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Director - Global Ecosystem Management Programme
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BACKGROUND
The Director of the Ecosystem Management Programme is responsible for the development and implementation of IUCN’s programme of work around several critical biomes (notably drylands, mountains and agro-ecological systems), the systematic assessment of conservation status at the ecosystem level and the application of ecosystem management knowledge to addressing major societal challenges such as climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Based in IUCN’s head office in Gland, Switzerland, the Director is the focal point for ecosystem management related matters in IUCN regarding policy, programme development, resource mobilization and representation. S/he will also serve as the Secretariat focal point for the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Section A – Duties and Responsibilities
1. Programme Development
• Lead the development of IUCN’s programme of work on Ecosystem Management by providing a well-defined strategic focus over the medium and long term, ensuring effective programming and project implementation, and guiding analysis and evaluation of on-going programmatic activities.
• Act as IUCN’s senior thematic focal point on ecosystem management and the application of nature-based solutions to societal challenges.
• Act as first point of contact for the provision of adequate Secretariat technical support to and collaboration with the Commission on Ecosystem Management.
• Ensure coherence and integrity in all IUCN ecosystem management activities and interventions, particularly with respect to:- i) the generation of analysis and insights that shape and influence current international narratives, including through the Red List of Ecosystems and ii) by positioning IUCN as a reliable and trusted authority to convene disparate stakeholder groups, build trust and facilitate inclusive policy implementation at the trans-boundary, national and sub-national level.
• Coordinate with those colleagues across global thematic units and Regional and Country Offices working on ecosystem management issues – including dryland and agro-ecological biomes, ecosystem assessments and application of nature-based solutions - to ensure that they function as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in the policy statements, and a high quality of technical and policy advice is given to projects and programmes, including IUCN’s GEF and GCF portfolios.
• Provide guidance and support for the systematic inclusion of ecosystem management and nature-based solutions perspectives in development and implementation of the quadrennial IUCN Programme.
2. Policy and Communications
• Coordinate the analysis of relevant ecosystem management policy and the dissemination of policy information to various parts of the Union and other networks.
• Ensure that the Union’s perspectives on dryland and agro-ecological biomes, ecosystem assessments and application of nature-based solutions are adequately represented in relevant international fora and negotiations.
• Coordinate IUCN’s engagement with and inputs to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and other relevant global policy mechanisms that relate to ecosystem management.
• Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations on ecosystem management and nature-based solutions related issues, including advancing the systematic adoption and application of the Red List of Ecosystems.
• Ensure IUCN’s knowledge, recommendations and policies are effectively communicated to identified target users at global, regional and country levels by overseeing the development and implementation of an appropriate strategies for knowledge management and communications.
3. Management and resource mobilization
• Manage the Programme, including human and financial resources, budgets, communications, and planning, assessment and reporting as required by IUCN systems.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality, programmatically aligned project portfolio that is sufficient to deliver the IUCN programme of work on ecosystem management, collaborating closely with the Commission Ecosystem Management (CEM) and IUCN regions and other thematic programmes.
• Lead fundraising for the Ecosystem Management Programme through maintaining strategic relationships with donor and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the Programme.
• Co-convene the Climate Change Job Network in the IUCN Secretariat to strengthen strategic coherence on water among programme units at global, regional and country levels, continuously improve quality, promote collaboration, improve IUCN-wide knowledge management and support development of climate change professionals in IUCN.
• Convene and facilitate advice from associated experts who provide guidance to the ecosystem management related activities of the Union.
• Proactively contribute to and participate in the senior management team of the Nature-based Solutions group with particular emphasis on building and reinforcing a group-wide transparent and accountable management culture
Section B – Competencies
1. Enthusiastic commitment and vision, characterized by:
• A commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use.
• Ability to provide inspiration and strategic direction.
2. Leadership abilities and experience, maturity and management skills, characterized by:
• Unimpeachable integrity as evidenced by behavior, communication style and way of handling ambiguous or difficult situations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead the work of the Secretariat with diverse skills, personalities, and backgrounds.
• Proven ability to effectively delegate, empower and motivate staff and others.
• Experience developing teams and individuals and effectively leading improvement and change.
• Clear commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results, differentiate performance and assertively give feedback and take decisive action when necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to both plan and take action, keeping the staff focused on priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in the selection, coaching and appraisal of staff.
• Demonstrated experience building teams diverse in gender, nationality and background to achieve business results.
3. Senior management experience, characterized by:
• A well-developed sense of managerial self-awareness with an ability to proactively manage individual strengths and weaknesses (including one’s own) and understand how these influence the team’s performance.
• Demonstrated experience and achievements in organizational, financial and personnel management, and in decision-making.
• A commitment to embrace and co-own institutional change processes
• Proven experience in maintaining and nurturing expert networks with demonstrated ability to handle politically and culturally sensitive issues.
• Maintain a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
4. Professional competencies, characterized by:
• Good understanding of world affairs and experience with the workings of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and governmental and non-governmental institutions.
• Recognition among peers in terms of leadership and understanding of social science related issues
• 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.
5. Sound judgment and decision making, characterized by:
• Experience in identifying key issues in a complex situation, and consulting, gathering, and analyzing relevant information before proposing and implementing decisive actions or recommendations.
• Well-organized and logical in thought and action.
• Ability to anticipate, assess and manage risk.
