Field Operations Assistant

Background

The Project “Enhancing Climate Resilience for Biodiversity Hotspots in Jordan” aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable ecosystems and communities to the impacts of climate change. These communities depend on natural resources, making their well-being tied to the health of the ecosystems.

The project’s ultimate outcome will result in conserved and sustained ecosystem services for the benefit of local communities dependent on protected areas and the ecosystems conserved through these protected areas, which will contribute to poverty reduction across all sites where protected areas exist. The project’s pilot interventions, including Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the target locations in Petra and Shoubak, will have a direct impact on enhancing the livelihoods and income of vulnerable communities through an extensive capacity-building program that will target women, girls, and youth, and by engaging them in the FLR and NbS activities. This will not only enhance their income but will also improve their skills to achieve sustainable financial income.

Job Description

IUCN-ROWA is hiring a full-time Field Operations Officer to oversee site-based activities and represent the “Enhancing Climate Resilience for Biodiversity Hotspots in Jordan Project/Taziz” on the ground. This role includes managing administrative tasks related to contracting volunteers from the local communities at the project sites in Shoubak and Petra, coordinating with various stakeholders, local communities, and project management. The Field Operations Officer will also lead the implementation of field activities in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator, aiming to achieve project objectives and ensure smooth operational execution.

Key Responsibilities:

The Field Operations Officer will be tasked to coordinate and manage field activities related to Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). As the primary point of contact for the project in the targeted areas, the officer will liaise with project stakeholders and the team, support and facilitate the execution of project activities, and carry out the following responsibilities:

Field activities planning, implementation and monitoring:

• Participate in the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) activities planning process in the targeted sites.
• Coordinate and report the day-to-day implementation of the project activities in cooperation with the project team and in close coordination with the Project Coordinator.
• Foster good working relationships with the Project’s stakeholders, partners and target groups at the local level (local volunteers, Ministry of Agriculture (MoAg), Petra Tourism Development Regional Authority. community leaders, local communities’ members, CBOs and others).
• Organize and facilitate the meetings in field in coordination with the Project Coordinator and the Community Engagement Consultant.
• Support, whenever needed and possible, the implementation of the project activities in other localities within the project geographical sphere.

Administrative (including financial) responsibilities:

• Handle the administrative mechanisms in coordination with the Project Technical and Administrative Assistant and the Project Coordinator (contracting, payments, field reports, documentations, follow-up sheets…), particularly the progress and achievements made, challenges faced and proposing solutions.
• Co-coordinate the organization of all site-based workshops and meetings as defined in the project plans.
• Assist in providing documentation related to the progress and financial reports to the project team in accordance with the reporting schedule and guidelines.

Duration of the Contract: One year contract with potential extension

Required Skills and Experience

• The service provider should provide CVs for the two experts the translator and the excel expert:
• At least 3 years of experience in field operations related to environmental conservation, tourism, business administration, or similar areas.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in development projects focused on sustainable development.
• Experience in managing biodiversity projects is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of the project’s targeted areas (Shoubak and Petra), including their tribal distribution, villages, landscapes, biodiversity, social context, and local culture.
• Good understanding of biodiversity, protected areas, and natural heritage concepts.
• Essential ability to grasp the local communication context and effectively engage with local communities.
• Demonstrated capability to collaborate with diverse groups, including government officials, national NGOs, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, independent, with good judgment and the ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to travel between various locations within the project areas and engage with different local communities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: effective communicator at all levels, from local decision-makers to grassroots communities; strong presentation, networking, and partnership-building skills; proficient in negotiation and facilitation.
• Strong work ethic: well-organized, able to meet deadlines, committed to delivering high-quality work on time, and adaptable to challenging conditions (such as tight deadlines and conflicts).
• Proficiency in Arabic, including technical reporting, with excellent oral and written communication skills. Fluency in English is an advantage.

Supervision and coordination

• The officer will report to and work under the supervision of the coordinator of the project “Enhancing Climate Resilience of Biodiversity hotspots in Jordan

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.