Project Specialist, Port Ecosystems

This is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 18 months, with the possibility of extension

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, committed to improving the state of the world. We engage the foremost leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

The Ocean Action Agenda (OAA) sits within the Nature-Positive Pillar of the Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate (CNC). It creates innovative platforms at the nexus of science, business and policy and cultivates partnerships across business, government, academia and civil society to fast-track ambitious solutions for ocean health.

The Transitioning Industrial Clusters (TIC) initiative sits within the Forum’s Centre for Energy and Materials (CENMAT). It aims to improve collaboration and develop a shared vision among co-located companies and public institutions with the goals of driving economic growth, employment and reducing CO2e emissions.

Why we are Recruiting

The OAA and TIC team are collaborating to hire a Project Specialist, Port Ecosystems to support the work on Nature- and People-Positive Ports. In response to global trends in decarbonization, digitalization, and workforce transformation, this initiative will help public and private stakeholders transition to safer, more sustainable port practices.

This emerging work is anchored in the Forum’s nature-positive sector transition initiative and a growing port-anchored industry cluster community. It will be structured around two main workstreams: (1) Enabling commitments from major global ports to accelerate action and publish verifiable strategies that benefit nature and people, and (2) Integrating these principles and lessons learned into investment decisions and practices as new ports are built, particularly in emerging markets.

These efforts will enhance the resilience of port infrastructure and operations, facilitate trade, benefit communities, and protect and restore natural ecosystems.

Reporting Lines & Interactions

This position will report to the Project Lead, Port Ecosystems. Internally, this position requires interaction with the OAA, TIC, and closely related CNC and CENMAT teams, as well as colleagues across the Forum, especially from Supply Chain and Transportation Industry, Business Engagement and Partner Development teams, and others as relevant.

Externally, this position will also entail extensive interactions with a variety of global stakeholders, including business , public sector agencies and leading experts from the port industry and supply chains ecosystem.

Breakdown of main responsibilities

Project Coordination

• Support in drafting workplans, tracking project deliverables, monitoring budgets, and drafting donor reports.

• Manage project team calls and synthesize input from the different Forum’s teams into the work.

• Ensure all processes and deadlines related to project activities relevant to the team are communicated regularly, timely, and with clear instructions.

• Support the development of knowledge products, briefing documents and presentations as needed

• Perform other operational and coordination support as needed

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the Project Lead in facilitating the engagement of diverse stakeholders in the project, building meaningful engagement opportunities for existing and prospective Forum partners.

• Manage the member database, ensuring that data and documentation are up to date on different Forum platforms.

• Organize virtual community meetings, prepare pre-read materials and meeting summaries, and keep track of communications with members.

Event Management

• Support the organization of both global and regional events related to the project, managing all event-related processes and logistics, including the selection of venue, issuance of invitations, registration of constituents, adhering to the given budget, arrange onsite vendors in line with Forum’s requirements and policies.

• Ensure the successful set-up, delivery and documentation of virtual and physical events using digital tools such as Salesforce and Forum Live 

Communications

• Support the design of communications and messaging and ensure that all ocean content (key messages, factsheets, websites, etc) is accurate and regularly updated.

• Monitor and record communications outputs, coverage and successes to feed into impact measurement work and donor reporting

Preferred Requirements and Experience

• University degree in a relevant field (economics, business administration, environmental science, infrastructure, transportation, sustainability, etc.)

• 3+ years of relevant professional experience, with proven experience in stakeholder engagement and project coordination

• Understanding of key organizations and institutions that are active in the port ecosystems, nature and resilience space

• Knowledge of the port or related sectors, as well as sustainability issues is a plus

• High level of computer literacy in Microsoft packages (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint), Canva, social media platforms and other digital communications tools, and experience with Salesforce is a plus

• Highly collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Proactive and solution-oriented, ability to juggle competing priorities, with shifting parameters, to deliver to the highest standards and to agreed deadlines

• Excellent event management and organizational skills

• Excellent cross-cultural verbal and written communication skills

Why work at the Forum

We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and co-operation, shaping mind-sets and agendas and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!

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Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!