Chief of Staff - Tenders Global

Chief of Staff

International Union for Conservation of Nature

tendersglobal.net

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Description

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The position of Chief of Staff (CS) provides an exceptional opportunity for professional engagement and development as it supports the Director General across a broad spectrum of policy, technical, and managerial activities. The CS plays a key role by easing communications and effectively sharing information with diverse stakeholders, supervising the development, preparing relevant programme and operational documents in coordination with relevant staff, and effectively and strategically supporting key issues of the Union.

The CS provides leadership to the Director General’s Office team and reports directly to the Director General. The primary function of the CS is to facilitate, streamline, and ensure that the Director General can work most effectively. This is an enabling role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play a proactive support role. The incumbent will also work closely with the IUCN Management Team, Secretariat, and Councillors, as well as with the broader membership, as appropriate.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities:

Manage the Director General’s Office DGO:

  • Manage the overall coordination, functioning and performance of the Director General’s Office; take timely action on issues at hand.
  • Coordinate with IUCN staff around the world for effective decision making at the DGO.
  • Supervise a small operations team at the Director General Office.
  • Manage the preparation and quality control of all items submitted to the Director General for comments, or signature, including official correspondence, communication, and press releases.
  • Manage the Director General’s Office budget and annual workplan and monitor progress and expenditure throughout the year.
  • Ensure the coordination of corporate responses to emergency, high priority, or other sensitive issues.
  • Coordinate and prepare speeches and presentations for the DGO.
  • Lead the development and ensure that all communications coming from the DGO are clear and on time.
Ensure smooth representation and external relations:
  • Manage overall coordination of the substance of the Director General’s travel/missions and support to the Director General during missions.
  • Assure the preparation of briefing notes and other mission-critical material.
  • Prepare and support the Director General while hosting visiting delegations.
  • Act as a point of contact for the Director General with selected external partners.
Provide strategic operational support:
  • Ensure the Director General is provided with the appropriate range of advice and information on issues as they arise.
  • Organise and ensure effective running of the Executive Board meetings as well as Leadership Team meetings and monitor implementation of decisions.
  • Support the Director General in monitoring management’s progress in achieving stated objectives and ensure that strategy is being executed and that progress is communicated effectively.
  • Assist the Director General to advance strategic initiatives as they may arise, act as project manager as needed.
  • Assist the Director General with business planning and strategy preparation as well as preparation of Council Meetings, background documents and IUCN Congresses.
Coordinate internal communications and liaison activities:
  • Support the Director General on the proactive engagement, communication, and interaction with members of the Union (staff, IUCN Members, Commissions, Council, partners, and the media) to strengthen IUCN’s role in carrying out its mission.
  • Maintain close overview on key IUCN issues by working with staff in providing the necessary information to the Director General.
  • Oversee coordination of town halls with IUCN Secretariat staff, manage select weekly meetings, assure agendas and summarising meeting minutes.
  • Prepare and issue the Executive Board meeting minutes, respond to staff queries and questions on the minutes.
Requirements:

Education and Experience:

  • Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to the Union’s mandate and work programme and demonstrated ability to translate analytical/ technical skills into operational results.
  • 8-10 years of progressive international experience in areas such as environment, development, or public policy, with a strong preference for this experience to include “Front Office-type” assignments.
Language:
  • Fluency in English is essential for this position since the successful candidate will be called upon to prepare focused and concise verbal and written briefs, statements, and correspondence.
  • Fluency in preferably one or more of IUCN’s other official languages (French and Spanish) is highly desirable.
Knowledge of the field:
  • Knowledge of environment, conservation and development, and experience in working across sectors, in partnerships and donor relationships, and/or in strategic planning would be desirable.
  • Demonstrated expertise in a variety of concepts, practices, and procedures related to addressing the most pressing environment and development challenges.
  • Demonstrate political sensitivity and strong knowledge in international and sectoral environmental policy.

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