipment for the Impact Monitoring department.
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Coordinate with Natural State’s Operations department on permitting requirements for all fieldwork activities in Kenya. This will include supporting the preparation, submission and renewal of research permits and facilitating the acquisition of export permits for biological samples and equipment import permits while ensuring that Natural State's fieldwork complies with all location-specific guidelines.
Required qualifications & experience
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PhD in biology, ecology, conservation or related discipline
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Proven experience of 3 to 5 years in management position
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Proven ten years of experience in project management with exceptional organisational and planning skills
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An understanding of the permitting requirements relevant to fieldwork in Kenya
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Experience collecting environmental data in the field.
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Experience using project management tools.
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Experience interpreting scientific data and terminology.
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Experience with relational databases and coding languages, especially SQL and Python, is a significant advantage.
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Experience working with spatial data
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Fluency in the English, Swahili and other languages common in the northern rangelands of Kenya
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Good writing and presentation skills
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Strong experience with Microsoft Suite, including Microsoft Teams
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A valid driver’s license
Please send a cover letter and CV to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org or click on this link to Apply here. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. The deadline for applications is 5 pm EAT on August 23rd, 2024.
Field Research Technician
Location: NATURAL STATE Research Centre, with extensive fieldwork within Kenya and some international work
Position Type: Full time
About NATURAL STATE:
Natural State is a 501©3 nonprofit conservation organization based in Kenya dedicated to preserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, and addressing climate change challenges. Through innovative research, community engagement, and sustainable practices, we work to create a healthier planet for current and future generations.
Role summary
The Field Technician will undertake field and office-based activities using established NATURAL STATE impact monitoring protocols. They will work collaboratively with the Field Research Team Lead and partner organisations to implement the monitoring and R&D projects that underpin NS’s impact monitoring systems. The team will be involved in specific tasks related to standardised field data collection designed to measure biodiversity, carbon, and social impact measurements cost-effectively and at scale. Work duties will also include data management (entry & cleaning), annotation, equipment maintenance and management, and weekly report creation as directed by the Field Implementation Team Lead.
Responsibilities
This is a technical position requiring proficiency in biodiversity and carbon survey and monitoring techniques and data management.
Support the Field Research Team Lead in carrying out fieldwork to implement NATURAL STATE SOPs to test, implement, scale, and manage operations of our impact monitoring projects across NATURAL STATE programmatic areas:
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Spend considerable time in the field to collect high-quality, reliable and accurate field data for biodiversity, carbon and social impact surveys in accordance with specified field protocols and procedures.
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Become proficient in using established approved data collection field apps e.g., Survey 123, ODK, and Earth Ranger.
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Support in developing and building models in Survey 123, ODK and Earth Ranger (including for field surveys).
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Become proficient in using established impact measurement equipment such as camera trap systems, acoustic monitoring systems, aerial-based camera systems, and ground-based monitoring systems, etc.
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Attend to camera traps and acoustic monitors deployed in the field, downloading images/recordings and ensuring that batteries are charged and ready for the next servicing.
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Conduct field sampling of carbon using established and new approved methods.
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Provide support in the development of carbon models by gathering data to ground-truth and improve the accuracy of these models.
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Perform other duties as required and assigned by the Field Implementation Team Lead and Director of Impact Monitoring.
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Continually improve natural history skills, including vertebrate, invertebrate and plant identification for the NATURAL STATE-selected sites.
Data Entry, Management and Backups for NATURAL STATE field data:
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In collaboration with Field Implementation Team Lead, sort, organise, enter, and store all data collected.
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Avoid data loss by adhering to stipulated data management guidelines.
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Ensure accurate data entry according to the different databases, with all data correctly classified, named, and stored, ready to be uploaded.
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Following protocols for the upload of images and acoustic recordings.
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Assist the Field Implementation Team and other team members in organising filing and data systems.
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Assist in preparing the required field and office reports of various activities and findings.
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Assist in managing the inventory systems of the field equipment.
Data protection:
The Field Technician will ask the permission of the Director of Impact Monitoring before
publishing any of the scientific outputs of this role.
HR, Communications, and Fundraising:
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HR:
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Contribute to a productive, positive and inclusive culture in the team.
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Practice Natural State’s core values.
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Communications:
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Provide weekly updates on activities and progress.
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Contribute content and review time to the NATURAL STATE communications team.
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Represent NATURAL STATE where necessary and engage with partners and donors as required.
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Outputs/KPIs:
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Accurate data collection, entry and storage as per the protocols provided.
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Support the management and organisation of various streams of data (e.g. carbon samples, camera trap data, social survey data, etc.) and the resulting report writing needs.
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Conduct a basic summary of collated data and reporting in line with agreed templates for weekly & monthly reports.
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Ensure that the data submitted is of the highest quality.
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Timely completion of assigned tasks.
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Continually improving personal knowledge of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant identification.
Required qualifications & experience
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A bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife, ecology, environmental sciences or related discipline.
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At least three years of experience in field data collection.
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Experience using data collection tools and software.
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Strong skills in the use of Microsoft Apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
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Strong understanding of ecological processes in East Africa with a particular focus on grasslands and rangelands.
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Fluency in English, both written and spoken
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Experience with spatial analysis systems is an advantage
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A valid driver’s license is an advantage
Please send a cover letter as well as your CV to recruitment-ke@naturalstate.org. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. The deadline for applications is 5 pm EAT on 18th July 2024.
APPLY
NATURAL STATE is looking for motivated individuals who are excited to contribute to meaningful projects and drive positive change in addressing climate change and environmental conservation issues.
If you believe you have what it takes to excel in one of our roles, we encourage you to apply.