Global Canopy - Education and Learning Director

Education & Learning Director

April

Welcome to Global Canopy

We’re so pleased you found us. Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit that targets the market forces destroying nature. We are at the heart of tackling the biggest crisis facing the planet as governments, companies and financial institutions start to recognise there is no solution to the climate crisis without a solution to the destruction of nature.

90% of deforestation is linked to agricultural expansion for commodities we all use every day. And that destruction is driving climate change. If deforestation were a country, it would be the third biggest emitter in the world.

At Global Canopy we help transform the globalised system of trade and finance that is driving nature loss. We provide data, insights and tools to enable leading financial institutions, companies and governments to tackle their impacts on nature and address the human rights abuses that go alongside it. We also shine a light on those not doing enough.

Our pioneering initiatives have been backed by the G7, the UN Climate Change High Level Champions, governments, financial institutions and businesses alike. Over the last year we have launched a suite of guidance for the finance sector showing them how to create deforestation-free portfolios. Our Trase programme now maps over 60% of the global trade in forest-risk commodities. And we’ve helped create and test a new reporting framework for market impacts and dependence on nature.

Global Canopy is an engaging, friendly and exciting place to work. We value diversity, new ideas and independence of thought. Please join us, this is urgent.

Niki Mardas Executive Director

What we do

Global Canopy provides data for nature, improving transparency and accountability to drive real change. Our work is split into three programme streams:

Corporate Performance – assessing the deforestation policies and performance of companies and financial institutions through the Forest 500 and our Deforestation Action Tracker. Also creating a suite of guidance for financial institutions showing them the path for deforestation-free portfolios.

Supply Chain Transparency – linking consumer markets to deforestation by mapping the global trade and finance behind forest-risk commodities through our Trase and Trase Finance initiatives.

Nature-related Finance – helping financial institutions identify and mitigate their impacts and dependencies on nature through projects including ENCORE and the TNFD.

The Role: Overview

Are you a leader in education and learning who is passionate about learning design and outcomes? Are you mission-driven, with an in-depth understanding of the importance of the climate and nature agendas to the future of business and finance – and the future of the planet as a whole?

We have a unique opportunity for an Education and Learning Director to join Global Canopy and make an important contribution at the heart of these pressing global challenges.

You will develop, manage and grow a newly created and rapidly expanding strategic portfolio of education and learning offerings. Focused on tackling market-driven deforestation, nature-related risk more broadly and opportunities for large-scale nature regeneration, these learning offerings will be tailored towards major market players with the highest risk exposure worldwide; with particular emphasis on the finance sector, policymakers and regulators; and capacity-building for civil society to help strengthen inclusion and private sector accountability on these issues.

The successful candidate will leverage our world-class content, data, tools, networks and partnerships; including with the new and rapidly-growing Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD); and oversee development of a world-class education strategy and offering for Global Canopy and its programmes and partnerships.

As an initial priority, you will work in close collaboration with the TNFD Secretariat, helping to build out and lead its education and learning strategy. You will help ensure that increasing uptake of its market-leading risk management and disclosure framework is supported by high quality education and learning offerings to its target audiences. You will begin by overseeing development of a scalable distribution model; for example via integration into recognised executive education and other professional educational programmes; while also ensuring inclusive development and access for learning materials.

We are looking for a seasoned leader who has a strong track record in education and learning (particularly executive education), the skills and drive to create new partnerships, manage a growing team and ability to develop a deep understanding of environmental risks and mitigations for the private sector.

This is a Global Canopy role but will work closely across our programmes and partnerships, overseeing the building out of our organisational education and learning strategy. The successful candidate will bring their education expertise to content development across key programmatic areas and develop partnerships with key delivery and marketing partners, including major learning institutions worldwide.

This is an unique opportunity to join our organisation. We are at the forefront of work to rapidly reduce the $6.1 trillion in private finance that each year funds companies at a high risk of driving deforestation and already offer a broad set of widely-adopted guidance on this issue.

The Role: Responsibilities

• Develop a nature-related finance education and learning strategy: Over the last year, Global Canopy and its partners have identified a clear need for more capacity building among its target audiences worldwide, including via stakeholder interviews and desk research.

◦ The opportunity now is to deepen our education and learning strategy, which includes supporting the build out of a learning programme for the TNFD. The primary purpose of the strategy is to drive uptake of nature-related risk management practices in financial, business and policymaking communities in both emerging and developed markets; and to help strengthen capacity among civil society to help hold powerful actors to account.

◦ Central to this, is further development of a stakeholder analysis of the nature-related finance education space and identification of current gaps in offerings as well as gaps in skills.

◦ The E&L Director will build out our learning strategy with clear learning objectives, underlying implementation and resourcing plans, and processes for capturing uptake metrics.

• Establish partnerships: Identify and establish collaboration partnerships with education and learning providers who already have scaled distribution channels and are specialised in designing programmes to maximise learning outcomes – such as industry associations, universities and other education providers, international agencies and consultancies. This builds on a number of strong existing relationships we already have with learning institutions worldwide, including multilaterals, universities and specialist providers.

