Vacancy #: 6971 Unit: ORMACC - Biodiversity and Rights Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Dominican Republic Project Office, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Reporting to: Gerente Regional de Programa Work percentage: 100% Grade: SP Expected start date: 01 October 2024 Type of contract: Indefinite Closing date: 26 August 2024 BACKGROUND 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 worldโs largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and some 18,000 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 peoplesโ 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 peopleโs well-being.
About the Convention on Wetlands
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. The Secretariat of the Convention has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where IUCN provides administrative services for the Secretariat. IUCN is also one of the six International Organization Partners of the Convention, formally recognized by the Conference of Parties for its role in supporting implementation of the Convention.
About the Project
Caribbean wetlands support important economic activities such nature-based tourism and fisheries. However, the Caribbean is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world with respect to exposure to the effects of climate change and to natural hazards, and many wetland ecosystems are at risk. Furthermore, these wetlands are also under a number of direct pressures including from overextraction, soil erosion, and water pollution.
The project โWise Use of Caribbean Wetlands for Climate Change Mitigation and Conservation of their Ecosystem Servicesโ is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Republic of Germany and jointly implemented by IUCN and the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands.
The ultimate aim of the project is to reinforce legislation and policy that support management and wise use of Caribbean wetlands, thereby avoiding changes in their ecological character, increasing their resilience to climate change, and promoting conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the long term. Specifically, the project will improve governance and management of Wetlands of International Importance through four outputs:
I. Assessments on current status, ecosystem services and the vulnerability of 21 Caribbean Wetlands of International Importance to climate change;
II. Identification of priority sites for climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as biodiversity conservation;
III. Monitoring program in 8 Ramsar Sites in place and operation; and
IV. Increased awareness of all major stakeholders on the values of coastal wetlands. JOB DESCRIPTION The responsibilities of the Regional Project Coordinator will encompass coordinating project activities, fostering relationships with participating countries and partners, and overseeing project staff. At the same time, the project coordinator will provide technical advice on the resilience of wetland ecosystems to climate change as well as their importance for ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
โข Coordinate project implementation to guarantee on-time and within-budget delivery of project outputs, ensuring alignment with timelines.
โข Recruit and supervise the project team and external consultants.
โข Monitor project implementation, identify issues, and propose solutions, maintaining project timeliness and effectiveness.
โข Coordinate with government authorities and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.
โข Maintain regular communication with countriesโ authorities and other key stakeholders.
โข Apply project management procedures to ensure successful implementation and high-quality results.
โข Manage project budgets, expenditures, and financial reporting in coordination with IUCN ORMACC finance and human resources units.
โข Lead the preparation of dissemination materials (such as flyers, booklets and reports among others), reflecting project progress in outputs and deliverables.
โข Monitor subcontractors' contracts by maintaining ongoing communication with them to identify challenging issues and propose feasible solutions.
โข Organize national and international workshops and side events in alignment with the project's event schedule.
โข Produce technical interim (progress) and final reports in English and Spanish according to project outcome and outputs, and reporting timeframes.
โข Report project progress and issues regularly to the supervisor, along with recommendations for issue resolution.
โข Participate in national and international meetings and seminars to present the project, when requested.
โข Provide technical support to national authorities and other stakeholders on the climate change related issues of the project.
โข Explore and promote synergies with other relevant initiatives, national, regional, and international to enhance project outputs and outcome.
โข Together with IUCN, IUCN ORMACC and Ramsar Secretariat, support the establishment of an integrated information repository and database system to ensure standardized and accessible information.
โข Organize regular virtual meetings for the Strategic and Advisory Committees, including scheduling, document preparation, and ensuring follow-up on agreements reached during these sessions.
โข Carry out other duties as required.
โข Provide technical and financial follow-up on compliance with the project work plan.
Please note: These terms of reference contain the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However, in a constantly evolving organisation like IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably assigned to them but not part of their normal terms of reference. When a task becomes a regular part of the staff member's responsibilities, the terms of reference should be changed in consultation with the manager, the staff member, and the Human Resources Unit. Any of the beforementioned can initiate the consultation. REQUIREMENTS โข Masterโs Degree or equivalent experience in natural resources management, ecosystem services, climate change, conservation biology, environmental sciences/studies; sustainable development or resilience studies.
โข Strong understanding of wetland ecosystems, climate change impacts, and biodiversity conservation
โข At least ten years of demonstrable experience in project management and implementation. Preferably practical experience in managing sustainable development/natural resource management, ecosystem services and climate change projects in the Latin American and the Caribbean region or other developing countries.
โข Knowledge of the environmental, cultural, social, and political context of the Caribbean countries.
โข Experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder projects and working with government agencies and other key partners.
โข Ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary and multicultural team.
โข Excellent communication interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
โข Ability to manage budgets, resources, and timelines effectively
โข Demonstrated ability to work under pressure with tight schedules and strict delivery times.
โข Leadership and teamwork skills with professionals coming from different countries in the region.
โข Strong planning and organizational skills.
โข Demonstrated adaptability and problem-solving skills in complex and challenging environments.
โข Excellent staff management and leadership competencies.
โข Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish.
โข Ability to travel within the Caribbean region as required for project activities.
โข The position may be based in any country of project intervention; however, priority will be given to the Dominican Republic. This consists of frequent travel and may include extended stays in the Dominican Republic as part of the duties. Eventually, the candidate will be expected to relocate to the Dominican Republic to fulfil the requirements of the position. 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 worldโs 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 peopleโs well-being.
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