The IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team is centered in the IUCN Headquarters in Gland, with staff based in Switzerland, USA, Belgium and Germany as well as within IUCN Regional Offices worldwide. The Strategy of the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team, based on a suite of IUCN Resolutions and in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), aims to support IUCN members and partners deliver equitable and effective area-based conservation in countries and regions worldwide. The Strategy embeds the importance of inclusive conservation and enshrines the principles of co-design and co-leadership of conservation action with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

The IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team seeks to include and represent diverse and representative staff from a range of cultural and professional backgrounds, thereby bringing a unique set of perspectives, experiences, skills and values to the organization. Diversity, equity and inclusion are prioritized in the work place and in the Team’s outlook.

The primary initiatives of the Protected and Conserved Areas Team include the IUCN Green List and the Act30 Partnership. The IUCN Green List is a standard for protected and conserved areas that aims to promote effective and equitable management of natural resources. It provides a framework for evaluating and recognizing well-managed and effective protected and conserved areas.

The IUCN Green List also promotes transparency and accountability, and encourages the sharing of best practices among protected and conserved area managers. Act30 is a new partnership between IUCN and Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, principally the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, with support from Esri. Act30 aims to support participating countries in establishing an inclusive and rights-based framework for achieving the global ‘30×30’ ambitions of the KM-GBF, especially Target 3.

The primary task of the Junior Programme Officer, Protected and Conserved Areas will be to provide support to the management and coordination of priority projects and events relating to strategic initiatives. They will also be responsible for providing administrative support and coordination for the IUCN Green List programme. Other tasks will include support to project formulation, coordination and implementation; event organization and coordination; and liaison with IUCN partners.

Key responsibilities of the Junior Programme Officer include:

• Supporting senior programme staff with coordination taks of the project portfolio for the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team;
• Providing administrative support for meetings, workshops, and other project activities;
• Assisting with the coordination of project activities and communication between project stakeholders;
• To learn and grow professional skills through participation in conservation projects and engagements;
• Contributing to the development of project reports, publications, presentations, communication and other project materials;
• Undertaking logistical and administrative tasks, as assigned.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1. Support the development and implementation of projects (60%)
• Help in the development and review of project, including timelines, reports and budgets as well as help coordinating and tracking the project implementation schedule;
• As directed, support the provision of goods and services, partnership agreements and service contracts, following all IUCN procurement processes;
• Assist in tracking progress towards project milestones and goals;
• Contribute to the editing and formatting of project documents and materials;
• Assist in the preparation of project reports and presentations, and other project materials as required;
• Support the project promotion in preparing and disseminating promotion and visibility material, including for Act30 and the IUCN Green List;
• Support the IUCN Green List Programme in liaising with the community of practitioners and experts;
• Be proactive in identifying and addressing project-related issues and challenges, as well as finding solutions;
• Maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with project team members, stakeholders, and partners;
• To develop and enhance specific professional competencies, as identified and agreed with supervisor.

2. Support the organization of meetings, workshops, and other project activities (30%)
• Assist in organizing and scheduling in-person and online meetings, workshops, and other project activities.
• Meeting coordination, logistics and management: prepare agendas, invites and meeting materials, help with room/venue bookings.
• Take meeting minutes, manage recordings, disseminate and organize the follow-up and tracking of agreed points;
• Assist in convening IUCN Green List governance bodies and supporting their key operations, including the IUCN Green List Panel and its associated Green List Standard Committee, the Green List Steering Group, and the Green List Secretariat;
• Undertake logistical and administrative tasks related to meetings and workshops at Headquarters and in regions, including travel arrangements, on-line registration systems and technical support to meeting presenters.

3. Protected and Conserved Areas Team support (10%)
• Assist in updating spreadsheets and coordinating time sheets for the programmes and teams;
• Create Travel Authorizations and process expense claims (including cross charges) for the teams;
• Carry out other relevant tasks on request and agreement with the line managers.

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, their line manager and the Human Resources Management Group.