|
Senior Advisor (Europe)
|
BACKGROUND
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and of wetland biodiversity and services. It is the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Convention Secretariat has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services for the Convention.
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and of wetland biodiversity and services. It is the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Secretariat of the Convention has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services to the Secretariat.
The Senior Advisor provides leadership within the Secretariat for advising on and supporting the strategic development and effective implementation of the Convention on Wetlands. The Senior Advisor serves as the coordinator of the Secretariat's international work in relation to specific assigned thematic areas or relevant international policy processes. Additionally, the Senior Advisor provides support to Contracting Parties within one or more designated regions.
The regional responsibility of the incumbent is to provide advice and support to Contracting Parties in the implementation of the Convention. As part of the Secretariat team he/she coordinates with senior staff responsible for leading on core functions of the Secretariat, to engage with Contracting Parties in a region, including on support for governing and subsidiary bodies, policy, technical and scientific, issues, resource mobilization and outreach.
The responsibility regarding leadership for thematic areas of work of the Convention is: to provide expert advice to support Contracting Parties in these areas at global level and across regions; and to serve as a focal point for relevant international policy processes within the Secretariat and coordinate its engagement strategies.
The Senior Advisor must have a global and regional understanding of wetland-related issues and must develop, maintain and present a clear understanding of the Convention's operations and priorities, and of wetland-related issues and priorities.
This position requires competencies in biodiversity and ecosystem-based resource management, with a special focus on wetlands, and one or more of the following thematic areas as they relate to wetlands: climate change; water management; and mainstreaming wetlands in the sustainable development agenda. Experience in policy processes and in an intergovernmental context related to biodiversity, climate change, water, and/or sustainable development more broadly, is desirable. The position also requires management competencies including organizational and financial management, project preparation, resource mobilization and outreach, and people management.
The Convention Secretariat has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services for the Convention.
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and of wetland biodiversity and services. It is the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Secretariat of the Convention has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services to the Secretariat.
The Senior Advisor provides leadership within the Secretariat for advising on and supporting the strategic development and effective implementation of the Convention on Wetlands. The Senior Advisor serves as the coordinator of the Secretariat's international work in relation to specific assigned thematic areas or relevant international policy processes. Additionally, the Senior Advisor provides support to Contracting Parties within one or more designated regions.
The regional responsibility of the incumbent is to provide advice and support to Contracting Parties in the implementation of the Convention. As part of the Secretariat team he/she coordinates with senior staff responsible for leading on core functions of the Secretariat, to engage with Contracting Parties in a region, including on support for governing and subsidiary bodies, policy, technical and scientific, issues, resource mobilization and outreach.
The responsibility regarding leadership for thematic areas of work of the Convention is: to provide expert advice to support Contracting Parties in these areas at global level and across regions; and to serve as a focal point for relevant international policy processes within the Secretariat and coordinate its engagement strategies.
The Senior Advisor must have a global and regional understanding of wetland-related issues and must develop, maintain and present a clear understanding of the Convention's operations and priorities, and of wetland-related issues and priorities.
This position requires competencies in biodiversity and ecosystem-based resource management, with a special focus on wetlands, and one or more of the following thematic areas as they relate to wetlands: climate change; water management; and mainstreaming wetlands in the sustainable development agenda. Experience in policy processes and in an intergovernmental context related to biodiversity, climate change, water, and/or sustainable development more broadly, is desirable. The position also requires management competencies including organizational and financial management, project preparation, resource mobilization and outreach, and people management.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Global leadership for thematic issues
• Take a global lead role in, and act as the Secretariat’s focal point for, developing and implementing the Secretariat's work on specific thematic issues, including topics identified in Resolutions adopted by the Conference of the Parties in the context of the Secretariat’s workplan, based on the incumbent's areas of experience and expertise and according to the distribution of tasks within the Secretariat.
• Provide advice to Contracting Parties on the issues under the leadership of the Adviser and support the Secretariat’s work on such issues in areas such as policy, communications and fundraising.
• Take the lead for identified policy processes, including those of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, as part of the Secretariat’s workplan; identify priorities; develop strategic engagement of the Secretariat; foster partnerships and enable engagement from Contracting Parties on issues of relevance to the Convention.
