Senior Research Specialist, Nature-Based Solutions

Job Title: Senior Research Specialist, Nature-Based Solutions Location: Pacific Institute is a remote-first organization. Preference for Africa-based. Regular travel to project sites in East, West and Southern Africa may be required. Job Type: FTE (35 hours per week) Exempt Travel: Some international business travel may be required, including overnight stays Application Deadline: June 19 th , 2026 About the Role: Pacific Institute is growing its Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) portfolio with new field-based initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. We are seeking a Senior Research Specialist, Nature-Based Solutions to lead a major new NBS project from design through implementation, contributing rigorous applied research and strong on-the-ground partnership to our mission of advancing water security and resilience. The Senior Research Specialist will independently manage a complex, multi-partner project that includes field pilots in East, West and Southern Africa. Success in this role requires a demonstrated ability to lead project lifecycles from funding through delivery, coordinate across diverse teams and geographies, and translate applied research into actionable outputs for government, NGO, and private-sector audiences. The ideal candidate brings deep subject matter expertise in NBS, direct implementation experience in African contexts, and the interpersonal and analytical skills to operate effectively as a senior individual contributor within a collaborative, remote-first team. Responsibilities: Research and Analysis Conduct research and analysis related to NBS design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Collect, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources. Conduct literature reviews, landscape scans, and stakeholder interviews to inform projects. Translate research findings into actionable insights and recommendations for diverse audiences. Writing, Communication, and Reporting Independently prepare high-quality project deliverables, including reports, briefs, and presentations tailored to technical and non-technical audiences. Ensure project outputs meet high-quality standards of rigor, ethics, and relevance. Share project outputs with key internal and external stakeholders. Project and Program Management Conceptualize and plan focused projects, including identifying tasks, deliverables, and timelines. Lead coordination of project workflows and effectively coordinate project team members and partners. Develop and maintain project budgets. Lead field-based project pilots in several African countries, including site coordination, community engagement, and monitoring. Fundraising and Resource Development Secure project funding and support funder relations, including contributing to proposal development and grant reporting. Track and report progress against funder requirements and organizational commitments. External Engagement Build and maintain relationships with project partners and stakeholders in the region. Represent Pacific Institute at regional convenings, partner meetings, and public forums. requirements: Minimum 9+ years of experience in NBS, watershed management, or an advanced degree in environmental or sustainability sciences, natural resource management, ecology, hydrology, or a related field with 7+ years of equivalent experience. Proficient subject matter expertise in nature-based solutions, with demonstrated experience designing and implementing NBS projects in water security or water resource management contexts. Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, with strong contextual understanding of regional water, land, and development systems and hands-on field project experience. Proficient quantitative and qualitative research skills, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis. Excellent writing and editing skills for both technical and non-technical audiences; demonstrated ability to independently prepare high-quality deliverables. Strong oral communication and presentation skills, with confidence in engaging diverse stakeholders across disciplines and cultures. Intermediate experience with fundraising and resource development, including contributing to proposals, concept notes, and funder reports. Demonstrated ability to coordinate project teams and partners, manage project budgets, and deliver high-quality outputs on schedule. Preferred qualifications: Experience engaging with corporate water stewardship programs, including private sector actors on shared water risk, supply chain sustainability, collective action, or water disclosure frameworks Existing professional networks with governments, NGOs, research institutions, or funders working on NBS or water security in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, or broader Sub-Saharan Africa Experience with participatory or community-based approaches to NBS design and implementation Fluency in a language relevant to the region (Swahili, French, Hausa, or others Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity is a core value at Pacific Institute. We are dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and culture for two reasons: To stay true to our values and principles: We recognize that historical and current injustices have left out certain voices and perspectives from decision-making about accessing and managing water resources. We acknowledge that the representation of these groups in water-related decision-making and careers is an important step towards addressing past and current injustices. Because Pacific Institute participates in water-related decision-making, we acknowledge that hiring and retaining a diverse staff can contribute to a broader need to address systemic injustices. To better achieve Pacific Institute's mission and vision: We know that having diverse perspectives makes for better research, creative solutions, and can help us achieve our mission. We recognize that a diverse team with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences is essential for generating and scaling innovative ideas that solve increasingly complex challenges. We make an active effort to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, heard, validated, empowered, and celebrated across different identities and cultures. We aim to constantly evolve our approach to DEI to reflect best practices in this work, just as we do with our water and climate research. As part of this commitment, we request that all candidates include a short statement in their cover letter to address how your addition to our staff would contribute to our DEI efforts. To Apply Please submit the following: A cover letter of no more than two pages, including: Your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute and specific fit for this position; A summary of your qualifications; The DEI statement described above; Your CV/Resume; We encourage you to remove your school name A writing sample of up to five pages, excluding maps and tables. No immigration or relocation assistance is available for this position. No phone calls, please. About our recruitment process: Here’s what you can expect: Application review Schedule a Phone Screen interview with the HR Manager Schedule a group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team Schedule a second group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team References Offer