Regional Coordinator, Nature Restoration

Vacancy #: 7253
Unit: European Regional Office - EU Policy
Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location: European Regional Office, Bonn, Germany
Reporting to: Head of Programme
Work percentage: 100%
Grade: SP
Expected start date: 19 May 2025
Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months)
Closing date: 04 May 2025

BACKGROUND

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 15,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.

The IUCN European Regional Office (EURO) provides vital linkages for IUCN Members, National Committees, Commissions and the Secretariat to governments, EU institutions, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, the private sector and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and related national and regional biodiversity plans. It provides knowledge and advises decision makers to improve conservation policy and action, connect and engage.

IUCN EURO is looking for a highly motivated Regional Coordinator, Nature Restoration to join our Programme and Policy team. This position will lead IUCN’s work on nature restoration in Europe. The successful candidate will have people and portfolio management responsibilities, partner and donor relationships, and support the implementation of the IUCN programme in the region. This is a strategic position in the IUCN European Regional Office.

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Head of Programme and Policy, and in close collaboration with staff in the Programme and Policy team and the European Regional Office, as well as other IUCN offices and centres, the Regional Coordinator, Nature Restoration will ensure the implementation, coordination and reporting of projects and contribute to the development of the team’s policy.

The Regional Coordinator, Nature Restoration will have the following responsibilities:

1. Programme and project coordination and team management
2. Oversee and manage thematically-aligned projects ensuring their timely and effective delivery, budgetary execution, monitoring and reporting;
3. Lead the IUCN European Nature Restoration team ensuring effective teamwork and delivery;
4. Manage and oversee external contracts ensuring effective and timely delivery;
5. Liaise with donors, national authorities, key contractors and project partners;
6. Coordinate with IUCN regional and global teams to ensure synergies and integration, including with the regional offices in the European area.
7. Knowledge generation
8. Provide support to the implementation of the IUCN Programme, including supporting the preparation of nature restoration planning in Europe with a particular focus on socio-economic issues and climate change aspects;
9. Contribute to technical reports on nature restoration, with a focus on socio-economic issues and climate change aspect;
10. Support the development and dissemination of thematically-aligned IUCN knowledge tools and standards;
11. Coordinate and contribute to the elaboration of relevant technical documents and reports, articles, and other communication material based on relevant knowledge and science;
12. Monitor and assess emerging policy trends and regulatory frameworks relevant to nature restoration in Europe.
13. Strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement
14. Nurture strategic partnerships with national authorities, partners and donors, ensuring proper dissemination and uptake of IUCN tools and project results;
15. Lead and implement fundraising efforts for nature restoration in Europe;
16. Represent IUCN at high-level events, conferences, and forums to advocate for nature restoration and nature-based solutions;
17. Facilitate dialogues, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives.
18. Identify communications opportunities and drafting content for communication material.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an 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 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 relevant colleagues.

SALARY

The gross annual salary for this position is in the range from EUR 75.000 to EUR 95.000 (depending on skills, experiences and IUCN equity analysis) subject to deductions for social security contributions and health insurance, and before tax.

Requirements

1. Affinity with the vision and mission of IUCN;
2. Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the tasks to be performed;
3. At least 10-15 years of professional experience in project management, of which at least 5 years should be of project management and people management in an international context;
4. Experience working within international development organizations, NGOs, or multilateral institutions;
5. Proven record of accomplishments in project development and implementation;
6. Familiarity with EU funding and experience in project fundraising;
7. Good understanding of the socio-economic aspects of nature conservation and ecosystem restoration;
8. Knowledge of the EU biodiversity policy context and familiarity with global environmental policies, frameworks, and conventions, particularly those relevant to nature restoration is a strong asset;
9. Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality policy briefs and reports;
10. Strong leadership and teamwork abilities, with experience managing cross-functional teams;
11. Full computer literacy, with experience in applying Microsoft Office as a minimum skill set;
12. Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with a results-oriented approach;
13. Ability to work within a team and independently;
14. Ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;
15. Highly motivated to learn and develop new skills, keen to bring in own ideas;
16. Ability to travel, at times frequently;
17. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences. A second language (French, Spanish) is highly desirable.

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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