Senior Officer Natural Resources

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network – a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 15,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.

The IUCN European Regional Office (EURO) provides vital linkages for IUCN Members, National Committees, Commissions and the Secretariat to governments, EU institutions, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, the private sector and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and related national and regional biodiversity plans. It provides knowledge and advise decision makers to improve conservation policy and action, connect and engage.

IUCN EURO is looking for a highly motivated Senior Officer – Natural Resources to join our Programme and Policy team. The successful candidate will manage the Natural Resources team and relevant projects, supporting the work of the office towards the implementation of IUCN EURO’s programme. This is a strategic position in the IUCN Regional Office.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Head of Programme and Policy, the Senior Officer – Natural Resources, and in close collaboration with staff in the Programme and Policy team and the European Regional Office, as well as other IUCN offices in the European region and headquarters, the Senior Officer – Natural Resources will ensure the implementation, coordination and reporting of projects and contribute to the development of the team’s policy.

The Senior Officer – Natural Resources will have the following tasks:

• Provide support to the implementation of the IUCN European Work Programme;
• Oversee and manage thematically-aligned projects ensuring their timely and effective delivery, budgetary execution, monitoring and reporting;
• Lead the European Natural Resources Team, including people management tasks and planning, supervision, and coordination of programme-related activities;
• Follow relevant EU, international and national policy processes and ensure that policy objectives are integrated across the Natural Resources programme area and activities;
• Develop strategic partnerships and maintain collaboration with EU institutions, IUCN Members and experts and other key stakeholders in Europe and globally, including with the private sector;
• Lead the development of a healthy portfolio of project proposals in collaboration with the IUCN Secretariat, Members, Commissions and partner organisations;
• Support IUCN Members in the implementation of the IUCN Programme, including coordinating efforts linked to relevant resolutions;
• Support donor relations and fundraising in the European Regional Office;
• Represent IUCN in relevant fora and events, ensuring the visibility and recognition of IUCN among EU institutions, partners and stakeholders;
• Support the development and dissemination of thematically-aligned IUCN knowledge tools and standards;
• Coordinate and support the elaboration of relevant documents, reports, articles, briefings, and communication materials, as needed, based on the ongoing analysis of relevant knowledge, adapted to relevant audiences;
• Other relevant tasks in support of related IUCN work, as needed.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organisation such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee’s responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and relevant colleagues.

Requirements:

• Affinity with the vision and mission of IUCN;
• Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the tasks to be performed;
• At least 7 years of relevant experience, of which at least 3-5 should be of project management and people management in an international context;
• A good understanding of European conservation, land use and natural resources initiatives; it will be especially valuable EU policy related experience;
• Proven record of accomplishments in project development and implementation;
• Familiarity with EU funding and experience in project fundraising;
• Complete fluency in English, including excellent writing and editing skills is needed;good level of other relevant European languages (French, Spanish) is an asset but not essential;
• Full computer literacy, with experience in applying Microsoft Office as a minimum skill set;
• Strong analytical, writing, networking, organization and presentation skills;
• Ability to work within a team and independently;
• Ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;
• Highly motivated to learn and develop new skills, keen to bring in own ideas;
• Ability to travel, at times frequently;
• EU National or holder of a Belgian or German work permit.

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=10922&lang=en