Disaster and Climate Resilience Specialist

Overview

• Work Location: Remote, within Asia-Pacific region
• Application Close Date: August 20, 2023
• Estimated Start date: October 02, 2023
• Department: Open Mapping Hub – Asia Pacific
• Reports to: Senior Manager, Programmes, Open Mapping Hub – Asia Pacific
• Level: 6
• Terms: Full-time, one year initial contract (subject to renewal)
• Travel: Around 20% within the region

About HOT

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) sits at the nexus of participatory mapping, community-led development, humanitarian response, open data and tech. With a talented and diverse team spread around the globe, HOT is an NGO which supports a dynamic global community of thousands of dedicated volunteers using maps and open data for humanitarian response and the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with humanitarian and development partners like the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, UN agencies, governments and others, the HOT community maps in solidarity with those affected by or at risk of disaster, contributing the maps and data aid workers need to do their lifesaving work.

In 2020 the work of the HOT community was recognized by TED’s Audacious Project, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that serves as a springboard for social impact on a grand scale, leading to an exciting new phase of growth. HOT is expanding its activities: opening four regional hubs and scaling up its support to local mapping communities with the audacious goal of mapping an area home to one billion people in 94 countries at high risk of disasters or experiencing poverty – mapping with communities before they are in crisis.

About the Open Mapping Hub – Asia-Pacific (OMHAP)

The Open Mapping Hub – Asia Pacific (OMHAP) is one of four regional open mapping hubs supported by the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. The purpose of the OMHAP is to serve the OpenStreetMap movement in the Asia-Pacific region; provide decentralized support and services to the OpenStreetMap local communities; power the evolution and growth of OpenStreetMap data; and play a significant role in creating sustainable OSM ecosystems in the region in order to maximize the impact both for improved humanitarian and social impact. OMHAP’s vision is to “create a sustainable OSM ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region” and aspires for the following: (1) Government, humanitarian and development agencies commonly use OSM data in their planning and decision-makings; (2) Underrepresented people actively participate in the OSM movement; (3) OSM data used as the most preferred choice in entrepreneurial and economic activities; and (4) OSM is the most popular map service among citizens. We work in 25 priority countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Role Profile

The Disaster and Climate Resilience Specialist will be responsible for designing, developing and executing disaster and climate resilience within the Asia-Pacific region. The position will also assist our partners and communities with coordination for disaster emergency and response activities in our priority countries in the region. This role will report to the Senior Manager of Programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate with local communities, response and aid organizations, and HOT colleagues during disasters. This role will focus on the response workflows on the ground, coordinating between OSM communities and disaster response and aid agencies locally.
• Lead the creation and implementation of partner engagement and outreach strategy where this pertains to disaster and climate resilience themes.
• Work with other members of Open Mapping Hub Asia-Pacific Hub to support the creation and implementation of partner engagement and outreach strategy where this pertains to climate and disaster response, preparedness & early recovery.
• Support project monitoring and evaluation according to technical output and result of disaster and climate programs by coordinating regularly with Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Senior Associate.
• Responsible for managing financial expenses for disaster and climate program implementations by coordinating with the Hub Finance Manager.
• In coordination with the Partnership Manager, establish and manage relationships with disaster management and climate resiliency agencies and partners at an operational level in Hub’s priority countries.
• Stay up-to-date on disaster and climate change conversations and initiatives in the region by learning the latest trends and engaging in relevant networks and partners.
• Contribute to the development of technical documentation and materials to train and provide technical support to relevant partners on Open Mapping for disaster and climate resilience.
• Monitor data completeness as well as identify data quality assurance and validation needs of projects and grant projects that are related to disaster and climate resilience.
• Coordinate disaster and/or climate resilience analysis, geospatial data workflows and GIS support on the production of maps, data products, and assistance in data analysis to support local and regional disaster agencies and OpenStreetMap communities.
• Coordinate training, workflows and support on the production of maps, data products, and assistance in data analysis to support project or grant recipients. This will include not just training, but providing ongoing support and accompaniment to grant recipients wanting to create in depth data analyses for their projects.
• Support the Hub’s communication role in communicating disaster and climate program activity, progress and results including writing regular blog posts updates as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum 3+ years direct work experience in climate change, disaster management and/or humanitarian service in the Asia-Pacific region, and with a strong personal network relating to the position.
• Hold University or college degree in international development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, urban planning, or in related fields.
• Experience leading or supporting disaster and/or climate related programs within the Asia-Pacific Region.
• Experience collaborating with cross-sectors organizations and various stakeholders in disaster and climate themes.
• Experience in participatory data collection in disaster and climate sectors including emergency response
• Passionate about humanitarian and development works as well as open source and open data demonstrated through prior professional experiences.
• Willingness to travel and work in various environments with and be in the field for extended periods of time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication. Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Attention to detail, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, and ability to develop effective relationships online and in person.

Desirable

• Enthusiastic about working in a small, focused, and startup-like environment.
• Having GIS technical skills and professional experiences particularly in Risk/Hazard and Climate Modelling.
• Experience with Open Mapping tools, such as JOSM and iD, QGIS.
• Experience working with and alongside (large) volunteer groups and communities, such as open source, open data or the OpenStreetMap community.
• Experience in open data projects, including responsible and ethical data use.
• Experience running training sessions, workshops or teaching.
• Additional language proficiency in languages spoken in the region.

Compensation and Benefits

HOT values transparency and equity. All HOT compensation globally is set according to a framework detailed on our website. HOT offers a work-from-anywhere culture, flexible working arrangements, health care options, and paid time off for those on an employment contract.

Equal Opportunity

We seek to recruit persons that reflect the diversity of the communities we work with and further, to support their retention and advancement within the organization. HOT does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. Our staff includes people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives on the world. HOT is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to live our values and promote inclusivity in all locations. All of our staff work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of all is valued and respected.

HOT is committed to diversity within our team, and recognizes our role in closing the digital divide, including identifying obstacles that certain groups face in developing skills needed for roles in the humanitarian & technology sectors. Women, nationals of developing countries, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.