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Programme Officer - IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (AFESG)
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BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION OPEN ONLY TO NATIONALS OR PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF KENYA
The African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) is part of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC). The SSC is a volunteer network, comprised of over 140 different specialist groups, with varying numbers of members. The SSC network of experts provides the sound science upon which governments and non-governmental organizations can base their conservation policies. The AfESG is a voluntary group of elephant experts all of whom, within their own regions and institutions, work at the forefront of elephant conservation and management across Africa. The Group was convened more than four decades ago in response to the worsening poaching crisis of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Today, the AfESG’s mission is to promote the long-term conservation of Africa’s elephants throughout their range. The AfESG is one of the most active of the IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups and it is one of the few Groups with a Secretariat.
The AfESG has strong partnerships with governments and key stakeholders across the 37 countries in which African elephants live and is best characterized as:
• The only organization responsible for assessing the conservation status of African elephants across their entire range;
• Playing a unique role in overseeing, coordinating and providing objective technical advice and support to many governments and key stakeholders to catalyze conservation actions across Africa; and
• Able to respond to emerging issues and changing priorities surrounding the conservation and management of African elephants because of this continental focus.
As Programme Officer, you will maintain technical liaison and regular exchange within and amongst the membership of the AfESG, governmental, non-governmental agencies, donor organizations and their counterparts on issues related to African elephant conservation and management, and oversee the day-to-day administrative work and technical coordination of the activities of the AfESG Secretariat.
The African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) is part of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC). The SSC is a volunteer network, comprised of over 140 different specialist groups, with varying numbers of members. The SSC network of experts provides the sound science upon which governments and non-governmental organizations can base their conservation policies. The AfESG is a voluntary group of elephant experts all of whom, within their own regions and institutions, work at the forefront of elephant conservation and management across Africa. The Group was convened more than four decades ago in response to the worsening poaching crisis of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Today, the AfESG’s mission is to promote the long-term conservation of Africa’s elephants throughout their range. The AfESG is one of the most active of the IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups and it is one of the few Groups with a Secretariat.
The AfESG has strong partnerships with governments and key stakeholders across the 37 countries in which African elephants live and is best characterized as:
• The only organization responsible for assessing the conservation status of African elephants across their entire range;
• Playing a unique role in overseeing, coordinating and providing objective technical advice and support to many governments and key stakeholders to catalyze conservation actions across Africa; and
• Able to respond to emerging issues and changing priorities surrounding the conservation and management of African elephants because of this continental focus.
As Programme Officer, you will maintain technical liaison and regular exchange within and amongst the membership of the AfESG, governmental, non-governmental agencies, donor organizations and their counterparts on issues related to African elephant conservation and management, and oversee the day-to-day administrative work and technical coordination of the activities of the AfESG Secretariat.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Programme Officer will maintain technical liaison and regular exchange within and amongst the membership of the AfESG, governmental, non-governmental agencies, donor organizations and their counterparts on issues related to African elephant conservation and management, and oversee the day-to-day administrative work and technical coordination of the activities of the AfESG Secretariat.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A. TECHNICAL
I. Support to the AfESG membership and its ongoing activities
a) Respond to all technical queries made to the AfESG Secretariat from within and beyond the membership, or redirect them as appropriate.
b) Liaise with and assist the Chair and members of AfESG Working Groups and Task Forces.
c) In coordination with the African Elephant Database Coordinator, liaise with and assist the Chair and members of the AfESG Data Review Working Group on all aspects of the AfESG’s data needs.
d) Act as the Red List Coordinator for the AfESG, which includes liaising with and assisting the Red List Assessment team, in coordination with the AfESG Chair, for the 2018 Red List Assessment of the African elephant.
II. Coordination of technical undertakings of the AfESG staff
a) Under direction from the Chair, co-ordinate the day-to-day work of the AfESG Secretariat to deliver on all AfESG technical activities and projects.
