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Chief of Staff
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BACKGROUND
The Director General (DG) of IUCN, appointed by the Council, is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
The position of Chief of Staff (CS) provides an exceptional opportunity for professional engagement and development as it supports the Director General across a broad spectrum of policy, technical, and managerial activities. The CS plays a key role by easing communications and effectively sharing information with diverse stakeholders, supervising the development, preparing relevant programme and operational documents in coordination with relevant staff, and effectively and strategically supporting key issues of the Union.
The CS provides leadership to the Director General’s Office team and reports directly to the Director General. The primary function of the CS is to facilitate, streamline, and ensure that the Director General can work most effectively. This is an enabling role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play a proactive support role. The incumbent will also work closely with the IUCN Management Team, Secretariat, and Councillors, as well as with the broader membership, as appropriate.
The position of Chief of Staff (CS) provides an exceptional opportunity for professional engagement and development as it supports the Director General across a broad spectrum of policy, technical, and managerial activities. The CS plays a key role by easing communications and effectively sharing information with diverse stakeholders, supervising the development, preparing relevant programme and operational documents in coordination with relevant staff, and effectively and strategically supporting key issues of the Union.
The CS provides leadership to the Director General’s Office team and reports directly to the Director General. The primary function of the CS is to facilitate, streamline, and ensure that the Director General can work most effectively. This is an enabling role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play a proactive support role. The incumbent will also work closely with the IUCN Management Team, Secretariat, and Councillors, as well as with the broader membership, as appropriate.
JOB DESCRIPTION
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage the Director General’s Office (DGO):
• Manage the overall coordination, functioning and performance of the Director General’s Office; take timely action on issues at hand.
• Coordinate with IUCN staff around the world for effective decision making at the DGO.
• Supervise a small operations team at the Director General Office.
• Manage the preparation and quality control of all items submitted to the Director General for comments, or signature, including official correspondence, communication, and press releases.
• Manage the Director General’s Office budget and annual workplan and monitor progress and expenditure throughout the year.
• Ensure the coordination of corporate responses to emergency, high priority, or other sensitive issues.
• Coordinate and prepare speeches and presentations for the DGO.
• Lead the development and ensure that all communications coming from the DGO are clear and on time.
Ensure smooth representation and external relations:
• Manage overall coordination of the substance of the Director General’s travel/missions and support to the Director General during missions.
• Assure the preparation of briefing notes and other mission-critical material.
• Prepare and support the Director General while hosting visiting delegations.
• Act as a point of contact for the Director General with selected external partners.
Provide strategic operational support:
• Ensure the Director General is provided with the appropriate range of advice and information on issues as they arise.
• Organise and ensure effective running of the Executive Board meetings as well as Leadership Team meetings and monitor implementation of decisions.
• Support the Director General in monitoring management’s progress in achieving stated objectives and ensure that strategy is being executed and that progress is communicated effectively.
• Assist the Director General to advance strategic initiatives as they may arise, act as project manager as needed.
Assist the Director General with business planning and strategy preparation as well as preparation of Council Meetings, background documents and IUCN Congresses.
Coordinate internal communications and liaison activities:
• Support the Director General on the proactive engagement, communication, and interaction with members of the Union (staff, IUCN Members, Commissions, Council, partners, and the media) to strengthen IUCN’s role in carrying out its mission.
• Maintain close overview on key IUCN issues by working with staff in providing the necessary information to the Director General.
• Oversee coordination of town halls with IUCN Secretariat staff, manage select weekly meetings, assure agendas and summarising meeting minutes.
• Prepare and issue the Executive Board meeting minutes, respond to staff queries and questions on the minutes.
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the CS may also be requested to work on specific tasks as requested by the Director General.
Manage the Director General’s Office (DGO):
• Manage the overall coordination, functioning and performance of the Director General’s Office; take timely action on issues at hand.
• Coordinate with IUCN staff around the world for effective decision making at the DGO.
• Supervise a small operations team at the Director General Office.
• Manage the preparation and quality control of all items submitted to the Director General for comments, or signature, including official correspondence, communication, and press releases.
