IUCN’s Science & Knowledge Unit, within the Science & Economic Knowledge Team, supports the Union in maintaining: a) data and knowledge products mobilized against IUCN standards; b) relationships with peer conservation science-related networks; c) a culture of science and knowledge; and d) the development and production of IUCN’s flagship report. In addition, the Science & Knowledge Unit implements a portfolio of projects, for example, in supporting scientific aspects of the implementation of IUCN Resolutions, and in fulfilling scientific needs from other IUCN Programme Units.

The Conservation Scientist will support the execution of the portfolio of projects through the Science & Knowledge Unit, within the Science & Economic Knowledge Team. Application of data and knowledge products mobilised against IUCN standards will be a common theme, and these are expected to be harnessed as appropriate in all projects. Most if not all Science & Economic Knowledge projects will be implemented jointly with the IUCN Commissions and/or with peer conservation science -related institutions and networks, both among the IUCN Membership and beyond it (e.g., the Global Environment Facility). Most if not all projects will also anticipate written outputs for publication into the peer reviewed literature, either into independent scientific journals or as IUCN publications, as well as presentations in scientific and policy-related conferences and other fora. The Conservation Scientist will serve a substantial role in supporting the development of the IUCN flagship report, especially in supporting the coordination, data compilation, analysis, visualization, and publications aspects of the report. Likewise, the Conservation Scientist will also serve a substantial role in supporting the coordination of new work on science-based targets for species biodiversity. Finally, the Conservation Scientist will support project management involving tracking and reporting on the Science & Knowledge Unit project portfolio, and liaison with the GPOU for budget management aspects.
For the first year of employment it is anticipated that 100% of time will be spent on Science and Knowledge Unit projects; however, from the second year onwards, up to 15% of the Conservation Scientist’s time may be supported through engagement in IUCN ORMACC and SUR projects. As the Conservation Scientist will be based in San Jose at IUCN’s ORMACC office, and in line with the above-mentioned related responsibilities, it is anticipated that the Conservation Scientist will work with ORMACC and SUR data and information mobilization, written outputs for publication, and data analysis for the preparation of presentations in fora and conferences. The Conservation Scientist will receive support and will coordinate with the specialized staff from ORMACC and SUR on key IUCN themes such as Protected Areas; World Heritage; Green List; Landscape restoration; Climate change and Ecosystem-based adaptation; Coastal and Marine management; Governance and Rights.)
11. SPECIFIC DUTIES:
•Support the implementation of Science & Knowledge projects, in particular through the development of the metrics and methods for science-based targets for biodiversity, including coordination, meeting and event organization and preparation, GIS analyses, publications, and liaising with the broader network of stakeholders and contributing to novel analysis; including for ORMACC/SUR related positioning after the first year. Anticipated time: 40%
•Undertake a substantial role in supporting development of the IUCN flagship report, especially in supporting the coordination, data compilation, analysis, visualization, and publications aspects of the report. Anticipated time: 30%.
•Support the application of the data and knowledge products mobilised against IUCN standards (including but not limited to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Red List of Ecosystems, the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas, and the World Database of Protected Areas) as appropriate in all projects, including contributing to novel analyses (e.g., of agriculture as a driver of extinction risk). Anticipated time: 10%.
•Support dissemination of results, with particular attention to integrating data from Mesoamerica, South America, and the Caribbean through (a) presentations in scientific and policy-related conferences and other fora and (b) publication into the peer reviewed literature, either into independent scientific journals or as IUCN publications. Anticipated time: 10%.
•Fulfil project management responsibilities for substantive tracking and reporting on the Science & Knowledge Unit project portfolio, and liaison with the GPOU on budget management aspects. Anticipated time: 10%.
•Engagement with other ORMACC/SUR projects and key institutional i. Anticipated time: up to 15% after the first year.
•Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Please Note: The above TORs contain the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However in an ever evolving organisation such as IUCN staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular TORs. Where any task becomes a regular part of staff member’s responsibilities, the TORs should be changed in consultation between the manager, the staff member and the HR Unit. Any one of the three may initiate the consultation.