III. Fund-raise for the AfESG
a) Draft funding proposals to support activities related to the operations of the AfESG, including fundraising to cover core operating costs for the AfESG Secretariat.
b) Fund-raise for an AfESG Membership meeting in 2018.
c) Assist the Chair with other fund-raising activities.
IV. Other technical undertakings
a) Liaise with members and partners on the formulation of national, sub-regional and continental conservation strategies for the African elephant.
b) Maintain the African Elephant Library and update it with recent, published and unpublished documents covering all aspects of African elephant conservation and management.
c) Oversee technical preparation for AfESG membership meetings.
d) Oversee the write-up of the proceedings of AfESG meetings, including the minutes of formal AfESG meetings (e.g. various meetings of the membership and Task Forces) and any other technical outputs from the meetings.
e) Liaise with the AfESG Section Editor of Pachyderm, the journal of three Specialist Groups (African Elephant, African Rhino and Asian Rhino) to help solicit articles and identify reviewers.
f) Write reports to and for the Chair of the AfESG, as and when requested.
g) Oversee and control the quality of the technical content of the AfESG website.
h) Work with partners on delivering technical documentation to policy audiences, including CITES.
i) Other assignments as and when requested by the AfESG Chair.
B. ADMINISTRATIVE
I. Management of the AfESG offices, staff and administrative matters
a) Under direction from the Chair, co-ordinate and oversee the day-to-day work of the AfESG Secretariat to deliver on all AfESG administrative needs.
b) Oversee and monitor all incoming and outgoing contracts of the AfESG.
c) Administer and oversee compliance with the Hosting Agreement between the AfESG and IUCN ESARO, and abide by the agreement.
II. Reporting
a) External reporting
i. Organize, co-ordinate and/or write technical progress reports to all AfESG donors.
b) Internal reporting
i. Co-ordinate the preparation and delivery of all reports and regular updates to the Chair from the AfESG Secretariat including weekly briefing documents.
ii. Liaise with the Administrative Officer on matters concerning the tracking and reporting of all AfESG finances, including the maintenance of accounts for all ongoing projects.
III. Serving the Membership and Partners of the AfESG
a) Assist with establishing the new membership at the beginning of each IUCN Quadrennium.
b) Maintain regular correspondence with the appointed membership.
c) Respond to all administrative queries made to the AfESG from within or beyond the membership, or redirect them as appropriate.
d) Correspond on a regular basis with current and potential donors and donor agencies on the activities of the AfESG.
e) Act as the AfESG focal person and, as and when requested, act as the Secretary to the AfESG Task Forces and Working Groups.
IV. Preparation for AfESG Meetings
a) In collaboration with the Chair, and others in the AfESG Secretariat, organize and oversee all logistical preparations for AfESG meetings.
b) Liaise with the Administrative Officer on preparation of relevant administrative and financial documents for the meetings.
V. Other Administrative Undertakings
a) Liaise with the SSC and Global Species Programme on all matters of mutual concern
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A. TECHNICAL
I. Support to the AfESG membership and its ongoing activities
a) Respond to all technical queries made to the AfESG Secretariat from within and beyond the membership, or redirect them as appropriate.
b) Liaise with and assist the Chair and members of AfESG Working Groups and Task Forces.
c) In coordination with the African Elephant Database Coordinator, liaise with and assist the Chair and members of the AfESG Data Review Working Group on all aspects of the AfESG’s data needs.
d) Act as the Red List Coordinator for the AfESG, which includes liaising with and assisting the Red List Assessment team, in coordination with the AfESG Chair, for the 2018 Red List Assessment of the African elephant.
II. Coordination of technical undertakings of the AfESG staff
a) Under direction from the Chair, co-ordinate the day-to-day work of the AfESG Secretariat to deliver on all AfESG technical activities and projects.
III. Fund-raise for the AfESG
a) Draft funding proposals to support activities related to the operations of the AfESG, including fundraising to cover core operating costs for the AfESG Secretariat.
b) Fund-raise for an AfESG Membership meeting in 2018.
c) Assist the Chair with other fund-raising activities.
