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Legal Officer 3

Vacancy #:   5950
Unit:   ELC - Programme Support
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   European Regional Office Germany, Bonn, Germany
Reporting to:   Head, Environmental Law
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   15 September 2022
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (12 months)
Closing date:   29 May 2022 (extended)
BACKGROUND
The Environmental Law Team (ELT) is the principal source of environmental policy, governance and legal expertise in the IUCN Programme. The work of the ELT is carried out by the staff located in the IUCN Environmental Law Centre (ELC) in Bonn, Germany, in collaboration with IUCN Regional Offices worldwide and the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL).

The ELT primary areas of work are:
• The conceptual development of environmental law and policy.
• The provision of technical advice to implement environmental law at multiple levels.
• The strengthening of national and local capacities to foster effective implementation of environmental law and institutional development.
• The development of information and knowledge tools to enable informed decision-making.


At present, the ELT working areas relate to governance and legal issues on biological diversity, climate change, protected areas, Nature based Solutions, oceans, water, and transboundary natural resources more generally.
The Environmental Law Centre in Bonn, Germany maintains the world’s premier environmental law information service: ECOLEX –The Gateway to Environmental Law, a partnership between IUCN, FAO and UNEP.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the ELT, the Legal Officer will support and assist in developing and implementing the ELT’s project portfolio in the area of land use.
Working closely with other staff at the ELC, the legal officer will provide inputs needed for implementation of existing projects, support the development and expansion of the ELT portfolio and contribute to monitoring and reporting on project implementation.
In close collaboration with other staff, the legal officer will support ELT’s work in the area of land, biodiversity and ecosystems, looking in particular at the following substantive areas:

• Sustainable agriculture
• Spatial planning
• Land use planning
• Land tenure and land rights
Key functions

Specific focus on the implementation of the Environmental Law component within the IUCN programme:

• Play a major role in the implementation of the environmental law work programme, especially with regard to legal issues relating to land use and sustainable agriculture and the development of major knowledge products.
• Concept development and project management, in particular on legal issues related to land use, land planning and sustainable agriculture including rights related issues at national, regional and global levels.
• Carry out selected project-related duties, such as preparing contracts and monitoring project activities, budget implementation, and project reporting requirements.
• Search and identify potential sources of funding, proposals development.
• Contribute to programming and reporting for the ELT.
• Organize and lead project related activities, meetings, workshops, and dialogues in the area of his/her work.


Other general duties pertaining to the work of the Environmental Law Centre:

• Ensure that the ELT expertise on the legal and institutional aspects of land uses and agriculture is available to policy and decision makers.
• Collaborate with staff based at the ELC, IUCN Headquarters and regional offices, and with WCEL members in project-related development work.
• Develop and prepare IUCN environmental law-related reports, publications, and information materials.
• Represent the ELT in relevant meetings and conferences, as appropriate.
• Take up any appropriate duties within the areas of work assigned by the ELT management.
REQUIREMENTS
  • Master of Laws or equivalent with strong academic records and emphasis on environmental law, including significant experience in biodiversity legal issues, in particular, wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade.

• A minimum of five years of increasingly responsible work experience in those fields. Work experience in developing countries is desirable.

• Proven experience in developing, fundraising and managing projects, in particular in managing large complex projects involving budgets of minimum EUR 1 million.

• Excellent research, writing and analysical skills needed as well as an ability to work both independently and in a small, multi-cultural team.

• Experience in facilitating and participating with NGOs, volunteer networks or civil society is an advantage.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills.

• Computer literacy in basic office applications and the internet.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, including to a non-legal audience.

• Speaking and writing skills in English and French is essential.

• Willingness to undertake significant levels of work-related travel.

• ONLY CANDIDATES WITH ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS STATED ABOVE ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
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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