Programme Associate

As a local recruitment, this position will be based in Colombo. Only Sri Lankan residents are eligible to apply.

IUCN is a Membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. IUCN Sri Lanka’s programs support sustainable natural resource management initiatives of Members and Partners.

With financial support from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), IUCN is implementing an 6-year project to establish the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative (SLCRI). This project includes various activities, such as conducting coral reef surveys and reef fish stock assessments. Additionally, SLCRI will establish a Coral Restoration Programme in each priority seascape to restore heavily degraded coral reef areas.

To support ongoing coastal and marine sector projects, including the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative, Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Phase 02 and other coral reef and marine projects, IUCN is seeking a suitable candidate for the position of Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems. This locally recruited position will be responsible for providing leadership and technical input for coral reef and marine ecosystem surveys, coordinating coastal sector stakeholder consultations, facilitating awareness and education campaigns on coral reef and marine conservation, and supporting project development.

Responsibility:

The Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems will work closely on a day-to-day basis with the IUCN Sri Lanka Programme Coordinator (PC) regarding the planning, coordination, and execution of coral and coastal-related surveys and project activities.

The Programme Associate is responsible for planning and conducting biophysical and social surveys in the coral and marine sectors, overseeing data collection, preparing reports, and monitoring ongoing activities in this area. Additionally, he/she will collaborate with project managers to implement other coral and marine-related project activities.

Duties:

Detailed responsibilities of the Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems are as follows:

• Planning and Design of Coral Reef Surveys
• Develop a comprehensive survey plan for coral reef extent mapping, bathymetric data collection, fish stock assessment, and unsustainable fishing practices in the SLCRI seascapes and other project areas.
• Develop methodology for unsustainable fishing documentation.

Reef fish, Coral species and Bathymetric Data Collection:

• Collect Reef fish and Coral species (including bathymetric data) according to guidelines provided by Global Fund for Coral Reef (MERMAID platform) other standard reef and marine data collection protocols.
• Use appropriate technology as well as satellite images to map existing coral reef extent and collect bathymetric data in the selected seascapes.
• Conduct surveys to assess fish species composition, abundance, biomass, and size distribution in the SLCRI seascapes and other project areas
• Perform comprehensive analysis of coral reef health, bathymetry, fish stocks, and IUU fishing impacts in SLCRI Seascapes.
• Provide technical inputs for SLCRI coral ecosystem restoration programme and coral restoration guideline preparation.
• Participate in awareness and capacity building programmes conducted by SLCRI project and other marine sector projects.
• Provide technical assistance to coastal and marine sector project proposal preparations.

Reequipment:

• Education and other qualifications
• A BSc Degree in a relevant field in marine science, biological science or natural resource management. Post graduate degree in relevant field highly desirable.
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver license or equivalent certification. Other diving certifications beyond the Advanced Open Water will be an added advantage in the selection process.

Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in coral reef and marine ecosystem data collection, surveying, and monitoring.
• At least 5 years of experience working with a government research institute or university in the coastal and marine sector.
• Prior experience in working on projects funded by international donors is highly desirable.
• International experience in coral reef monitoring and the marine sector is highly desirable.

Languages/ Other:

• Excellent command of both spoken and written English and Sinhala or Tamil.
• Strong computer skills, in particular of all applications of the MS Office package and Internet.

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=11215&lang=en