IV. Other technical undertakings
a) Liaise with members and partners on the formulation of national, sub-regional and continental conservation strategies for the African elephant.
b) Maintain the African Elephant Library and update it with recent, published and unpublished documents covering all aspects of African elephant conservation and management.
c) Oversee technical preparation for AfESG membership meetings.
d) Oversee the write-up of the proceedings of AfESG meetings, including the minutes of formal AfESG meetings (e.g. various meetings of the membership and Task Forces) and any other technical outputs from the meetings.
e) Liaise with the AfESG Section Editor of Pachyderm, the journal of three Specialist Groups (African Elephant, African Rhino and Asian Rhino) to help solicit articles and identify reviewers.
f) Write reports to and for the Chair of the AfESG, as and when requested.
g) Oversee and control the quality of the technical content of the AfESG website.
h) Work with partners on delivering technical documentation to policy audiences, including CITES.
i) Other assignments as and when requested by the AfESG Chair.
B. ADMINISTRATIVE
I. Management of the AfESG offices, staff and administrative matters
a) Under direction from the Chair, co-ordinate and oversee the day-to-day work of the AfESG Secretariat to deliver on all AfESG administrative needs.
b) Oversee and monitor all incoming and outgoing contracts of the AfESG.
c) Administer and oversee compliance with the Hosting Agreement between the AfESG and IUCN ESARO, and abide by the agreement.
II. Reporting
a) External reporting
i. Organize, co-ordinate and/or write technical progress reports to all AfESG donors.
b) Internal reporting
i. Co-ordinate the preparation and delivery of all reports and regular updates to the Chair from the AfESG Secretariat including weekly briefing documents.
ii. Liaise with the Administrative Officer on matters concerning the tracking and reporting of all AfESG finances, including the maintenance of accounts for all ongoing projects.
III. Serving the Membership and Partners of the AfESG
a) Assist with establishing the new membership at the beginning of each IUCN Quadrennium.
b) Maintain regular correspondence with the appointed membership.
c) Respond to all administrative queries made to the AfESG from within or beyond the membership, or redirect them as appropriate.
d) Correspond on a regular basis with current and potential donors and donor agencies on the activities of the AfESG.
e) Act as the AfESG focal person and, as and when requested, act as the Secretary to the AfESG Task Forces and Working Groups.
IV. Preparation for AfESG Meetings
a) In collaboration with the Chair, and others in the AfESG Secretariat, organize and oversee all logistical preparations for AfESG meetings.
b) Liaise with the Administrative Officer on preparation of relevant administrative and financial documents for the meetings.
V. Other Administrative Undertakings
a) Liaise with the SSC and Global Species Programme on all matters of mutual concern
REQUIREMENTS
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• An advanced degree: preferably, Masters in biological sciences with five years of experience in conservation in Africa. • Knowledge and understanding of African biodiversity conservation and, including the practical aspects of conservation, and species conservation policy. Knowledge on taxonomy is desirable. • Proven track record in successfully developing and managing programmes in conservation, natural resource management, and/or other related fields. • Demonstrated experience of establishing and maintaining strong partnerships with other organisations and individuals. • Strong people-management experience, including supervision of staff and consultants. • Excellent communication skills, including an ability and willingness to use all available channels for communicating. • Successful track record of fundraising is desirable. • English language proficiency required. French language is desirable. • A good command of computers, including a high level of competency with all Microsoft Office applications. • Experience with and knowledge of website design and management. • Experience with and knowledge of using GIS is desirable. • A proactive approach to work and an ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands, while delivering satisfactory and timely results • Ability to work independently on guidance provided by the AfESG Chair. • Ability to work co-operatively with others, for example in both an office situation and with members of the voluntary network. • A team player with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, able to harness the commitment and enthusiasm of staff. • Ability to form and maintain productive relationships with a variety of busy organisations and individuals. • Ability to think strategically. • Well-organized and logical in thought and action, with an ability to foresee and manage risk. • Ability and commitment to act in accordance with the core values of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as spelled out in IUCN’s Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics. |
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/
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