Technical Officer, Nature-based Solutions

Background

Nature-based Solutions (NbS), a leading programmatic area of work for IUCN, focuses on 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 NbS, launched in July 2020, provides a standardised approach to the design of effective NbS projects that are ambitious in scale and sustainable, while creating a shared language for stakeholders and facilitating innovative partnerships.

In Asia, IUCN works to mainstream NbS in multi-sectoral policy, investment and practice to address the region’s nature conservation, sustainable development and other critical societal challenges. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders at various levels and scales, IUCN applies high-integrity NbS across its portfolio of collaborative projects and activities – in the region’s major land and water, marine and coastal, and forest and agriculture ecosystems.

The Technical Officer is responsible for overall coordination of the NbS strategic theme of the IUCN Asia programme in collaboration with country, regional and global teams. As member of the Science and Strategy Group (SSG) at the Asia Regional Office (ARO) in Bangkok, Thailand, he/she helps catalyse institutional knowledge and expertise to optimise, harmonise and further enhance IUCN’s established leadership, recognition and reputation for NbS in Asia.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general oversight the Regional Director and direct co-supervision of SSG senior staff, the Technical Officer will:

1. serve as IUCN Asia focal person for NbS,
2. support SSG in growing its region-wide portfolio of NbS-related projects and activities, and
3. engage with Union constituents, partners and donors.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Technical Input and Capacity Development Support

• Serve as NbS specialist and catalyse SSG-wide expertise in the application of NbS to relevant aspects of the IUCN Asia programme.
• Act as NbS resource person and coordinate team-wide effort for capacity building, advisory and outreach activities.
• Promote understanding and uptake of the NbS Global Standard among key decision-makers, practitioners, trainors, finance actors and other key users in the region.
• Support NbS project development, proposal preparation and resource mobilisation by IUCN intra-regional, inter-regional and global teams.
• Facilitate collaboration with research institutions and universities in Asia to advance the science and practice of NbS on specific themes identified by stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of best available NbS knowledge, innovation from practical applications, and case studies for learning, to ensure that these are made available to regional Secretariat, Union constituents and partners.

Programme and Portfolio Facilitation

• Facilitate region-wide NbS programme development, implementation and reporting; support its integration in regional programme agenda and strategy, and its contribution to the Union’s overall programme and vision.
• Promote SSG teamwork, by capitalising on the individual and collective expertise of its staff, to support NbS initiatives across IUCN Asia.
• Assist in managing SSG’s NbS portfolio for effective, efficient delivery of projects in accordance with IUCN institutional and donor guidelines. These include projects currently under development and implementation for water and wetlands, forest, marine and coastal, and agricultural systems.
• Handle day-to-day operations of assigned NbS-related projects and activities, including associated logistical and administrative tasks.

Partnerships and Communications

• Serve as IUCN Asia’s NbS focal person for Secretariat-wide NbS coordination units including the IUCN Academy, inter-regional collaboration teams and for Union regional constituents; represent IUCN Asia in external partnership platforms and knowledge-sharing events as assigned by supervisor/s.
• Facilitate IUCN Asia’s NbS community of practice to foster collaboration among regional, subregional and country teams for the strategic theme.
• Contribute to the development of NbS knowledge products drawn from documentation of project/programme experiences, and to dissemination and outreach targeting key stakeholder-group audiences.

In addition to the above, the Technical Officer may carry out other relevant tasks assigned by and mutually agreed with supervisor/s.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental and natural resources management, applied physical and biological sciences and other related fields; additional professional trainings/ certifications would be an advantage.
• Foundational knowledge and expertise on:
  1. NbS and related ecosystem-based approaches.
  2. high-integrity NbS application through the Global Standard.
  3. operational methods and tools for assessing, designing and implementing NbS.
  4. incorporating NbS in integrated approaches to address climate, biodiversity and other societal challenges.
• At least three years of NbS-relevant professional experience in the Asian context covering:
  1. programme/project coordination.
  2. capacity building and technical outreach.
  3. policy engagement and partnership building.
  4. development of knowledge products and information materials.
• Demonstrated capacity to work harmoniously and productively with interdisciplinary, multi-cultural teams; commitment to IUCN’s standard and norms for ethical conduct.
• Excellent command of English as demonstrated through written outputs and oral presentations; proficiency in any Asian local languages is an asset.
• Operational skills in using Microsoft Office suite, geospatial and statistical software, project management tools and other computer/digital applications.
• Willingness to undertake domestic and international duty travel, and to perform time-sensitive tasks for ensuring timely delivery of assigned outputs.

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.