Regional Head – Protected Areas & Biodiversity

Background

Our mission is “To influence, encourage & assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity & diversity of nature & to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable & ecologically sustainable.”

IUCN is a world leader in developing knowledge and understanding for effective conservation action. As unique worldwide partnership, IUCN brings together states, government agencies & NGO members, and some 10,000 scientists & experts in a global web of networks to provide a neutral forum for dialogue and action on environment & sustainable development issues.

The IUCN Central and West Africa Office is seeking a Regional Head for its Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme to serve as a senior member that delivers the technical programme of IUCN in Central and West Africa and that helps set strategic direction and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on Protected Areas and biodiversity conservation in the region.

The Regional Head will develop, resource, and manage IUCN’s Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme activities in the region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN Centres, Programmes, Members, Commissions and partners. The successful candidate is responsible for the overall management of the Programme activities, to ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “One Programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s Protected Areas Conservation Framework and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities.

Job Description

The Regional Head, Protected Areas and Biodiversity specific duties include:

1. Take a lead role in the development of the Regional Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme through providing strategic and technical vision and guidance:
   • Ensure effective and institutionally aligned programming and project implementation;
   • Provide systematic monitoring and evaluation of on-going programmatic activities;
   • Maintain coherent and consistent communication of lessons learnt to key decision-makers within the region;
   • Provide technical advice, guidance and support on protected areas and biodiversity to Project Offices and/or Country Offices and act as the focal point for protected areas and biodiversity related activities particularly with Members, Commissions, partners and other IUCN component programmes as required;
   • Work with colleagues in the Region and Headquarter on protected areas and biodiversity issues to ensure that they function as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in the policy statements, and a high quality of technical and policy advice is given to field programmes and projects;
   • Coordinate the development, analysis and dissemination of protected areas and biodiversity policy relevant to the Region and other networks in the most effective way;
2. Ensure the Programme and Projects portfolio coordination and management
   • Oversee the development and implementation of annual budgets and work plans and provide a timely progress report of the Programme financial and technical activities in accordance with IUCN’s practices.
   • Supervise staff and lead capacity development on issues related to protected areas and biodiversity management in component programmes.
3. Support the development of partnerships and resources mobilization
   • Oversee the development and implementation of any relevant protected areas and biodiversity conservation initiatives in the Region and lead fundraising for the Regional Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme through development of proposals, maintaining good relationships with donor and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the Programme.
   • Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations on issues of mutual interest for the Regional Programme and for IUCN Regional Office as a whole.
   • Provide, where needed, guidance and support to the development and implementation of IUCN cross cutting Initiatives.
   • Work closely with IUCN Country offices, Project Offices and other thematic programmes as well as with IUCN Members and Commissions to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding in the Region.
4. Ensure IUCN Central and West Africa Office representation and visibility
   • Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant regional, international fora and negotiations in Central and West Africa;
   • Coordinate the representation and the participation of IUCN in major global events for interest to the Region and oversee the strategy to roll out for effective partnerships development and resources mobilization.
5. Other responsibilities
   • Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Requirements

• The position requires significant coordination and oversight skills, strategic and technical guidance, technical knowledge in programme management, experience in the region and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in spite of urgent deadlines.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters/Ph.D.) including in conservation biology, natural sciences, programme management or related fields.
  1. Work Experience
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in nature conservation related projects and programme development and management.
• Relevant working experience on issues related to protected areas and biodiversity conservation.
• Exposure to and knowledge of major protected areas issues, both on policy and field related dimensions.
• Demonstrated fundraising, budgeting and programme planning ability.
• Demonstrated outstanding skills in network development and network administration and ability to achieve results through networking in cross-cultural situations.
• Lead and inspire multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven writing and speaking ability.
• Demonstrated spoken and written fluency in French and English.
• Advanced computer processing skills.

Salary

The minimum gross annual salary for this position is EUR 59’026. 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.