Regenerative Landscapes Intern

Deadline for application: 29 April 2024About WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We help make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the maximum positive impact for shareholders, the environment, and societies.

Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing combined revenues of more than USD $8.5 trillion, and 19 million employees (about the population of New York). Our global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. WBCSD is uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.

Together, we are the leading voice of business for sustainability: with a vision of a world where more than nine billion people are all living well and within the boundaries of our planet, by 2050.

Job Overview

WBCSD’s Agriculture and Food Pathway is looking for an Intern to support the COP28 Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes and High-Impact Landscapes workstream of the Agriculture & Food Pathway.

In this role you will report to a pathway Senior Associate and work closely across various teams in the Agriculture and Food pathway and COP28 Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes Secretariat (COP28 Presidency, BCG, HLCC, WBCSD). You will also work closely with the wider WBCSD organization – in particular the communications and events teams.

This role would suit a candidate interested in gaining exposure to a wide range of landscape-level initiatives working with business to transform agricultural & food systems, and who is highly collaborative, with excellent analytical, writing and communications skills, and a high level of attention to detail.

Responsibilities

As an Intern, Regenerative Landscapes, you will perform the following activities:

COP28 Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes

Support the delivery of the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes through various tasks, including (but not limited to) supporting on tracking deliverables, supporting existing partnerships and member engagements, and scope new ones to contribute to transition large agricultural landscapes to regenerative landscapes, with COP29 and COP30 as key milestones. This will include managing timelines and coordinating meetings; tracking consultant and partner and member contributions; writing and editing meeting minutes and internal and external communications pieces in support of the deliverables; working with members to collect feedback and technical contributions.
Support detailed analysis on key areas of the Action Agenda’s 3 pillars: Aggregate – mapping of existing and planned efforts to enhance collaboration amongst stakeholders; Accelerate – identifying spatial areas based on global mapping of regenerative potential in high-impact landscapes, and contribute analysis to support forging partnerships with players across the agriculture and food value chain including finance and public sectors; Amplify – communicate efforts and results to demonstrate landscape leadership globally, amplify the business and sustainability benefits of adopting landscape approaches and mobilizing additional action.
Contribute technical input, logistical support, and speaker recommendations and briefings for global and organizational events, such as the WBCSD Council and LD Meetings, UN Climate Change and Biodiversity COPs, NYC Climate Week, APAC Climate Week, and more.
Represent WBCSD and the Agriculture & Food Pathway at external events as necessary.
Contribute to and help support the execution of member calls and team meetings under the pathway’s ‘High-impact landscapes’ workstream. This includes preparing pre-reading materials and presentations, coordinating with speakers and partners, recording minutes and action points, and assisting with logistics;
Contribute to the strategic development of the workstream based on emerging needs in upcoming year;
Support the ongoing maintenance of the member database and internal working files.
Qualifications, skills, and experience
Master’s degree (in progress or finished) in a relevant discipline, e.g., International Management, Environmental Sciences, Business Administration, Corporate Sustainability, International Environmental Politics and Diplomacy.
Relevant first professional experience in consultancy, business, and/or sustainability is a plus.
Demonstrated interest in (sustainable / regenerative) agricultural and food systems, and/or business approaches to accelerate sustainable food systems transformations.
Strong drive to learn and evolve, curious, critical, hands-on, and has a self-starter attitude, which can be proven with relevant examples.
Team player with ability to work effectively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
Excellent writing skills, including an ability to summarize technical information and identify key messages for different audiences.
PowerPoint skills and interest in communicating complex information visually.
High level of attention to detail and ability to manage complex processes.
Ability to manage competing priorities and working to deadlines – project management skills are a plus.
Listening skills and ability to understand diverse perspectives and multiple stakeholder interests.
Experience with Salesforce a plus.
Fluency in English required – and fluency in additional languages is a plus.

The position is and based in Amsterdam, but will also require some international travel with flexibility.

WBCSD is a purpose driven, forward-thinking and action-oriented organization, characterized by diversity of gender, nationalities and work experiences.

The Work Environment

WBCSD offers a competitive, modern, and flexible working arrangement:

Geneva-based organization with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Delhi, London, New York and Singapore
Competitive compensation and benefits
State-of-the-art facilities and ICT-enabled working tools
Flex-time and part-time possibilities
Dynamic working atmosphere
Open culture encouraging interaction and sharing of ideas and opinions
Sustainable commuting incentives