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Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) Lower Mekong Coordinator

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Background

Fauna & Flora, in partnership with SNV, the Netherlands Development Organization, and IUCN, is implementing a 7-year biodiversity conservation landscape project entitled the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) Lower Mekong Landscape Project. The project aims to conserve and enhance biodiversity in more than one million hectares of the Annamite Mountains, incorporating three large forest complexes in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.

BLF’s overarching aim is to reduce poverty and create sustainable economic opportunities for those communities, through the delivery of lasting landscape protection, sustainable management, and restoration, safeguarding biodiversity, and maintaining and improving ecosystem quality. The project is funded by the UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The project will be delivered through six components covering:(1) livelihoods, tenure, and illegal wildlife trade; (2) agriculture and markets; (3) infrastructure and development; (4) ecotourism; (5) protected area management; and (6) management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). IUCN is leading components 3 and 4 regionally and component 5 in Lao PDR.

BLF Lower Mekong is managed by Fauna & Flora’s regional office in Phnom Penh. IUCN has offices in Hanoi, Vientiane, and Phom Penh.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to coordinate all of IUCN’s BLF activities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The position will report to the Head, Lower Mekong Sub-region and be based in IUCN’s office in either Phnom Penh or Vientiane. Major tasks across all three countries are:

  • Work closely with IUCN technical teams in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam to monitor and report on progress across all components.
  • Lead IUCN’s ecotourism work regionally and provide technical assistance and oversight of activities across all components.
  • Lead MEL activities and actively engage in the BLF Independent Evaluator exchange sessions and learning process.
  • Support BLF communications in compliance with the BLF Grant Handbook and DEFRA policies.
  • Lead preparation of technical reports.
  • Lead preparation of quarterly, 6-monthly, and annual workplans.
  • Work with IUCN country finance officers to ensure that activity costs are included in quarterly budgets.
  • Participate in BLF senior management team.
  • Work with country staff to secure and document match funds.
  • Undertake any other tasks commensurate with the position that may be requested of you, from time-to-time, by your Line Manager.

Requirements

  • MS degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline
  • Minimum of 5 years of project management experience with a focus on protected areas or biodiversity conservation, and at least 6 month’s experience in a foreign country and/or pertinent experience within a truly multinational environment, ideally in the Lower Mekong region.
  • Able to build collaborative relationships across remote diverse and dispersed teams, demonstrating cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Adaptability and flexibility to work in a dynamic and evolving regional context.
  • Demonstrate effective leadership and people management skills to ensure a professional and motivated team delivers against project objectives and timelines.
  • Understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks within which IUCN operates, as well as a commitment to organisational, donor, and legal compliance
  • Proven experience in coordination and implementation of large-scale conservation projects.
  • Expertise in ecotourism, protected area management, and biodiversity conservation is highly desirable.
  • Relevant experience in leading Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) work, ensuring effective tracking of project progress and outcomes.
  • Excellent prioritization and time management skills, with ability to work on multiple deadlines
  • Willingness to travel frequently in the Lower Mekong region to join and oversee project activities.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English.
  • Microsoft Office skills and experience with data management systems.

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.

To apply for this job please visit hrms.iucn.org.