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Chief Technical Officer

Vacancy #:   1392
Unit:   Maldives Project Office
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Maldives Project Office, Malé, Maldives
  International recruitment for Male, Maldives
Reporting to:   Head,Programme Management
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   SP
Expected start date:   01 June 2019
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (61 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   16 November 2016
BACKGROUND
This is a local recruitment. Only Maldivian nationals, individuals with residence status or the appropriate employment visa for Maldives are eligible to apply. The remuneration and benefits package for this position is established with reference to the local labour market and in line with the IUCN conditions of service for Maldives.

Average temperatures and sea level are projected to rise by 2ºC and more than 100 cm, respectively, over the following decades. These events have decimated a large majority of fringing coral reefs, an ecosystem that plays a fundamental role in food provision, shoreline protection, and enhanced water quality for the majority of coastal developing countries. Globally, natural resource managers are facing growing challenges from multiple and cumulative stressors that are increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems and societies that depend on their goods and services. While marine conservation and management practices have focused mostly on threat reduction (e.g. reducing overfishing and pollution), managers and agencies talk with increasing frequency about safeguarding or building resilience – i.e. supporting ecosystem processes that lower sensitivity, promote recovery and enhance adaptive capacity. One rationale for such a shift in management approach is the increasing pressures from climate change, a global driver that compromises the health of many ecosystems, and which increases the need for urgent and effective local-scale management actions.

Specifically, project REGENERATE – Reef Generate Environmental and Economic Resilience for Atoll Ecosystems - has been developed by IUCN to showcase and address coral reef issues in the Maldives. The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) is responsible for leading, developing and implementing Project REGENERATE in the Maldives. The overall aims of this project are to:
• Enhance generation of knowledge and science associated with marine resources of the Maldives;
• Enhance and expand on spatially explicit national information system for information sharing, decision-support and planning;
• Enhance civil society engagement in natural resource management;
• Strengthen public-private partnerships to enhance decentralized marine governance;
• Enhance understanding of coral reef fisheries for resilience-based management in one selected atoll.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Chief Technical Officer is responsible for developing and implementing Project REGENERATE. The work plan for the Project has been/will be developed in consultation with USAID and the Government of Maldives and endorsed by the Deputy Regional Director Programme, Asia. The CTO will take lead responsibility for administration of funding, reporting, staff development and maintenance, liaison with host organisations, partners, donors, members and other IUCN offices and stakeholders.

The CTO will perform, inter alia, the following roles and responsibilities for Project REGENERATE:

1. Maintaining ownership and accountability for project-specific tasks, which include:
• Team and staff recruitment, development, and management
• Managing human resources, financial budgets, annual work plans
• Project development, proposal writing and submission
• Partnership development, donor and stakeholder consultation
• Day-to-Day project management and oversight
• Lead on technical implementation of the five main aims
• Guidance on individual work plans of staff
• Development of Annual Project Work and Operational plans
• Systematic monitoring and evaluation of on-going project activities
• Development of training opportunities to achieve the project objectives and enhance program implementation
• Strategic implementation of proposed activities in close partnership and consultation with GMPP
• Representation of the project and IUCN with the Maldives partners, government and USAID
• Technical reporting on activities to USAID and the Government of Maldives on behalf of IUCN.

2. Developing and managing coral reef workflows and teams
• Managing staff on day-to-day activities to consolidate contributions to IUCN projects
• Guiding staff conceptually and motivating a team in a multi-cultural environment
• Linking the field projects and collaborating with the Global and other IUCN Regional Marine Programs in programme planning, development, management and evaluation
• Integrating principles of marine conservation, management and science into government policy and regional conventions
• Working with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network to strengthen assessments and data reach

3. Developing strategic plans and implementing annual work programmes and project activities that contribute to the emergence of a strategic IUCN programme on technical themes (in collaboration with relevant IUCN members and partners)
• Managing human resources, financial budgets, annual work plans connected to budget lines
• Developing proposals and fundraising from national and international donors to develop the program and cover project activities and direct costs of staff positions
• Developing performance indicators to assess the success of the programme component in meeting its objectives and results.
• Reporting on project activities on a regular basis, or as required by IUCN or donors
• Managing and reporting on funds used in project activities as per IUCN rules and regulations

4. Communicating the IUCN vision effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing to partners and donors
• Drafting and publishing project reports in appropriate languages and feeding results into communication activities.
• Authoring articles to disseminate information regarding the work of IUCN
• Representing IUCN and presenting seminars at national and international meetings

5. Assisting IUCN in developing and maintaining local, regional and national working relationships with key scientific partners
• Developing collaborations with leading laboratories, groups, and universities that undertake cutting edge science and research on coral reefs;
• Generate knowledge and science that is critical to better conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems
• Co-author and publish scientific articles, reports, and guidance documents.
• Undertaking other tasks to ensure the effective technical implementation of the programme

6. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
  • Master’s Degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Environmental Science, Coastal and Marine Management, Marine and Tropical Conservation Biology, or a related field.

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in managing development projects with specific focus on marine biodiversity and conservation.

• Prior project management experience, preferably in a field setting, with proven experience in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, financial and stakeholder management, are essential.

• Experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships and working relationships with government institutions, private and public organizations, communities and other entities. Specific management of donor-funded projects a distinct advantage.

• Prior experience in stakeholder management is required.

• Proven experience in leading strategic planning, results-based management, project implementation and development

• Ability to build and lead teams effectively to focus on delivering quality results

• Field experience in remote environments and island locations preferred

• Excellent communication skills; fluent in verbal and written English

• Proficient in the use of office application (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) including web-based management systems. Experience in project management tools, data analyses, statistical packages, or other relevant applications, highly advantageous.

• Diving certification and proficiency in dive safety and scuba procedures preferred.
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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