BACKGROUND

IUCN’s Business & Nature Global Team is responsible for developing and delivering a coherent and impactful programme of work that leverages IUCN’s knowledge, tools, metrics, and approaches to accelerate the adoption by companies of practices that deliver nature positive outcomes and societal benefits. This programme is delivered primarily through the development of private sector and public partnerships and action at the corporate, sectoral, supply chain, and regulatory levels. It is centred around three key work areas: (1) data, metrics and knowledge products for effective private sector deployment; (2) innovative investment pipeline development; and, (3) technical support & analytics. All of which is implemented through a diverse project portfolio delivered in collaboration with IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices, thematic teams, and members.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY

The Senior Programme Officer, Business & Nature is responsible for the development, management and technical implementation of a portfolio of collaborative partnerships with global companies and public actors in sectors with important impacts on biodiversity (including but not limited to the metals and mining, aggregates, paper & pulp, or chemicals industries) to support the delivery of measurable Nature Positive outcomes aligned with IUCN Programme targets, whilst generating high quality knowledge and learning. In doing so, s/he will be expected to collaborate with IUCN thematic Teams, IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices, as well as with Commissions, and members as necessary and to ensure that lessons learnt are integrated into the programmes policy and knowledge work.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, Business & Nature and in close coordination with the team and its Head, the main duties and responsibilities include:

1. Portfolio development and implementation
– Lead the development and implementation of technical proposals to the private sector that leverage IUCN’s data, metrics and knowledge products as well as IUCN’s technical support & analytics to deliver Nature Positive outcomes;
– Develop private sector use and application of IUCN standards, metrics, and tools, such as the IUCN’s approach to measuring nature positive, Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, NbS Standard, and the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) while promoting the application of the mitigation hierarchy and the implementation of IUCN’s relevant policies;
– Leverage partnerships with individual companies and sectoral bodies to support the refinement of IUCN’s tools & knowledge, providing technical feedback to the relevant thematic teams, with a particular focus on tools and approaches related to Nature Positive measurement and approaches;
– Explore the possible complementarity and combination of IUCN tools (such as STAR) with approaches supported by other actors or in other context (such as, for instance, Life Cycle Assessments) to increase the relevance of IUCN tools in different sectors and extend their outreach;
– Facilitate Independent Scientific and Technical Advisory Panels, providing strategic expertise to address complex and controversial issues and build trust amongst stakeholders;
– Develop and submit concepts and funding proposals to donors for projects related to enabling conditions (regulatory…) that could accelerate the sectoral transition to Nature Positive;

2. Project portfolio management, delivery, and quality assurance
– Ensure the provision of technical assistance, capacity building, and contribute to sectoral transformation as part of IUCN’s collaborative efforts with the private sector;
– Ensure high quality delivery of projects and initiatives associated to each partnership with the private sector according to the priorities defined in the annual workplans;
– Ensure effective, efficient, and adaptive management of resources (financial, human, and intellectual) for each project in accordance with IUCN project management standards;
– Coordinate with project teams across the IUCN offices on joint implementation and delivery, including through internal agreements;
– Engage and manage consultants and external project counterparts where need for portfolio delivery is required;
– Work with colleagues to ensure effective implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks for the business lines and project portfolio.

3. Capacity building, Knowledge generation and Communication
– Ensure key results and lessons learnt are communicated in insightful knowledge products and promoted through various media channels and networks, to reach both external and an internal audiences;
– Strengthen IUCN’s capacity, influence and external visibility on work with the private sector, including by developing new training programmes to promote IUCN’s tools and approaches for the private sector and support their uptake (in collaboration with the IUCN Academy);
– Participate in meetings, conferences, and platforms of relevance to the work program described above, to advance and showcase IUCN technical and thought leadership to drive sector-wide transformation, and to influence and mobilize new networks, partners, and stakeholders.
– Collaborate and engage IUCN global programmes, regions, IUCN members, and commissions on IUCN flagship initiatives and crosscutting issues.
– Nurture working relationships with existing partners and establish new partnerships, including resource mobilization.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organization such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them, but which are not part of their regular job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee’s responsibilities, the job description will be changed in
consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.