Vacancy #: 6449 Unit: North America Regional Office Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: North America Regional Office, Washington D.C., United States of America Reporting to: Director, IUCN North America Office Work percentage: 100% Grade: P2 Expected start date: 01 September 2023 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months) Closing date: 02 July 2023 BACKGROUND This is a full-time P2 position based in Washington, DC, USA that supports program, policy and communications for the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, and for IUCN’s North America Regional program. The position spends 50% time on each role.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of government and civil society organizations as well as individuals that are part of the IUCN Commissions. It provides public, private, and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation to take place together. Headquartered in Switzerland, IUCN Secretariat comprises around 950 staff in more than 50 countries. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network.
The seven IUCN Commissions are broad and active networks of scientists and experts providing IUCN and its Members with sound know-how and policy advice to drive conservation and sustainable development. The IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) uses creative communication and education tools and approaches to raise awareness and inspire action to conserve nature. The Commission works to strengthen the work of the Union through creative, innovative, participatory, responsive, and effective communication and education, as tools to effect positive social and behavioural change for the well-being of people and the planet.
The IUCN North America Regional Office (NARO) is one of 11 IUCN regions. NARO works on policy and program priorities set by the US and Canadian members, including advancing IUCN resolutions, and engages members in 2-3 policy and programmatic initiatives aligned with the larger IUCN Program of Work.
The Program Officer for CEC and for the North America Region (NAR) is the key IUCN staff member directly supporting the Commission on Education and Communication, and the development of policy and program initiatives for IUCN in Canada and in the United States. This position is supported in his/her work by the IUCN Commission Support Unit (CSU) - a team dedicated to ensuring effective operations of the Commissions. The position is also a critical part of the CEC and NARO teams, helping both the strategic visioning and day-to-day implementation of the Commission and the Regional Program’s work.
The position will also contribute to the overall IUCN policy positioning and help develop related programmatic initiatives and lines of work focused on the United States and Canada. The role is jointly supervised by the CEC Chair and the North America Regional Director, also engaging with CEC and NARO members and committees. JOB DESCRIPTION The 50% work as the CEC Program Officer can be divided into three substantive bodies of work.
1.Support to the CEC Chair, the CEC Steering Committee and the overall governance and operation of the CEC.
The CEC is managed by an elected Chair acting on a four year term. The Chair establishes a Steering Committee that works with the Chair to guide the work of the Commission. The CEC Program Officer works directly with, and supports, the CEC Chair in the overall management of the Steering Committee. This work includes:
• ensure that Commission Chair receives the high quality support they need to liaise, communicate and cooperate with their membership
• organize and participate in approximately 9 virtual and 1 in-person Steering Committee meetings per year
• coordinate and manage membership affairs and engagement including proactively engaging Commission members in planning, implementation and reporting processes as well as leading activities to recruit and onboard new Commission members
• support the overall management of Commission funds ensuring consistent application of the Commission Financial Rules and IUCN standards;
• oversee the creation of contracts and supports and monitor the performance of the contracts
• participate in bi-monthly meetings with the CSU
• participate and manage with the Chair weekly meetings with the CEC management team.
2.Support to the program work of the CEC
The CEC has four priority program areas from now until the next IUCN World Conservation Congress to take place late in 2025: #NatureForAll, Nature Education for Sustainability, Youth Engagement & Intergenerational Partnerships, and, ReImagining Nature Communications.
The CEC Program Officer supports this core programmatic agenda, including:
• engage deeply in the programs and help ensure their success
• liaison and plan with the respective Steering Committee members leading each programmatic priority
• facilitate collaboration with Commission members and liaise with IUCN staff and other Commissions’ officers in the support of implementation
• ensure creation of annual work plans, budgets and schedules
• create and maintain a learning, monitoring and evaluation framework for the CEC programs to help track CEC programme implementation
• support programmatic fundraising efforts.
3. Manage the communication of the Commission:
The CEC Program Officer plays a big role in ensuring effective communications from the Commission. This includes:
• work with the Chair, Steering Committee and Commission Members to ensure programmes and CEC activities are communicated in an accurate and compellingly manner
• ensure the production and distribution of quarterly CEC newsletters in the 3 official IUCN languages (EN, SP, FR)
• ensure the edition, publication and translation of website articles written by CEC members
• maintain websites, social media and IUCN Engage and produce communications products of the CEC
• support CEC’s engagement in all relevant IUCN events, including Regional Conservation Forum and the World Conservation Congress
• support the design and production of CEC thematic dialogues
The 50% work supporting North America Region, includes the following responsibilities:
• Advance policy and related programmatic opportunities to establish NAR initiatives and projects that are aligned with the IUCN Program, and that are prioritized by and directly engage NA Members in the US and Canada. There are currently 3 active initiatives: 30x30 and green listing, nature-based solutions, and transboundary work
• Work with the US-based secretariat staff teams to assess opportunities and develop and pursue the establishment of new NA facing projects that help build upon what are now global or multiple country projects
• Produce summaries and reports that assess the strategic value and help suggest various future directions for NA policy and program work, ensuring that what is pursued is likely to add value, is a priority for members, and takes advantage of the strengths of engaging the larger union
• Work with the two national IUCN Member committees to support the development and implementation of NA Member priority motions and resolutions
• Support IUCN’s policy interactions with US and Canadian governments and represent IUCN as appropriate under the Direction of the North America Regional Director
• Collaborate where appropriate with the UN Permanent Representative in New York to support IUCN’s work on the United Nations to increase linkages and opportunities with US and Canadian governments and NA members
• Produce briefs, analytical materials, discussion and information papers, as well as communication products relating to US and Canadian government and broader international environmental policy.
• Contribute to fundraising, budget management, staff management, programme planning, monitoring and reporting as appropriate under the guidance of the Regional Director.
REQUIREMENTS • At least 5 years experience in international and domestic policy processes dealing with sustainable development and the environment, experience working with the US and/or Canadian government strongly desired
• At least 6 years of experience in project management, including oversight of budgets and donor reporting are also required
• At least 5 years experience in communications, preferably in the field of environment or conservation
• Advanced university degree in international policy, conservation or a relevant field
• Negotiation and advocacy skills, especially in intergovernmental processes
• Professionalism and diplomacy in communicating cross-culturally and with diverse audiences
• Well-developed organizational skills, including demonstrated experience managing multiple priorities and working independently to complete tasks within assigned time frames
• Ability to rapidly research, analyse and integrate diverse information from varied sources
• Ability to work effectively within a large decentralized workforce of professionals of different nationalities and to mobilize it for common goals
• Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and team building skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences; orally and in writing
• Capacity to prioritize and successfully manage competing demands and deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong copy-editing skills, with attention to detail
• Knowledge of the Union including its decentralized Secretariat structure, Commissions, Members and governance system preferred
• Excellent English, fluency in Spanish and/or French is desired
• Position location is in Washington DC and must be willing to travel as needed
• Experience in event production is also desired 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: http://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 some 15,000 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.
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