Vacancy #: 7158 Unit: Sri Lanka Programme Coordination Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Sri Lanka Country Office, Colombo, Sri Lanka Pelawatta, Battaramulla Reporting to: Country Representative, IUCN Sri Lanka Work percentage: 100% Grade: A3 Expected start date: 01 March 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months with possibility of renewal) Closing date: 26 January 2025 BACKGROUND As a local recruitment, this position will be based in Colombo. Only Sri Lankan residents are eligible to apply.
IUCN is a Membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. 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. IUCN Sri Lanka’s programs support sustainable natural resource management initiatives of Members and Partners.
With financial support from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), IUCN is implementing an 6-year project to establish the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative (SLCRI). This project includes various activities, such as conducting coral reef surveys and reef fish stock assessments. Additionally, SLCRI will establish a Coral Restoration Programme in each priority seascape to restore heavily degraded coral reef areas.
To support ongoing coastal and marine sector projects, including the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative, Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Phase 02 and other coral reef and marine projects, IUCN is seeking a suitable candidate for the position of Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems. This locally recruited position will be responsible for providing leadership and technical input for coral reef and marine ecosystem surveys, coordinating coastal sector stakeholder consultations, facilitating awareness and education campaigns on coral reef and marine conservation, and supporting project development. JOB DESCRIPTION MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems will work closely on a day-to-day basis with the IUCN Sri Lanka Programme Coordinator (PC) regarding the planning, coordination, and execution of coral and coastal-related surveys and project activities.
The Programme Associate is responsible for planning and conducting biophysical and social surveys in the coral and marine sectors, overseeing data collection, preparing reports, and monitoring ongoing activities in this area. Additionally, he/she will collaborate with project managers to implement other coral and marine-related project activities.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Detailed responsibilities of the Programme Associate for Coral Reefs and Marine Ecosystems are as follows:
1. Planning and Design of Coral Reef Surveys
• Develop a comprehensive survey plan for coral reef extent mapping, bathymetric data collection, fish stock assessment, and unsustainable fishing practices in the SLCRI seascapes and other project areas.
• Develop methodology for unsustainable fishing documentation.
2. Reef fish, Coral species and Bathymetric Data Collection
• Collect Reef fish and Coral species (including bathymetric data) according to guidelines provided by Global Fund for Coral Reef (MERMAID platform) other standard reef and marine data collection protocols.
• Use appropriate technology as well as satellite images to map existing coral reef extent and collect bathymetric data in the selected seascapes.
3. Conduct surveys to assess fish species composition, abundance, biomass, and size distribution in the SLCRI seascapes and other project areas
4. Perform comprehensive analysis of coral reef health, bathymetry, fish stocks, and IUU fishing impacts in SLCRI Seascapes.
5. Provide technical inputs for SLCRI coral ecosystem restoration programme and coral restoration guideline preparation.
6. Participate in awareness and capacity building programmes conducted by SLCRI project and other marine sector projects.
7. Provide technical assistance to coastal and marine sector project proposal preparations.
Salary:
The minimum gross annual salary for this position is LKR 2'301'600. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
REQUIREMENTS • Education and other qualifications
• A BSc Degree in a relevant field in marine science, biological science or natural resource management. Post graduate degree in relevant field highly desirable.
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver license or equivalent certification. Other diving certifications beyond the Advanced Open Water will be an added advantage in the selection process.
Experience:
• At least 8 years of experience in coral reef and marine ecosystem data collection, surveying, and monitoring.
• At least 5 years of experience working with a government research institute or university in the coastal and marine sector.
• Prior experience in working on projects funded by international donors is highly desirable.
• International experience in coral reef monitoring and the marine sector is highly desirable.
Languages/ Other:
• Excellent command of both spoken and written English and Sinhala or Tamil.
• Strong computer skills, in particular of all applications of the MS Office package and Internet.
Competencies:
1. Technical Knowledge of Corals Marine Ecosystems
A deep understanding of coral reef and marine ecosystems, including biophysical and social aspects, is essential. This includes knowledge of conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and marine survey techniques.
2. Data Collection, Analysis and Report Preparation
Proficiency in conducting coral and marine surveys, collecting data (both biophysical and social), analysing findings and report preparation. The candidate should also be skilled in preparing communication materials based on survey reports.
3. Collaboration and Communication Skills
The candidate should be able to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, donors, NGOs, and local communities. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required to coordinate with project teams, report to supervisors, and engage with external partners.
4. Project Management skills
The candidate should have strong skills in planning, coordinating, and executing coral and marine-related activities and projects. This includes the ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and resources effectively to ensure project objectives are met.
Please Note: The above TOR contains the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However, in an ever-evolving organisation 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 TOR. Where any task becomes a regular part of staff member’s responsibilities, the TOR shall be changed in consultation between the manager, the staff member and the HR Unit. Any one of the three may initiate the consultation.
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.
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