Global Head, Nature-based Solutions

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is recruiting a Global Head, Nature-based Solutions to lead a leading programmatic area of work for the organisation. The role sits within the IUCN Centre for Science and Knowledge (CSK), which advances IUCN’s critical work as a leading global authority on conservation science and the curation of IUCN standards, including the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. The Global Head reports to the Director, CSK and is based at IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) refers to actions addressing key societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of both natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being. The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, launched in 2020 and updated in 2025, provides a standardised approach to the design of effective NbS projects. With multiple IUCN teams currently working on NbS-related topics, this role exists to ensure that all activities fall under a single coordinated institutional strategy, optimising IUCN’s leadership and profile on the issue, and developing a recognition scheme for the appropriate application of NbS.

The Global Head will provide day-to-day supervision of the NbS team, including performance management, wellbeing and workflows, and will manage financial resources and projects within approved budget allocations. The position also matrix-manages staff in other teams working on NbS through their own thematic scope. Knowledge facilitation is central to the role: coordinating knowledge sharing and best practices, providing technical oversight and quality assurance for capacity development including training through the IUCN Academy, building NbS capacity of practitioners, governments and communities, and advancing the evidence base in collaboration with IUCN Members, Commissions and Partners. The role also leads global engagements to mainstream and upscale NbS, supports countries in embedding NbS in policies, promotes safeguards and equitable benefit-sharing, and enables public and private NbS investments through finance-readiness criteria and screening tools.

Partnerships and resource mobilisation form a significant portion of the work. The Global Head will convene actors across sectors, advocate for NbS at global policy forums, strengthen collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and proactively engage prospective partners to fundraise for and incubate strategic business developments. The role manages ongoing relationships with funders and framework partners, pursues new funding opportunities for the IUCN Global Standard, and supports institutional frameworks for protecting IUCN’s intellectual property related to the Standard.

The position requires an advanced university degree (typically Master’s level) in a relevant field, 10+ (ideally 15+) years of progressively responsible professional experience, demonstrated line management or formal team leadership experience, a proven track record working with Nature-based Solutions, international experience working with public and private policymakers, and a solid track record of fundraising and resource mobilisation. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required; additional languages are an asset.