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Senior Programme Officer, Forest and Grasslands
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BACKGROUND
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network—a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. Its work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff members in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in the public, NGO, and private sectors worldwide. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.
The Forest and Grassland Team (FGT) at IUCN is responsible for developing and executing the global conservation program for forests and grasslands. This includes efforts in primary forest and native grassland conservation, ecosystem restoration on both area-based and landscape scales, and effective rangeland and drought reduction management. The team addresses threats such as climate change and large-scale deforestation by advocating and implementing practical solutions supported by scientific knowledge.
FGT is seeking to hire a Senior Program Officer to be based at the IUCN European Regional Office in Bonn, Germany. The Senior Program Officer will focus on implementing and advancing projects related to grasslands, rangelands, and drylands. The Senior Program Officer is responsible for delivering key elements of the team’s portfolio, as assigned by their line manager. This includes ensuring full compliance with IUCN’s operational and programmatic procedures, as well as implementing robust, institutionally aligned monitoring and evaluation systems. The role emphasizes proactive engagement with partners and resource mobilization, prioritizing institutional interests and needs. The Senior Program Officer will keep line management and other relevant staff informed of progress and developments, co-own and support institutional and team-wide decisions, and embody integrity, humility, and self-awareness in their interactions. This includes respectful collaboration with junior staff, IUCN members, and expert commissions.
The Forest and Grassland Team (FGT) at IUCN is responsible for developing and executing the global conservation program for forests and grasslands. This includes efforts in primary forest and native grassland conservation, ecosystem restoration on both area-based and landscape scales, and effective rangeland and drought reduction management. The team addresses threats such as climate change and large-scale deforestation by advocating and implementing practical solutions supported by scientific knowledge.
FGT is seeking to hire a Senior Program Officer to be based at the IUCN European Regional Office in Bonn, Germany. The Senior Program Officer will focus on implementing and advancing projects related to grasslands, rangelands, and drylands. The Senior Program Officer is responsible for delivering key elements of the team’s portfolio, as assigned by their line manager. This includes ensuring full compliance with IUCN’s operational and programmatic procedures, as well as implementing robust, institutionally aligned monitoring and evaluation systems. The role emphasizes proactive engagement with partners and resource mobilization, prioritizing institutional interests and needs. The Senior Program Officer will keep line management and other relevant staff informed of progress and developments, co-own and support institutional and team-wide decisions, and embody integrity, humility, and self-awareness in their interactions. This includes respectful collaboration with junior staff, IUCN members, and expert commissions.
JOB DESCRIPTION
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Forest and Grasslands Team (FGT), the Senior Programme Officer will provide technical leadership and implementation oversight specifically focused on grasslands, rangelands, and drylands conservation and restoration initiatives. The role is critical in shaping and implementing FGT’s strategic directions to enhance these ecosystems' conservation, restoration, and sustainable management while ensuring alignment with IUCN’s Nature 2030 program.
The Senior Programme Officer will lead the design and delivery of projects and programs focusing on grasslands and drylands, ensuring their relevance to global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration goals. They will contribute to integrating knowledge into policy frameworks, addressing implementation gaps, and fostering national, regional, and international policy interventions.
Collaboration with IUCN regions, global thematic programs, Centres, and Commissions will be central to the role, enabling the development and delivery of a robust restoration portfolio. Additionally, the incumbent will focus on building strategic partnerships, fundraising, knowledge management, and communications.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Programmatic oversight and management
• Lead and support the application of IUCN tools and frameworks for the conservation, restoration, and monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems, with a specific emphasis on grasslands, rangelands, and drylands.
• Manage and support the partnership with Germany-based members and partner organizations such as UNCCD, UNFCCC, and GIZ on topics related to grasslands, rangelands, and drylands
• Manage the delivery of specific project components, as agreed with the Senior Programme Coordinator & Head, ensuring the quality and timeliness of assigned deliverables.
2. Technical Implementation of Projects
• Lead the technical implementation of grasslands, drylands, and land restoration projects.
• Ensuring compliance with IUCN and donor requirements; coordination with partners; the production of project documents, plans, budgets, and schedules; management of consultants; and production of contracts and internal agreements.
• Provide technical leadership and inputs to these work streams and projects. This will include ensuring the technical work streams are on track and contributing to the achievement of the project’s objectives and contractual obligations;
• Providing specific technical inputs, such as biodiversity, to ensure the achievement of targets, results, and deliverables.
• Support the projects' monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to learn, adjust, and share experiences.
3. Programme and Project Development and Fundraising
• Work with FGT and regional teams to design and develop new project proposals aligning with IUCN’s thematic areas.
• Build synergies across IUCN programs to enhance FGT’s work and identify new project opportunities.
• Lead the integration of tools such as the Participatory Grassland and Rangeland Assessment (PRAGA), coordinating technical inputs from various IUCN programs and commissions.