• Manage the Director General’s Office budget and annual workplan and monitor progress and expenditure throughout the year.
• Ensure the coordination of corporate responses to emergency, high priority, or other sensitive issues.
• Coordinate and prepare speeches and presentations for the DGO.
• Lead the development and ensure that all communications coming from the DGO are clear and on time.
Ensure smooth representation and external relations:
• Manage overall coordination of the substance of the Director General’s travel/missions and support to the Director General during missions.
• Assure the preparation of briefing notes and other mission-critical material.
• Prepare and support the Director General while hosting visiting delegations.
• Act as a point of contact for the Director General with selected external partners.
Provide strategic operational support:
• Ensure the Director General is provided with the appropriate range of advice and information on issues as they arise.
• Organise and ensure effective running of the Executive Board meetings as well as Leadership Team meetings and monitor implementation of decisions.
• Support the Director General in monitoring management’s progress in achieving stated objectives and ensure that strategy is being executed and that progress is communicated effectively.
• Assist the Director General to advance strategic initiatives as they may arise, act as project manager as needed.
Assist the Director General with business planning and strategy preparation as well as preparation of Council Meetings, background documents and IUCN Congresses.
Coordinate internal communications and liaison activities:
• Support the Director General on the proactive engagement, communication, and interaction with members of the Union (staff, IUCN Members, Commissions, Council, partners, and the media) to strengthen IUCN’s role in carrying out its mission.
• Maintain close overview on key IUCN issues by working with staff in providing the necessary information to the Director General.
• Oversee coordination of town halls with IUCN Secretariat staff, manage select weekly meetings, assure agendas and summarising meeting minutes.
• Prepare and issue the Executive Board meeting minutes, respond to staff queries and questions on the minutes.
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the CS may also be requested to work on specific tasks as requested by the Director General.
REQUIREMENTS
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• Education and Experience • Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to the Union’s mandate and work programme and demonstrated ability to translate analytical/ technical skills into operational results. • 8-10 years of progressive international experience in areas such as environment, development, or public policy, with a strong preference for this experience to include “Front Office-type” assignments. Competencies Language: • Fluency in English is essential for this position since the successful candidate will be called upon to prepare focused and concise verbal and written briefs, statements, and correspondence. • Fluency in preferably one or more of IUCN’s other official languages (French and Spanish) is highly desirable. Communication and liaison: • Excellent writing and communication skills in English with the ability to synthesize analyses and present materials effectively and tailored to different audiences. Track record of outstanding interpersonal and diplomatic skills and working effectively in a multicultural and diverse environment with colleagues at all levels • Proven ability to effectively motivate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders. Knowledge of the field: • Knowledge of environment, conservation and development, and experience in working across sectors, in partnerships and donor relationships, and/or in strategic planning would be desirable. • Demonstrated expertise in a variety of concepts, practices, and procedures related to addressing the most pressing environment and development challenges. • Demonstrate political sensitivity and strong knowledge in international and sectoral environmental policy. Work organization and management: • Proven ability to coordinate complex tasks and manage multiple tasks to deliver high-quality results under pressure. • A well-developed sense of self-awareness with an ability to proactively manage one’s own strengths and weaknesses and understand how this influences the performance and motivation of other colleagues. • Experience in identifying key issues in a complex situation, and consulting, gathering, and analysing relevant information before proposing and implementing decisive actions or recommendations. • Ability to anticipate, assess and account for political and reputational risk associated with contested or divergent technical issues. • Willingness to travel extensively at times. Professional ethics: • Unimpeachable integrity as evidenced by behaviour, communication style and way of handling ambiguous or difficult situations. • High degree of discretion in dealing with internal and external partners, staff, and managers at all levels, and in handling confidential and sensitive information • Demonstrated commitment to working within multi-cultural and diverse teams to achieve business results. • A clear and unambiguous work ethic that understands the necessity of, and demonstrates willingness to adhere to, institutional procedures and standards. • An enthusiasm for and commitment to understanding and contributing to tangible, equitable and durable change processes in the field of conservation and natural resource management. |
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 134'355 and CHF 167'944, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax. 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.
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