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Chief of Party (Program Director)

Vacancy #:   1301
Unit:   ORMACC - Biodiversity and Rights
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Honduras Country Office, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Reporting to:   Coordinador Unidad Biodiversidad y Derechos
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   SP
Expected start date:   01 July 2016
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (42 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   15 August 2016
BACKGROUND
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded in 1948 and brings together over 1,100 members (States, government agencies, NGOs and affiliates) and some 11,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN has approximately 1,000 staff, most of whom are located in its regional and country offices, and at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. IUCN is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified women and men.
The IUCN’s Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is seeking candidates for Chief of Party (COP) for an upcoming USAID-funded three year program entitled “Improved Coastal Watersheds and Livelihoods Program (ICWL)” for $3.7 million, to be implemented in the area of the Gulf of Fonseca that is shared between Honduras and El Salvador. The program will be run from Honduras where the IUCN has an office, in close coordination with the IUCN Regional Office’s main center in Costa Rica.
The ICWL program will focus its efforts in the Goascoran Lower Watershed and Coastal Zone in the following municipalities: Pasaquina, San Alejo, El Sauce and Concepcion de Oriente in El Salvador; and Alianza, Goascoran, Aramecina, and Caridad in Honduras. The watershed’s coastal zone includes two coastal- marine protected areas of focus for ICWL: Bahia de la Union and Bahia de Chismuyo. Within the Goascoran Lower Watershed and Coastal Zone, three biodiversity elements are of special interest to the ICWL: Gulf of Fonseca mangrove forests eco-region which sustains the region’s fisheries, Central American dry forests eco-region supporting groundwater recharge and high biodiversity endemism, and Gulf of Fonseca fisheries upon which coastal livelihoods depend. The overall objective of ICWL program is by 2019 to improve natural resource management of the Goascoran Lower Watershed and Coastal Zone in order to maximize four outcomes: 1) habitat for biodiversity, 2) water-related ecosystem services, 3) climate change adaptation and mitigation, and 4) economic returns from sustainable production.
To implement the ICWL program , the IUCN— will joint efforts to work in close partnership with a Consortium of local and well established organizations: Committee for Defense and Development of Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF), Foundation for Rural Enterprise Development (FUNDER), Salvadoran Foundation for Social Promotion and Rural Development (FUNSALPRODESE), and other relevant partners from different sectors (non-profit, public and private sectors).
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Chief of Party will be responsible for the overall management of the ICWL program, and will provide dynamic and effective leadership for the implementation of the Program throughout the prioritized areas in the Gulf of Fonseca. The Chief of Party will directly supervise and provide technical support and guidance to the IUCN staff as well as members of the Consortium working within the program as well as to other partners and contractors. S/he will ensure compliance with all program commitments, including delivery of quality reports and compliance with performance indicators. S/he will be accountable for supervision of ICWL staff and coordinate with consultants or agreed scopes of work and subsequent deliverables hired for this program and serve as the principal liaison with donors and program partners.

RESPONSABILITIES
• Oversee and direct multi-disciplinary teams consisting of IUCN staff, consortium members, partners and/or contractors to analyze and adopt innovative strategies to solving global climate change problems with a rights based approach.
• Provide strategic insight and appropriate high-level support and interface for activities with local organizations, NGOs, governments and the private sector
• Serve as the principal institutional liaison with USAID
• Ensure compliance with USAID’s and other donors’ requirements and regulations, including the delivery of reports and compliance with branding and marking
• Lead and direct the preparation of work plans, quarterly, mid-year and annual reports to USAID and IUCN for the ICWL Program
• Direct the development and implementation of the program’s performance monitoring and evaluation framework in coordination with USAID
• Develop and maintain institutional relationships among partners and donors, especially as the political level and with long-term objectives
• Supervise and motivate staff, providing guidance and support activities
• Work with IUCN and ICWL program staff on hiring related to the program
• Provide management and quality control oversight for individual program activities
• Coordinate with IUCN to provide the required support, guidance and direction to successfully implement the program activities and achieve targets
• Facilitate the development of project proposals together with IUCN’s proposal development specialists, as well as the tracking of existing projects, in order to comply with cost-share and leverage commitments
• Represent IUCN and the ICWL Consortium at public and private events, sharing lessons learned and building partnerships
• Coordinate with other USAID and US government related projects in Central America and the Caribbean
• Ensure that program activities promote gender equality and avoid adverse gender impacts, as well as appropriate communication and knowledge management.
• Other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
  • • Graduate degree (Master’s Degree or higher preferred) in natural resource management, global climate change, environmental economics, social sciences, anthropology, political sciences, international relations, sustainable development or a similar field.

• • At least 8 years of experience in senior management roles within similar organizations in Central America with direct supervision of professional and support staff, and technical assistance in fields related to the subject matter of the program, such as global climate change mitigation, protected areas, natural resource management, sustainable resource management, local communities governance, gender integration, etc.

• • Proven leadership in the administration of USAID (preferred) or similar international donor support programs in Central America with skills in strategic planning, supervision and budgeting

• • Good knowledge of Central America, and its key conservation and development issues, protected areas and biodiversity, as well as climate change policies, institutional development and management issues.

• • Experience of productive involvement with a wide range and levels of organizations and stakeholders (community organizations, governments, NGOs, private sector, research institutions)

• • Experience in managing the administrative, contracting, hiring, recruitment, financial, and logistical aspects of the proposed Program

• • Ability to work under pressure and to deal tactfully with sensitive political issues

• • A proven track record of managing adaptive organizations and handling complex operations and diverse teams with time-sensitive deliverables

• • Strong cultural awareness and sensitivity to gender issues

• • Excellent managerial, analytical, interpersonal, negotiating and team building skills

• • Problem solving skills, creativity, collaboration and willingness to innovate

• • Fluency in English and Spanish (both verbal and written communication skills)

• • Functional word processing, spreadsheet and computer skills

• • Willingness to travel frequently
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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