Programme Officer

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private, and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and some 18,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments, and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools, and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples’ organisations, and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems, and improve people’s well-being.

About the Project:

IUCN led by the Ocean Team has been engaging on the global plastic pollution agenda for 10 years, developing and implementing initiatives across the plastic life cycle in over 20 countries, including assessment and quantification methods, policy, and solutions to reducing plastic pollution. In September 2023, IUCN signed an agreement with United States Department of State to host the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC). The programme’s goal is to galvanize global action by creating a global collaboration platform that includes public and private sector actors. Building upon existing plastic pollution networks and initiatives, EPPIC is fostering collaboration, amplifying actions, and securing commitments from a range of stakeholders to advance plastic solutions and address the plastic pollution crisis that no single entity could do on its own. EPPIC is set to initially support seven countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa but geographic coverage is more likely to increase in the short term. The Project is managed by a consortium which is led by IUCN and includes The Aspen Institute, The Ocean Foundation, and Searious Business in conjunction with the US Department of State.

Job Description:

The position will serve as the Programme Officer for the End Plastic Pollution Collaborative (EPPIC) Project and support Chief of Party – Senior Programme Manager. H/she will support the Senior Programme Manager in the implementation of the project deliverables.

Specific Responsibilities:

Support partnerships and mobilization activities:

• Assist EPPIC team efforts in implementing EPPIC resource mobilization and stakeholder engagement strategy to optimize resources and development impact in coordination with the partners and members under the supervision of the Chief of Party/ Senior Programme Manager.
• Support the identification, articulation and development of strategic partnerships and mobilization opportunities according to the strategy of the programme.

Perform a series of activities to support managing, fostering, and evaluating new and existing partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities:

• conduct research including marketing intelligence and integrity due diligence; the preparation of presentation and meetings materials; facilitating the legal process for institutional agreements or resource mobilization; updates CRM database and other relevant partner intelligence; and day-to-day communication, as needed.
• Support knowledge sharing, innovation, and communication activities in multiple media (email, in-print, intra/internet, online and social media) to disseminate best practices and lessons-learned related to partnerships as well as to improve visualization of EPPIC communication tools in line with the communication strategy.
• 5.Liaise with EPPIC Project counterparts and other IUCN plastic related initiatives in other regions to ensure synergies and good collaboration globally.
• 6.Identify and maintain relationships with potential stakeholders including Large, Medium and Small Enterprises (SMES), financial institutions, informal sector, women’s, youth and community networks, IUCN members, and partners to engage with EPPIC.
• Actively network with public and private sector organizations to ensure the programme is aligned with national initiatives on plastic pollution.

Support of programme development and coordination among partners:

• Support the implementation and coordination of EPPIC Project activities according to the workplan in close collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager for EPPIC, implementing partners and IUCN regional offices.
• Facilitate integration of activities planned in-country by IUCN global and regional teams, Aspen Institute, The Ocean Foundation, Searious Business following annual workplans.
• Plan and coordinate internal and external meetings/events. Provide administrative and logistical support, including budget creation and reporting.
• Research, write, and edit campaign materials, such as reports, policy briefs, fact sheets, presentations, letters, and web content.
• Develop terms of reference and monitor contracts with consultants, review consultants’ deliverables in collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager EPPIC.
• Ensure technical reporting from partners is delivered in a timely fashion and meets both, quality and quantity requirements, provided by the US Department of State.
• Contribute to and participate in tasks of the project as assigned, as well as activities that support program and IUCN-wide objectives as needed.

Requirements:

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in economics, public policy, environment, or other relevant areas to climate-resilient institutions and development.
• At least 5 years of practical experience within governments, international organizations and/or international NGOS managing international development projects in the topics of climate change, plastic pollution, circular economy, resource and stakeholder mobilization.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Experience synthesizing materials and focusing quickly on the essence of an issue and the means to address it.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills. Develops and maintains productive relationships with colleagues and partners from diverse backgrounds who may have different or conflicting goals or approaches. Excellent listening skills.
• High degree of independence and autonomy to develop and move projects forward and achieve results in a complex working environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills. Must be flexible, creative, and consistent. A strong commitment to producing measurable results.
• Demonstrates a strong collaborative spirit
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.
• A motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;
• A team player with a strong interest to work in an international environment;
• Problem solving skills, creativity, initiative, and innovation.
• Demonstrate ease in carrying out tasks in an organized manner and adherence to procedures.
• Ability for interpersonal relationships and to work with people of various characteristics: culture, social, personal, and professional.
• Sensitive towards the cultural, social, and economic practices of community, women, and youth groups.
• Sensitive and willing to work under gender and diversity approaches.

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=10960&lang=en