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Wednesday, 20 May 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
Due to maintenance work, our HR Management System might be inaccessible
on
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
World Heritage Programme Assistant
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BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is one of the most prestigious international agreements which aims to protect the world’s remaining natural and cultural places of outstanding universal value (OUV). The World Heritage List comprises those sites which both meet the rigorous criteria for OUV and that in principle should have the highest standards of care and management. Natural World Heritage sites are often considered as nature's “crown jewels” and include sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef.
IUCN has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites. This role mainly involves four functions: (1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List; (2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties; (3) promoting a range of training and capacity building initiatives; and (4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention. In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas, and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and from other programmes and Commissions as appropriate. Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention and are financially supported by a contract with UNESCO.
World Heritage is one of the “flagship” products of IUCN and is an integral part of the work of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. It is seen as making a central contribution to the achievement of the Core Programme Area of IUCN on “Conserving Biodiversity”. It also has potential to contribute to other Thematic Programme Areas, and is a key communication tool for IUCN’s work. There is considerable potential for expanding the role of the World Heritage Convention to ensure that natural world heritage sites are used effectively to promote conservation and development efforts worldwide. IUCN is uniquely placed to influence the World Heritage Convention to achieve this.
The World Heritage Convention is a prestigious intergovernmental agreement which aims to conserve the world’s natural and cultural places of so-called outstanding universal value. Natural World Heritage sites are considered as nature's “crown jewels” and include emblematic sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef.
IUCN has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites. This role mainly involves four functions: (1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List; (2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties; (3) promoting training and capacity development initiatives; and (4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention. In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme, and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and from other programmes and Commissions as appropriate. Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention.
World Heritage is one of the “flagship” products of IUCN and is an integral part of the work of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. It is also a key communication tool for IUCN’s work.
The World Heritage Programme comprises a small team of staff based at IUCN Headquarters, and also supports the work of focal points based in IUCN regional offices.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is one of the most prestigious international agreements which aims to protect the world’s remaining natural and cultural places of outstanding universal value (OUV). The World Heritage List comprises those sites which both meet the rigorous criteria for OUV and that in principle should have the highest standards of care and management. Natural World Heritage sites are often considered as nature's “crown jewels” and include sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef.
IUCN has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites. This role mainly involves four functions: (1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List; (2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties; (3) promoting a range of training and capacity building initiatives; and (4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention. In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas, and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and from other programmes and Commissions as appropriate. Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention and are financially supported by a contract with UNESCO.
World Heritage is one of the “flagship” products of IUCN and is an integral part of the work of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. It is seen as making a central contribution to the achievement of the Core Programme Area of IUCN on “Conserving Biodiversity”. It also has potential to contribute to other Thematic Programme Areas, and is a key communication tool for IUCN’s work. There is considerable potential for expanding the role of the World Heritage Convention to ensure that natural world heritage sites are used effectively to promote conservation and development efforts worldwide. IUCN is uniquely placed to influence the World Heritage Convention to achieve this.
The World Heritage Convention is a prestigious intergovernmental agreement which aims to conserve the world’s natural and cultural places of so-called outstanding universal value. Natural World Heritage sites are considered as nature's “crown jewels” and include emblematic sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef.
IUCN has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites. This role mainly involves four functions: (1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List; (2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties; (3) promoting training and capacity development initiatives; and (4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention. In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme, and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and from other programmes and Commissions as appropriate. Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention.
World Heritage is one of the “flagship” products of IUCN and is an integral part of the work of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. It is also a key communication tool for IUCN’s work.
The World Heritage Programme comprises a small team of staff based at IUCN Headquarters, and also supports the work of focal points based in IUCN regional offices.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Programme and Cost Centre administration
• Provide day to day support to the World Heritage Programme including implementation of administrative procedures, filing, organization of staff meetings and compliance with IUCN monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the preparation of consultant contracts and payments for the cost centre and for cost centre managed projects (including Internal Agreements).
• Update the IUCN Knowledge Network (intranet) / ERP Portals with cost centre information, work plan and budget.
• Act as the cost centre administrative focal point, handling all general administrative requests.
• Coordinate logistical organization and attendance of World Heritage Programme staff and delegations at international meetings (including the World Heritage Committee and related meetings).
2. World Heritage technical administration
Manage the following technical processes within the Evaluation work of the World Heritage Programme to required standards and deadlines:
• Coordinate and contract site evaluators and provide appropriate supervision of their work prior to and post missions, with technical support provided by colleagues in the Programme.
• Coordinate the desktop review process for the new World Heritage nominations.
• Organize the World Heritage Panel meeting in November-December of the year, and subsequent follow up meetings.