1. Programme Development
• Lead the development of IUCN’s programme of work on Ecosystem Management by providing a well-defined strategic focus over the medium and long term, ensuring effective programming and project implementation, and guiding analysis and evaluation of on-going programmatic activities.
• Act as IUCN’s senior thematic focal point on ecosystem management and the application of nature-based solutions to societal challenges.
• Act as first point of contact for the provision of adequate Secretariat technical support to and collaboration with the Commission on Ecosystem Management.
• Ensure coherence and integrity in all IUCN ecosystem management activities and interventions, particularly with respect to:- i) the generation of analysis and insights that shape and influence current international narratives, including through the Red List of Ecosystems and ii) by positioning IUCN as a reliable and trusted authority to convene disparate stakeholder groups, build trust and facilitate inclusive policy implementation at the trans-boundary, national and sub-national level.
• Coordinate with those colleagues across global thematic units and Regional and Country Offices working on ecosystem management issues – including dryland and agro-ecological biomes, ecosystem assessments and application of nature-based solutions - to ensure that they function as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in the policy statements, and a high quality of technical and policy advice is given to projects and programmes, including IUCN’s GEF and GCF portfolios.
• Provide guidance and support for the systematic inclusion of ecosystem management and nature-based solutions perspectives in development and implementation of the quadrennial IUCN Programme.
2. Policy and Communications
• Coordinate the analysis of relevant ecosystem management policy and the dissemination of policy information to various parts of the Union and other networks.
• Ensure that the Union’s perspectives on dryland and agro-ecological biomes, ecosystem assessments and application of nature-based solutions are adequately represented in relevant international fora and negotiations.
• Coordinate IUCN’s engagement with and inputs to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and other relevant global policy mechanisms that relate to ecosystem management.
• Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations on ecosystem management and nature-based solutions related issues, including advancing the systematic adoption and application of the Red List of Ecosystems.
• Ensure IUCN’s knowledge, recommendations and policies are effectively communicated to identified target users at global, regional and country levels by overseeing the development and implementation of an appropriate strategies for knowledge management and communications.
3. Management and resource mobilization
• Manage the Programme, including human and financial resources, budgets, communications, and planning, assessment and reporting as required by IUCN systems.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality, programmatically aligned project portfolio that is sufficient to deliver the IUCN programme of work on ecosystem management, collaborating closely with the Commission Ecosystem Management (CEM) and IUCN regions and other thematic programmes.
• Lead fundraising for the Ecosystem Management Programme through maintaining strategic relationships with donor and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the Programme.
• Co-convene the Climate Change Job Network in the IUCN Secretariat to strengthen strategic coherence on water among programme units at global, regional and country levels, continuously improve quality, promote collaboration, improve IUCN-wide knowledge management and support development of climate change professionals in IUCN.
• Convene and facilitate advice from associated experts who provide guidance to the ecosystem management related activities of the Union.
• Proactively contribute to and participate in the senior management team of the Nature-based Solutions group with particular emphasis on building and reinforcing a group-wide transparent and accountable management culture
Section B – Competencies
1. Enthusiastic commitment and vision, characterized by:
• A commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use.
• Ability to provide inspiration and strategic direction.
2. Leadership abilities and experience, maturity and management skills, characterized by:
• Unimpeachable integrity as evidenced by behavior, communication style and way of handling ambiguous or difficult situations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead the work of the Secretariat with diverse skills, personalities, and backgrounds.
• Proven ability to effectively delegate, empower and motivate staff and others.
• Experience developing teams and individuals and effectively leading improvement and change.
• Clear commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results, differentiate performance and assertively give feedback and take decisive action when necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to both plan and take action, keeping the staff focused on priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in the selection, coaching and appraisal of staff.
• Demonstrated experience building teams diverse in gender, nationality and background to achieve business results.
3. Senior management experience, characterized by:
• A well-developed sense of managerial self-awareness with an ability to proactively manage individual strengths and weaknesses (including one’s own) and understand how these influence the team’s performance.
• Demonstrated experience and achievements in organizational, financial and personnel management, and in decision-making.
• A commitment to embrace and co-own institutional change processes
• Proven experience in maintaining and nurturing expert networks with demonstrated ability to handle politically and culturally sensitive issues.
• Maintain a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
4. Professional competencies, characterized by:
• Good understanding of world affairs and experience with the workings of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and governmental and non-governmental institutions.
• Recognition among peers in terms of leadership and understanding of social science related issues
• 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.
5. Sound judgment and decision making, characterized by:
• Experience in identifying key issues in a complex situation, and consulting, gathering, and analyzing relevant information before proposing and implementing decisive actions or recommendations.
• Well-organized and logical in thought and action.
• Ability to anticipate, assess and manage risk.
REQUIREMENTS
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• At least 10 years of experience of designing, leading and managing initiatives, programmes and projects aimed at the application of the ecosystem approach to the sustainable management of different biome types, with a particular emphasis on the delivery of local and global societal and environmental benefits. Management of programmes and projects in a developing country context is a distinct advantage. • At least 10 years of experience of proven capacity and skills in leading and managing diverse, multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks involving e.g. government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, development agencies, and scientific and technical bodies. • At least 10 years of proven experience in managing a large team of professionals, including through a decentralized global network. • Demonstrated capacity to successfully design projects according to the latest project appraisal standards. Previous working experience of the GEF or other multilateral funding mechanism would be an additional asset. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences. A second language (French, Spanish) is highly desirable. • Ability to travel frequently. |
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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