• Lead the development of new proposals to ensure a regular flow of new, high-quality, and relevant project concepts to the A list.
4. Partnership Management and Representation
• Manage and represent FGT in engagements with UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD, and other national and international initiatives as needed.
• Actively participate in international and national meetings, seminars, and events, representing IUCN’s interests.
• Support and work closely with IUCN’s regions on topics assigned by the Head and act as IUCN’s focal point when required.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organization 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 the Human Resources Management Group.
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Forest and Grasslands Team (FGT), the Senior Programme Officer will provide technical leadership and implementation oversight specifically focused on grasslands, rangelands, and drylands conservation and restoration initiatives. The role is critical in shaping and implementing FGT’s strategic directions to enhance these ecosystems' conservation, restoration, and sustainable management while ensuring alignment with IUCN’s Nature 2030 program.
The Senior Programme Officer will lead the design and delivery of projects and programs focusing on grasslands and drylands, ensuring their relevance to global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration goals. They will contribute to integrating knowledge into policy frameworks, addressing implementation gaps, and fostering national, regional, and international policy interventions.
Collaboration with IUCN regions, global thematic programs, Centres, and Commissions will be central to the role, enabling the development and delivery of a robust restoration portfolio. Additionally, the incumbent will focus on building strategic partnerships, fundraising, knowledge management, and communications.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Programmatic oversight and management
• Lead and support the application of IUCN tools and frameworks for the conservation, restoration, and monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems, with a specific emphasis on grasslands, rangelands, and drylands.
• Manage and support the partnership with Germany-based members and partner organizations such as UNCCD, UNFCCC, and GIZ on topics related to grasslands, rangelands, and drylands
• Manage the delivery of specific project components, as agreed with the Senior Programme Coordinator & Head, ensuring the quality and timeliness of assigned deliverables.
2. Technical Implementation of Projects
• Lead the technical implementation of grasslands, drylands, and land restoration projects.
• Ensuring compliance with IUCN and donor requirements; coordination with partners; the production of project documents, plans, budgets, and schedules; management of consultants; and production of contracts and internal agreements.
• Provide technical leadership and inputs to these work streams and projects. This will include ensuring the technical work streams are on track and contributing to the achievement of the project’s objectives and contractual obligations;
• Providing specific technical inputs, such as biodiversity, to ensure the achievement of targets, results, and deliverables.
• Support the projects' monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to learn, adjust, and share experiences.
3. Programme and Project Development and Fundraising
• Work with FGT and regional teams to design and develop new project proposals aligning with IUCN’s thematic areas.
• Build synergies across IUCN programs to enhance FGT’s work and identify new project opportunities.
• Lead the integration of tools such as the Participatory Grassland and Rangeland Assessment (PRAGA), coordinating technical inputs from various IUCN programs and commissions.
• Lead the development of new proposals to ensure a regular flow of new, high-quality, and relevant project concepts to the A list.
4. Partnership Management and Representation
• Manage and represent FGT in engagements with UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD, and other national and international initiatives as needed.
• Actively participate in international and national meetings, seminars, and events, representing IUCN’s interests.
• Support and work closely with IUCN’s regions on topics assigned by the Head and act as IUCN’s focal point when required.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organization 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 the Human Resources Management Group.
REQUIREMENTS
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• 1. Education and Expertise • Master’s degree in Ecology, Rangeland Management, Grassland Science, Conservation Biology, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Geography, Anthropology, or a closely related field. • Strong rangeland and grassland ecology knowledge, including ecosystem dynamics, restoration techniques, and sustainable management practices. • 2. Professional Experience • At least 8 years of proven experience in managing and coordinating conservation or sustainable development projects, including cross-border or multi-country initiatives. • Experience working at the interface of forestry, conservation, and sustainable land management, with a strong understanding of ecosystem-based approaches and their application to rangelands, grasslands, and forest landscapes. • Demonstrated expertise in participatory natural resource management, community-level participatory approaches, and multistakeholder dialogue. • Proven ability to conduct natural resource and rangeland assessments, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. • 3. Skills and Abilities • Strong organizational and facilitation skills, particularly in multi-stakeholder participatory processes. • Excellent writing skills, with a track record of producing high-quality technical reports and non-technical communications within tight deadlines. • Ability to communicate complex technical issues effectively to diverse audiences and cultures. • Exceptional networking and communication skills, successfully building partnerships and engaging with stakeholders across sectors. • 4. Other Requirements • A deep understanding of and passion for biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions, and sustainable development. • Willingness and ability to travel internationally regularly, including to remote or challenging locations, for extended periods. • Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in written and spoken French and/or Spanish is highly desirable. • Proven commitment to working within teams diverse in gender, nationality, and background to achieve shared goals. |
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
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 around 16,000 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.
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