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Technical Assistant

Vacancy #:   2866
Unit:   ORMACC - Biodiversity and Rights
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Barbados Project Office, Bridgetown, Barbados
Reporting to:   Protected Areas Coordinator, BIOPAMA Programme
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   A3
Expected start date:   01 October 2018
Type of contract:   Indefinite
Closing date:   13 September 2018
BACKGROUND
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
IUCN work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the United Nations and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
IUCN is the oldest and largest environmental organisation in the world, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and around 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. Its work is supported by a team of over 1,000 people in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.

About the Project:

The Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) programme aims to contribute to improving the long-term conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, in protected areas and surrounding communities through better use and monitoring of information and capacity development on management and governance. The programme continues from the first phase (2011-2017) to build and reinforce institutional and technical capacity at the regional, national and site levels for improved protected area (PA) and biodiversity management; with access to and application of data and information related to biodiversity and PA management and governance being used to inform and strengthen policy decisions and management actions; and the implementation of a substantially funded, high profile grants program, comprising small to medium sized grants, to support specific actions on the ground in priority conservation landscapes that are aimed at strengthening PA and natural resource management effectiveness and governance.

This second phase (2017-2023) is an initiative of the ACP Group financially supported by the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and jointly implemented by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC). The Biodiversity and Rights Unit within the IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (IUCN-ORMACC) is responsible for implementing BIOPAMA in the Caribbean, alongside the University of the West Indies (UWI). The UWI is the host of the regional Observatory for Biodiversity and PA management, called the “Caribbean Protected Areas Gateway” (Caribbean Gateway).

The Caribbean Gateway is part of a series of interlinked but regionally centred Observatories established under phase I, and is operated at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) a department within the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. The Caribbean Gateway (http://caribbean-rris.biopama.org) is a resource hub for facilitating and promoting viable decisions and policies by decision makers and resource managers for effective and sustainable management of protected areas and biodiversity. It is building on global efforts for collecting data directly from the ground, from national services, and from regional and international institutions holding relevant information inter alia on biodiversity, pressures, and threats.

The Technical Assistant will provide administrative and technical support to the BIOPAMA staff in general and in particular to the BIOPAMA Regional Coordinator, responsible for ensuring and overseeing timely and effective implementation of BIOPAMA in the Caribbean. The Technical Assistant will also work alongside the staff of the Caribbean Gateway, including the Technical Officer and the Communications Officer who have responsibility for overseeing the operation and management of the Caribbean Gateway and for coordinating the communications efforts of the BIOPAMA programme in the Caribbean, respectively.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The technical assistant will work on matters related to inter alia supporting the regional implementation of the Action Component; the organization, logistics, coordination of and reporting on workshops and meetings; liaising with various national level stakeholders and maintaining a stakeholder contact database; developing and maintaining an annual calendar of national, regional and international meetings and events of relevance to BIOPAMA.

The assistant will also be in charge of providing administrative support to the BIOPAMA programme (e.g. file management, correspondence, document processing, data updates, logistical support to meetings, hotel reservations, plane tickets, etc.).

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Develop a thorough understanding of the BIOPAMA programme including the Action Component mechanism
2.Support the Protected Areas Officer in the implementation of the Caribbean work plan for the BIOPAMA programme.
3.Support the implementation of all processes required at regional level for the roll out and management of grants under the Action Component and ensuring that they are delivered in a timely, effective and accurate manner
4.Support the development of technical and financial reports to the project donor
5.Prepare technical documents, reports of events, and develop, review and edit documents upon request of the Protected Areas Officer
6.Support in the production of content to generate communication products
7.Prepare documents such as consultancy contracts and agreements, provide proper follow up on the same for internal approval
8.Prepare overall payment requests for service providers, consultancies and agreements
9.Control and follow up on the disbursement processes for contracts and agreements by monitoring product deadlines
10.Prepare correspondence for distribution via email or regular mail
11.Support the organization of local, national and regional meetings and workshops including managing overall logistical support (i.e. hotel reservations, venue and catering arrangements, purchase of plane tickets, drafting and preparation of invitations, etc.)
12.Request quotations for goods and services
13.Analyze content of technical-scientific publications on related topics to facilitate decision-making within the project and/or prepare technical documents
14.Any other administrative and/or technical tasks upon request of the Protected Areas Officer
REQUIREMENTS
  • First degree in environmental sciences, sustainable development or related fields

• Outstanding English (verbal/written) with excellent communication and presentation skills; Spanish and/French is a plus

• Knowledge and understanding of the environmental and social context of the Caribbean

• Proficient in using email, internet and MS Office applications (MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint, etc.)

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, and to establish effective working relationships both within and outside the organization

• Availability to travel regionally and internationally when required

• Proactive, responsible and enthusiastic individual

• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Ability to handle complex situations and provide solutions
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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