2. Regional duties
• Act as the lead contact point for the European region, working closely with relevant members of the Secretariat, for the provision of advice to Contracting Parties and other stakeholders on implementation of the Convention and specifically on wetland conservation and wise use.
• Support Contracting Parties and partner organizations to implement the current Ramsar Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals, including through the designation and management of Ramsar Sites and wise use of wetlands.
• Develop and maintain regular contacts with the Administrative Authorities of Contracting Parties to the Convention in the region, and create and maintain linkages with high-level officials in other relevant government ministries and agencies, regional organizations, secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, International Organization Partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Promote and facilitate accession to the Convention by countries that are not Contracting Parties.
• Prepare and lead technical missions, and more specifically Ramsar Advisory Missions (RAMs), to review the conservation status of Ramsar sites, at the request of Contracting Parties.
• Working closely with the Director, Science and Policy, and in accordance with the Secretariat workplan, provide a lead or support as appropriate on policy-related matters, including promoting synergies with other conventions relevant to biodiversity, water, disaster risk reduction, and climate change, as well as with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda more broadly.
• Within the regions concerned, advise and support the development of Regional Initiatives that have been approved by the Conference of the Parties as operating within the framework of the Convention, and keep them under review.
• Working with staff responsible for communications support engagement of Contracting Parties in communications activities and ensure that the lessons learnt from field and policy experience are analysed and shared throughout the Convention networks.
• Working with the Resource Mobilization Officer, support Contracting Parties to source funding for the priorities identified by the Conference of the Contracting Parties for the implementation of the Ramsar Strategic Plan. Maintain and extend contacts with funding organizations and partner organizations, in close cooperation with the Resource Mobilization Officer and senior management.
• Advise the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General on global wetland priorities on the basis of experience globally and within the region. Support the work of Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) and the programme on Communication, Capacity Building, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) in order to ensure that regional scientific and technical issues are handled to the highest professional standards.
3. Management
• Represent the Secretary General and the Secretariat, in relation to regional matters and specified thematic areas, in meetings and in contacts with government officials, intergovernmental organizations, secretariats of other conventions, partner organizations and other institutions, and national and international NGOs.
• Provide leadership and oversight of assigned operational functions, including functional areas as identified in the Secretariat’s workplan.
• Supervise staff reporting to the Advisor, and ensure that all supervised staff have annual workplans linked to the workplan of the Secretariat, and encourage and assist their professional development. Hold staff accountable for results and for the quality of outputs. Ensure that they work together and with the other staff of the Secretariat as needed to achieve synergy and a unified approach to attain the objectives of the Secretariat.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, participate in the work planning of the Secretariat, and coordinate activities with those of other sections of the Secretariat to ensure efficient operations and implementation and a whole-of-Secretariat approach to the Secretariat’s workplan.
• Prepare reports or other documents as needed for the governing bodies of the Convention and support or assist as required in the organization and conduct of their meetings.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, as the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands is a small team, 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.
• Take a global lead role in, and act as the Secretariat’s focal point for, developing and implementing the Secretariat's work on specific thematic issues, including topics identified in Resolutions adopted by the Conference of the Parties in the context of the Secretariat’s workplan, based on the incumbent's areas of experience and expertise and according to the distribution of tasks within the Secretariat.
• Provide advice to Contracting Parties on the issues under the leadership of the Adviser and support the Secretariat’s work on such issues in areas such as policy, communications and fundraising.
• Take the lead for identified policy processes, including those of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, as part of the Secretariat’s workplan; identify priorities; develop strategic engagement of the Secretariat; foster partnerships and enable engagement from Contracting Parties on issues of relevance to the Convention.
2. Regional duties
• Act as the lead contact point for the European region, working closely with relevant members of the Secretariat, for the provision of advice to Contracting Parties and other stakeholders on implementation of the Convention and specifically on wetland conservation and wise use.
• Support Contracting Parties and partner organizations to implement the current Ramsar Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals, including through the designation and management of Ramsar Sites and wise use of wetlands.
• Develop and maintain regular contacts with the Administrative Authorities of Contracting Parties to the Convention in the region, and create and maintain linkages with high-level officials in other relevant government ministries and agencies, regional organizations, secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, International Organization Partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Promote and facilitate accession to the Convention by countries that are not Contracting Parties.
