Field Operations Associate – Pigeon Island Seascape

Background

As a local recruitment, this position will be based in Nilaweli / Trincomalee. Only Sri Lankan residents are eligible to apply. Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the closing date. A revision to IUCN Sri Lanka’s salary scales is currently in progress. The revised scales will ensure that all staff receive a fair and consistent salary. The changes will be implemented gradually over the coming year.

IUCN is a Membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable nature conservation, human progress and economic development to take place together. IUCN Sri Lanka’s programs support sustainable natural resource management initiatives of Members and Partners.

Under the financial assistance of Global Fund for Coral Reef (GFCR), IUCN, receive funding for the Phase I of the 6-year project to establish Sri Lanka Coral Reef initiative (SLCRI). The proposed project will enhance aims to identify the stable coral reefs and empower multiple stakeholders towards protecting those coral reefs from extinction by unlocking finances, innovative partnerships, use of technology, best practices to reduce pressure on healthy coral reef ecosystems that demonstrate resilience to climate change and through the transferring of knowledge.

To support effective delivery of intended outputs of the Phase I of the project, development of the subsequent Phases of the project, assist project cycle management and assist professional networking with Government, Private Sector and other stakeholder entities, IUCN seeks a suitable candidate for the position of the Field Operations Associate (FOA). He/She will be locally recruited and be responsible for assist project manager of SLCRI, including following key responsibilities and specific duties.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct guidance of Programme Coordinator and Project Manager, the FOA is required to oversee the Pigeon Island seascape of SLCRI to support on achieving four outcomes of the project. Significantly, the Site Officer will be responsible in supporting the stakeholder consultations for establishing co-management platforms and to work closely work closely with communities to develop the conservation trust fund, identifying feasible business models and research-based business as coral friendly livelihoods for the coral-dependent communities.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Provide day-to-day technical and administration support to project manager to implement project activities in selected seascape.
• Ensure smooth and coherent seascape level project implementation, including organizing field level workshop, surveys, and stakeholder consultation under the guidance of PM.
• Facilitate to establish and maintain seascape level co-management committees, community conservation group and conservation trust fund.
• Laise and building strong partnerships with local and regional-level stakeholders specially with the relevant government agencies.
• Organize and implement public information and involvement programme in the selected seascapes so that the general-public, private sector, investors, and community-based organizations understand and embrace the aims of the Project.
• Slowly get to know to the local community and its environs and carry out a public consultation to inform people about the seascape design and the potential business opportunities and answer questions that people have.
• Coordinate and oversee the collection of data required for local land-use plans and the development of coral-positive livelihood-focused interventions.
• Support the project manager, partner organizations and FEMA team during the seascape design process with reference to providing socio-economic and biophysical data for the selected seascapes.
• Carry out a slow and steady plan to introduce businesses and training programmes to make a transformational shift of communities to protect coral refugia with implementing partners.

Requirements

Competencies:

• A demonstrated ability to take the initiative in difficult situations.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and public relations skills.
• Able to live and work in remote areas.
• Organizing field level workshops, surveys, and stakeholder consultation.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or GCE Advanced Level qualification.

Experience:

• For candidates with bachelor’s degree at least 5 years of work experience in the field of coastal and marine conservation, consensus building with communities and community organizations regarding natural resource management at field level position.
• For candidates with GCE AL qualification require similar experience of at least 10 years.
• Experience in project funded projects, preferably working experience with international agencies.

Languages/Other:

• Good written and spoken knowledge of English.
• Fluency in the Sinhala language is essential, and working knowledge in Tamil will give an added advantage.
• Computer literacy including Microsoft Office and use of multi-media.

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.