• Administrate the production and do the layout of the IUCN Evaluation Report in English and French versions and manage its dispatch.
Contribute to the following technical processes within the work of the World Heritage Programme:
• Assisting with logistical and administrative aspects of World Heritage monitoring missions and meetings as well as Capacity Building workshops by managing contracts procedures and payments.
• Tracking and filing correspondence from UNESCO and IUCN’s network of experts.
• Maintenance and organization of information within the World Heritage filing system.
3. Budgeting and financial management
• Undertake the day-to-day financial administration of the cost centre, including monitoring income and expenditure against budget for all cost centre managed projects to support effective and timely delivery of project outputs and reporting by project managers.
• Provide support to the Director of Programme in respect of financial planning, budgeting and financial administration.
• Be the NAV purchaser for the Programme, report any issues and attend trainings or information sessions.
• Maintain effective liaison with the Global Finance Group, in respect of corporate financial management, reporting and auditing procedures, in accordance with the roll-out of the ERP system.
• Provide information and support for internal and external oversight and audit functions as required.
4. Communications and publications
• Proofread and copy-edit, and support translation of written materials, project reports, proposals and donor reports as required in English and/or French.
• Maintain the stock of IUCN technical publications on World Heritage, and assist the World Heritage Programme in the administration of printing and production of documents.
• Assist in updating the World Heritage related pages of the IUCN website, including uploading of content, maintaining links and ensuring information is up to date and accurate.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organization 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 job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee's responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.
• Provide day to day support to the World Heritage Programme including implementation of administrative procedures, filing, organization of staff meetings and compliance with IUCN monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the preparation of consultant contracts and payments for the cost centre and for cost centre managed projects (including Internal Agreements).
• Update the IUCN Knowledge Network (intranet) / ERP Portals with cost centre information, work plan and budget.
• Act as the cost centre administrative focal point, handling all general administrative requests.
• Coordinate logistical organization and attendance of World Heritage Programme staff and delegations at international meetings (including the World Heritage Committee and related meetings).
2. World Heritage technical administration
Manage the following technical processes within the Evaluation work of the World Heritage Programme to required standards and deadlines:
• Coordinate and contract site evaluators and provide appropriate supervision of their work prior to and post missions, with technical support provided by colleagues in the Programme.
• Coordinate the desktop review process for the new World Heritage nominations.
• Organize the World Heritage Panel meeting in November-December of the year, and subsequent follow up meetings.
• Administrate the production and do the layout of the IUCN Evaluation Report in English and French versions and manage its dispatch.
Contribute to the following technical processes within the work of the World Heritage Programme:
• Assisting with logistical and administrative aspects of World Heritage monitoring missions and meetings as well as Capacity Building workshops by managing contracts procedures and payments.
• Tracking and filing correspondence from UNESCO and IUCN’s network of experts.
• Maintenance and organization of information within the World Heritage filing system.
3. Budgeting and financial management
• Undertake the day-to-day financial administration of the cost centre, including monitoring income and expenditure against budget for all cost centre managed projects to support effective and timely delivery of project outputs and reporting by project managers.
• Provide support to the Director of Programme in respect of financial planning, budgeting and financial administration.
• Be the NAV purchaser for the Programme, report any issues and attend trainings or information sessions.
• Maintain effective liaison with the Global Finance Group, in respect of corporate financial management, reporting and auditing procedures, in accordance with the roll-out of the ERP system.
• Provide information and support for internal and external oversight and audit functions as required.
4. Communications and publications
• Proofread and copy-edit, and support translation of written materials, project reports, proposals and donor reports as required in English and/or French.
• Maintain the stock of IUCN technical publications on World Heritage, and assist the World Heritage Programme in the administration of printing and production of documents.
• Assist in updating the World Heritage related pages of the IUCN website, including uploading of content, maintaining links and ensuring information is up to date and accurate.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organization 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 job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee's responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.
REQUIREMENTS
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• • First University degree in business administration or commercial/ secretarial diploma • Sound administrative/coordination skills, including contract administration, logistical coordination and event preparation, travel planning and management of agendas • Minimum five years’ experience with progressively increasing responsibilities • Thorough knowledge of modern office procedures and proven ability to work in the Windows environment (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Outlook) and to use the internet • Fluent in English; working ability in French highly desirable, Spanish or other languages are a distinct advantage • Track record of working as a team member as well as independently, demonstrating application of initiative in problem solving and trouble-shooting, creativity and flexibility • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Ability to work in a multilingual and multicultural setting • Personal diplomacy and discretion • Interest in global environmental issues an advantage. |
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 73'019 and CHF 91'274, 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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