• Prepare and lead technical missions, and more specifically Ramsar Advisory Missions (RAMs), to review the conservation status of Ramsar sites, at the request of Contracting Parties.
• Working closely with the Director, Science and Policy, and in accordance with the Secretariat workplan, provide a lead or support as appropriate on policy-related matters, including promoting synergies with other conventions relevant to biodiversity, water, disaster risk reduction, and climate change, as well as with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda more broadly.
• Within the regions concerned, advise and support the development of Regional Initiatives that have been approved by the Conference of the Parties as operating within the framework of the Convention, and keep them under review.
• Working with staff responsible for communications support engagement of Contracting Parties in communications activities and ensure that the lessons learnt from field and policy experience are analysed and shared throughout the Convention networks.
• Working with the Resource Mobilization Officer, support Contracting Parties to source funding for the priorities identified by the Conference of the Contracting Parties for the implementation of the Ramsar Strategic Plan. Maintain and extend contacts with funding organizations and partner organizations, in close cooperation with the Resource Mobilization Officer and senior management.
• Advise the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General on global wetland priorities on the basis of experience globally and within the region. Support the work of Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) and the programme on Communication, Capacity Building, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) in order to ensure that regional scientific and technical issues are handled to the highest professional standards.
3. Management
• Represent the Secretary General and the Secretariat, in relation to regional matters and specified thematic areas, in meetings and in contacts with government officials, intergovernmental organizations, secretariats of other conventions, partner organizations and other institutions, and national and international NGOs.
• Provide leadership and oversight of assigned operational functions, including functional areas as identified in the Secretariat’s workplan.
• Supervise staff reporting to the Advisor, and ensure that all supervised staff have annual workplans linked to the workplan of the Secretariat, and encourage and assist their professional development. Hold staff accountable for results and for the quality of outputs. Ensure that they work together and with the other staff of the Secretariat as needed to achieve synergy and a unified approach to attain the objectives of the Secretariat.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, participate in the work planning of the Secretariat, and coordinate activities with those of other sections of the Secretariat to ensure efficient operations and implementation and a whole-of-Secretariat approach to the Secretariat’s workplan.
• Prepare reports or other documents as needed for the governing bodies of the Convention and support or assist as required in the organization and conduct of their meetings.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, as the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands is a small team, 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
|
• Postgraduate qualification in an aspect of natural or social science relevant to wetland conservation and wise use. • At least 15 years of experience across a broad spectrum of subjects including biodiversity and ecosystem-based resource management, with a special focus on wetlands, and one or more of the following thematic areas as they relate to wetlands: climate change; water management; and mainstreaming wetlands in the sustainable development agenda. This should include at least five years working at the international level within the European region. • Experience in and familiar with wetland science and policy, water resources management and climate adaptation and mitigation is desirable. • Demonstrated expertise and experience in providing authoritative advice in policy processes, technical and scientific issues at national or regional levels, in the context of global issues and in an intergovernmental context. • Demonstrated experience in policy processes in global or regional Multilateral Environmental Agreements or, more broadly, on the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda. • Demonstrated competence in organizational and financial management, project preparation, programme planning, resource mobilization and outreach, and staff management. • Demonstrated spoken and written fluency in English. Knowledge of the other official languages of the Convention is an advantage. • Demonstrated capacity for innovative and strategic thinking and ability to provide leadership in dealing with complex issues. • Demonstrated ability to integrate the perspectives of the biological and social sciences and a commitment to working in interdisciplinary teams. • Exposure to and knowledge of major wetland conservation issues, both policy-related and field-related. • Familiarity with the work of the main regional and global institutions, including NGOs, dealing with environment and development issues. • Well-developed computer skills and ability and willingness to perform the duties of the position with limited assistance from support staff. • Strong interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to understand and operate within multicultural environments, and with the range of cultures within and across the regions. • Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team environment, and experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse group of people including different levels of government, NGOs and community groups. • Demonstrated experience building teams diverse in gender, nationality and background, to achieve desired organizational outcomes. This commitment to diversity and inclusion should be exemplified through staffing decisions (recruitment, promotion, recognition, etc.) and the ability to model behaviours that promote a more inclusive organizational culture. |
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 134'355 and CHF 167'944. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
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.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN