The global movement to recognize and protect the Rights of Nature continues to gain momentum, and forNature is seeking an experienced professional to play a central role in one of its most ambitious international initiatives. The organization is currently recruiting a full-time Initiative Coordinator based in Panama City, Panama, to support the operational, strategic, institutional, and diplomatic coordination of the initiative advancing the adoption of a United Nations Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature (UDRoN). This is a unique opportunity for professionals with experience in project coordination, international relations, environmental governance, multilateral diplomacy, and institutional engagement to contribute directly to an initiative with global environmental significance.

The successful candidate will coordinate complex international workstreams involving governments, legal experts, communications professionals, civil society organizations, diplomatic missions, and international institutions while working closely with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Panama (MiAmbiente).

About the Initiative

The United Nations Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature (UDRoN) initiative seeks to advance international recognition of Nature as a subject of rights through the United Nations system.

The Initiative Coordinator will play a critical role in ensuring that all aspects of the initiative progress efficiently by coordinating institutional relationships, facilitating communication among stakeholders, tracking deliverables, and supporting diplomatic and legal processes.

The position sits at the intersection of environmental policy, international diplomacy, legal coordination, strategic communications, and institutional management.

Position Overview

The Initiative Coordinator will serve as the central coordination hub for the initiative.

Working closely with forNature and MiAmbiente, the coordinator will oversee operational implementation while ensuring that all teams remain aligned with project priorities, timelines, and strategic objectives. The role combines project management, stakeholder coordination, diplomatic engagement, documentation, communications management, and international event coordination.Although the position is remote, the successful applicant must be based in Panama City and remain available for meetings with Panamanian institutions, as well as occasional international travel.

Major Responsibilities

The Initiative Coordinator will oversee numerous interconnected workstreams.

1. Coordinate the Entire Initiative Team

The successful candidate will coordinate professionals across multiple disciplines, including:

• Attorneys
• Legal advisors
• Communications specialists
• Public Relations teams
• Campaign consultants
• Digital communications consultants
• Graphic designers
• Civil society engagement leads
• Business engagement leads
• Institutional advisors

Responsibilities include:

• Acting as the central coordination point
• Organizing internal workflows
• Monitoring deadlines
• Tracking assignments
• Coordinating deliverables
• Ensuring smooth communication across all teams
• Monitoring approvals
• Supporting strategic decision-making
• Facilitating collaboration across departments

2. Lead Cross-Functional Team Coordination

The coordinator will organize and facilitate:

• Internal meetings
• Strategic planning sessions
• Briefings
• Coordination meetings
• Follow-up discussions

They will also prepare:

• Agendas
• Meeting summaries
• Action items
• Briefing notes
• Follow-up communications

The role requires maintaining alignment across legal, diplomatic, operational, communications, campaign, and institutional workstreams.

3. Serve as the Main Institutional Liaison

One of the most important aspects of this position involves serving as the day-to-day operational liaison between forNature and the Government of Panama.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with MiAmbiente
• Working with the Office of International Technical Cooperation
• Supporting coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Managing institutional documentation
• Tracking ministerial approvals
• Following document management procedures
• Maintaining continuity during government personnel transitions
• Escalating institutional bottlenecks when necessary

4. Support Multilateral Diplomacy

The Initiative Coordinator will provide operational support for international diplomatic engagement.

Responsibilities include:

• Preparing briefing materials
• Developing talking points
• Coordinating bilateral meetings
• Supporting Panama’s Permanent Missions
• Assisting embassies
• Preparing diplomatic correspondence
• Monitoring United Nations calendars
• Tracking General Assembly timelines
• Monitoring multilateral environmental agreement processes

The coordinator will also maintain records of:

• Member State engagement
• Government focal points
• Expressions of support
• Pending diplomatic actions

5. Document Production and Knowledge Management

The coordinator will oversee document development and information management across the initiative.

Key responsibilities include:

• Creating the initiative’s Operations Manual
• Drafting institutional documents
• Producing concept notes
• Preparing FAQs
• Writing meeting records
• Maintaining terminology consistency
• Managing bilingual documentation
• Tracking document versions
• Protecting confidential materials
• Organizing centralized documentation systems

Documentation will be prepared in both English and Spanish.

6. Support the For Nature Coalition of States

The coordinator will help expand and manage the growing Coalition of States supporting the initiative.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining communication with participating countries
• Tracking engagement records
• Supporting onboarding processes
• Preparing participation documents
• Coordinating announcements
• Managing membership materials
• Supporting signing ceremonies during international events

7. Build Relationships with Key Stakeholders

The Initiative Coordinator will engage a broad range of stakeholders including:

• Government institutions
• International organizations
• United Nations agencies
• Academic institutions
• Research organizations
• Development partners
• Philanthropic organizations
• Business associations
• Private sector organizations
• Professional organizations
• Legal institutions
• Cultural institutions
• Subnational governments

The coordinator will also support engagement with:

• Civil society organizations
• Indigenous Peoples
• Traditional authorities
• Community leaders
• Local communities

8. Coordinate International Events

Responsibilities include organizing the initiative’s participation in international meetings and conferences by managing:

• Side event proposals
• Concept notes
• Accreditation
• Speaker coordination
• Logistics
• Official programme registration

9. Promote an Intercultural and Politically Sensitive Approach

The coordinator must ensure that implementation reflects:

• Respect for Indigenous worldviews
• Cultural diversity
• Territorial knowledge systems
• Diplomatic sensitivities
• Institutional priorities
• Political contexts surrounding the Rights of Nature movement

Required Qualifications

Applicants should possess substantial professional experience in areas such as:

• Project coordination
• Programme management
• Institutional coordination
• Campaign implementation

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to:

• Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Manage competing priorities
• Meet strict deadlines
• Work independently
• Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Handle confidential information professionally

Essential Skills

Successful applicants should have:

• Professional fluency in English
• Professional fluency in Spanish
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong written communication skills
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities
• Experience preparing reports and institutional documents
• Experience managing calendars and workplans
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams

Preferred Experience

Additional advantages include experience with:

• Government institutions
• International organizations
• Civil society networks
• Environmental initiatives
• Multilateral diplomacy
• United Nations processes
• Environmental law
• Rights of Nature frameworks
• Diplomatic drafting
• Institutional relationship management
• Panamanian public administration

Additional Requirements

Applicants should also possess:

• A valid passport
• A valid United States visa
• Availability for international travel
• Ability to coordinate across multiple time zones
• Strong intercultural awareness
• Respect for Indigenous leadership and governance systems

Work Location

The position is based in:

Panama City, Panama

The work arrangement is:

• Full-time
• Remote
• Attendance at meetings with Panamanian institutions when required
• Participation in in-person national and international engagements as necessary

The engagement is structured as an independent contractor relationship rather than direct employment.

Compensation

forNature offers:

• Competitive industry compensation
• Salary based on qualifications
• Salary based on years of relevant experience

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

• A current CV or résumé
• A brief cover letter written in either English or Spanish

Applications should be emailed  via (info@fornature.org) with the subject line: Application – Initiative Coordinator

Application Deadline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

There is no fixed application deadline, and candidates with immediate availability are strongly preferred.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible since recruitment may conclude once a suitable candidate has been identified.

Equal Opportunity Employer

forNature is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

The organization does not discriminate on the basis of:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• National origin
• Age
• Disability
• Any other legally protected status

The organization strongly encourages applications from:

• Women
• Indigenous professionals
• Individuals from historically marginalized communities.

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Why You Should Apply

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to an internationally significant environmental initiative that seeks to shape the future of global environmental governance. Professionals interested in diplomacy, international law, environmental protection, public policy, institutional coordination, and multilateral cooperation will find this role particularly rewarding.

Beyond project coordination, the successful candidate will help facilitate collaboration between governments, international organizations, civil society, and legal experts while supporting one of the most ambitious international efforts to advance the Rights of Nature within the United Nations framework.

The position provides meaningful exposure to global environmental diplomacy, strategic communications, institutional development, and international stakeholder engagement, making it an excellent opportunity for experienced professionals looking to make a lasting impact on international environmental policy.

Conclusion

The Initiative Coordinator position at forNature represents an outstanding opportunity for experienced professionals passionate about environmental governance, international cooperation, and sustainable development. Working closely with Panama’s Ministry of Environment and a broad network of international stakeholders, the successful candidate will coordinate high-level legal, diplomatic, operational, and communications activities supporting the advancement of the United Nations Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature.With competitive compensation, international exposure, meaningful responsibilities, and the chance to contribute to a transformative global environmental initiative, this role is ideal for professionals who thrive in fast-paced, multicultural environments and are committed to advancing environmental justice and global cooperation.

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