Senior Programme Officer, Business & Nature at Switzerland
JOB DETAIL
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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.
| • – Master’s degree in Biodiversity, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Policy, Sustainability Management, or another relevant field required. Strong grounding in biodiversity, conservation, sustainable development and social science concepts and theory, beyond immediate field of expertise. – Minimum 8-10 years of experience, and minimum 5 required in engaging and working with the private sector on biodiversity themes, with a preference for experience on the ground (environmental and/or biodiversity assessments, biodiversity net gain reviews or monitoring, certifications…). – Technical understanding of IUCN key standards, tools and metrics (in particular IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Species and of Ecosystems, Nature-based Solutions global standard, STAR metrics, IBAT) or other scientifically reputable equivalents. Some experience with Life Cycle Assessments would be an asset. – Proven experience in developing, managing and coordinating projects, including planning, execution, monitoring & evaluation, technical and financial management and reporting. – Experience in supervising staff and coordinating consultants. – Proven ability to operationalise concepts, from idea to ground implementation and to socialise and mainstream scientific concepts and approaches in order to encourage their appropriation by non-specialist stakeholders. – Experience in planning and developing messaging in terms of effective knowledge uptake, understands and can adapt to target audience. – Ability to take initiative, exercise good judgment, think laterally and resolve complex issues in a dynamic and changing environment. – Works well under pressure, with the ability to prioritise and successfully optimise the allocation of time, people, and other resources. – Skilfully prioritizes, manages, and balances operational task flows and can identify, anticipate and address critical operational dependencies. Successfully manages competing demands and deadlines. – Professionalism and diplomacy in communicating cross-culturally and with diverse audiences. – Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail. – Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in written and spoken. French and/or Spanish is desirable. |
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.
