Senior Programme Officer

The Science and Strategy Group (SSG) is considered one administrative entity, and has evolved from the previous Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia construct. It brings under one umbrella all component thematic programmes in IUCN.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is a primary focus of IUCN Asia’s programme area for water and wetlands. This reflects the critical importance of addressing impacts of floods and droughts that affect the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people annually. Among these key areas of IUCN work in Asia are: i) large-scale restoration and management of watersheds, ii) conservation and enhanced management of key freshwater ecosystems, and iii) policy and operational support to conserving nationally and internationally important wetlands, rivers and tributaries, among others.

In addition, there is growing momentum for governments in harnessing the potential for NbS to solve key societal challenges, as part of integrated strategy in linking nature conservation with sustainable development. IUCN is now working with governments across the region to expand its portfolio on NbS for water and wetlands, through its role as a GEF and GCF agency and by strengthening collaboration with diverse financial and technical partners including the private business sector.

IUCN Asia is recruiting a Senior Programme Officer to help meet the growing programme opportunities and needs for NbS scaling in the region’s river basins and wetlands. He/she will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Regional Coordinator in coordinating and managing the NbS project portfolio in IUCN Asia’s water and wetlands programme area.

As member of the Science and Strategy Group (SSG), the Senior Programme Officer will work closely with regional and country teams – focusing on water and wetlands as well as on other key ecosystems in Asia — in project development and implementation, capacity building and partnership building, and policy engagement and sustainable financing.

Duties:

Project Management:

• Design and lead, in close coordination with the Senior Programme Officer, the implementation of large-scale NbS regional and subregional programmes.
• Lead reporting and donor relations for assigned NbS projects in the water and wetlands portfolio.

Portfolio development:

• Strengthen regional partnerships for integrating water and wetlands NbS in the climate and nature policy nexus.
• Liaise with external stakeholders to identify and mobilise novel, diverse resource mobilisation opportunities.
• Collaborate with public, civil society and private business sectors for NbS scaling towards climate-resilient, economically progressive and socially equitable development.
• Engage in interdisciplinary team efforts for introducing novel financial and economic tools, as well as business operating models, to sustain NbS investment and financing

Knowledge management, learning and communications:

• Coordinate knowledge management initiatives on NbS for water and wetlands, as integral part of IUCN Asia regional programme agenda and strategy.
• Spearhead relevant capacity building and learning initiatives for internal and external stakeholders towards promoting uptake of IUCN tools, approaches and knowledge products including the Global Standard for NbS.
• Facilitate collaborative development of knowledge products and communication materials – including technical publications, policy briefs and multi-media materials – to support awareness raising, information dissemination and knowledge-sharing efforts.

Specific project-related responsibilities:

• Act as Chief Technical Advisor for the Mekong South Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project: Take overall responsibility for project implementation including to:
• Coordinate IUCN technical support on NbS design, implementation and monitoring to national governments of Thailand and Viet Nam,
• Lead project components on regional knowledge sharing and cooperation on climate change adaptation, and
• Manage technical and financial reporting, along with administrative and human resource procedures, in compliance with IUCN and donor guidelines.
• Coordinate finalisation and submission of Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal for the Wetlands-based Adaptation in South and Southeast Asia Programme: Lead collaborative proposal development by IUCN teams, national partners (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
• Undertake technical review of the NbS design, implementation and monitoring in the Urban Resilience Building and Nature Project: Provide technical expert guidance on urban NbS to the IUCN Thailand programme team.

Requirements:

• Minimum of master’s degree in environmental science, ecology, water resources management, or related fields.
• At least seven years of professional experience in NbS, EbA and related approaches for water and wetlands in the Asia region.
• Solid understanding of national and regional socio-political and economic contexts in Asia, particularly on key drivers and barriers for scaling water and wetlands NbS.
• Demonstrated ability to work as member of interdisciplinary, multi-cultural teams.
• Excellent strategic planning, project management and partnership development skills.
• Strong linkages to relevant regional professional and institutional networks; previous/current affiliation with Union constituents of IUCN is an advantage.
• Effective English-language communication skills, both speaking and writing; proficiency in any Asian local languages is an asset.
• Operational skills in using Microsoft Office suite.
• Willingness to undertake domestic and international duty travel, and to perform time-sensitive tasks for ensuring timely delivery of assigned outputs.

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=11093&lang=en