The Role: Responsibilities

• Oversee production and delivery of learning content: Oversee the production and effective delivery of learning content both via internal teams (e.g. running webinars, recording videos, leading in-person learning sessions, etc), and via partners and subcontractors in line with the strategy. This would also include identifying and maintaining relationships with different external production partners and agencies – for instance for the creation of high-quality digital and video learning content.

• Team building and management: manage and develop a small, dedicated education and learning team. Ensure team capabilities match the evolution of learning needs of our target audiences, ensuring learning modules reflect best-in-class skills development, which is both practice-oriented and rooted in science-based approaches to nature-related risks.

• Build mentoring across programmes: Work effectively with, and mentor, team members across other programmes in Global Canopy and the TNFD that are engaged in content development, helping to bring an approach informed by learning science to their work.

• Supporting fundraising and sustainable income streams: Working with Global Canopy colleagues and TNFD partners, support the development of a portfolio of grants from philanthropic foundations and institutional funders to finance the development phase of the educational offering and to secure team resourcing. Ensure the educational offerings are designed on a longer-term model for scalability and sustainability which also keeps access to education open to the broadest possible audience.

About you

To be successful in this role, these are the personal attributes we think are key:

• Motivated to work in an organisation that is purpose-led and have a deep commitment to the values and mission of Global Canopy.

• Entrepreneurial mindset and approach, with a desire to test new ideas quickly with the market, to harvest feedback and adjust accordingly to grow new work streams.

• Someone who is prepared to be both hands-on and strategic, taking ownership for a new work stream and deliver work until future proposed team growth.

• Enjoy being creative with work, drawing on experience in learning design to find different and innovative ways to explain complex topics and ideas.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Expertise in learning design: knowledge of how to transform data and technical content into engaging learning materials that deliver on clear learning objectives.

• Thorough understanding of how adults learn and familiarity with principles of learning theory and practice. In particular, experience of: designing courses within a corporate, agency, or academic setting; designing and delivering online or blended courses with a focus on applied professional skills; and the development and use of corporate or finance sector case studies in a learning context.

• Strong partnership and client relationship management skills – with experience of working with clients and/or partners in different sectors, as well as building internal and external relationships to drive success and collaboration.

• Experience and deep understanding relating to sustainability, gained ideally either working with or within the private sector, and with knowledge of either nature-related finance and/or global trade and supply chains.; but you should otherwise be able to evidence that you have learnt about new bodies of knowledge in your career and can discuss different subjects with confidence, even when it is not your field.

• Experience of leading and managing teams, and bringing a mentoring approach to those you manage and non-experts peers.

• Strategic thinker, able to lead on and contribute to education and training strategies that maximise uptake and impact among key target groups; an understanding of corporate, financial and/or policymaker audiences is particularly helpful in this context.

Desirable:

• Strong digital skills, and understanding of how digital and interactive content can help deliver learning outcomes in practice.

• Experience of working with a fundraising or business development team to bring in income and develop new models of working.

• Experience of working with sales and marketing.

• A good understanding of different revenue models.

• Experience of growing and leading teams.

Salary & benefits

Salary £63 - £68,000 range for full time equivalent / dependent on experience. This role sits within Band B on Global Canopy’s remuneration framework.

Nature of contract

Full time / Permanent. We are a flexible employer and welcome candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Base Our office is in Oxford, with flexible home-working arrangements in place.

Holidays

36 days (including bank/public holidays) for discretionary use across the annual leave year. Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days or equivalent of one week’s leave.

Pension

Employer pension contribution of 6%.

Healthcare cashback plan

Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, physiotherapy, chiropody and much more – for you and any children.

Employee Assistance Programme

Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters.

Other

Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.

Our Values

As an organisation committed to achieving system-wide change, we operate in a challenging environment. Our organisational values help guide our ways of working and keep us accountable to these standards:

Entrepreneurial

We develop bold new ideas to catalyse system wide change.

Impactful

We learn from what works, hold ourselves and others accountable and work in collaboration with others

Inclusive

We celebrate diversity, value teamwork and support individuals to fulfil their potential.

Clear

We listen actively, think critically and communicate with clarity.

How to apply

To apply for the position, please use this link and submit an up-to date CV and covering letter. The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV042023-GlobalCanopy.

For enquiries, please contact Oxford HR, Global Canopy’s recruitment partner at globalcanopy-education@oxfordhr.com.

The covering letter should explain your motivation for the role, and how your skills and experience fit the person specification. (Please no more than 1 side of A4).

All candidates are asked to complete an anonymous diversity monitoring form when they apply.

The closing date for applications is 30th May 2023. Early application encouraged. We may close applications early if suitable candidates are identified.

First interviews are provisionally planned for w/c 12th June 2023, and will be conducted remotely via a video call. Panel interview dates are to be confirmed.

At Global Canopy, we value diversity and inclusion. You can read our diversity statement on our website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities.

Global Canopy works on issues of global deforestation. We are particularly interested in strengthening our team to include those with a background from forest regions such as Latin America and South East Asia. We would welcome applications from people from these regions.

Applicant data will be managed in accordance with the candidate privacy policy available on our website.