Job Opportunity at 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.
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Position Available: Regional Programme Leader, Asia
Guided by the IUCN vision of “a just work that values and conserves nature”, the Asia Regional Office (ARO) coordinates a network of 15 country/field offices, a team of 250+ professional and support staff members, and a project portfolio of over US$20 million annually; it also oversees and supports the Oceania regional office based in Suva, Fiji.
The Regional Programme Leader (RPL), a member of the senior management team for Asia, is expected: 1) to spearhead the strategic development and steering of the regional programme, 2) to coordinate Regional Office support to and oversight of country programmes, and 3) to promote IUCN’s value proposition and One Programme across the region.The RPL has overall responsibility to provide technical leadership and programme management for the Asia region – as leader for a team of technical and management support staff, and as manager for an integrated programme unit at the Regional Office.
The regional programme unit: 1) Serves as integrated multi-disciplinary platform for stock-taking and advancing programmatic knowledge and practice, 2) Facilitates establishment of thematic/cross-thematic hubs for promoting knowledge products and tools, 3) Coordinates regional and multi-country projects and initiatives, 4) Provides strategic expertise and capacity building support to country programmes, 5) Coordinates regional portfolio management and operations support including for large-scale initiatives with GEF and GCF, and 6) Facilitates project development, resource mobilisation and business development. Specific duties include:
1. Programme Development and Management
• Leads the development of the Asia regional programme agenda and strategy, towards contributing to IUCN’s overall intersessional programme.
• Serves as a chief scientific and technical expert for the region, to direct and oversee its programme areas and strategic themes.
• Spearheads results-based programme planning and implementation, and associated matters for intra and inter-unit/office coordination.
• Manages programmatic collaboration with the Secretariat’s global Centers and other regional offices.
2. Technical Support and Capacity Building
• Coordinates the provision of scientific guidance and technical support for staff, in strengthening the regional team’s overall capacity to deliver programmatic results.
• Leads initiatives and projects to foster continuous innovation in the regional programme agenda and strategy.
• Directs the regional team in establishing and maintaining communities of practice, knowledge hubs and in-house learning platforms.
• Guides regional, subregional and country units to build and nurture high-performing technical teams through strategic talent management and workforce review-planning.
3. Partnership and Representation
• Supports the Regional Director in developing and expanding strategic linkages with institutions and alliances in the region which are strategically important for programme development and management.
• Coordinates with the Regional Manager, Memberships to designate and support regional focal points for IUCN global commissions, national and regional membership committees, and other relevant Union entities.
• Serves as a regional focal point for external partnership platforms established to support multilateral environmental conventions and agreements.
• Participates in key external events for networking, knowledge sharing, policy advocacy and resource mobilisation – including representing the Regional Director and global senior management as assigned.
4. Assurance and Compliance
• Coordinates ARO’s oversight function for the regional portfolio of projects and activities, including for programme quality assurance and compliance with institutional policies and guidelines.
• Chairs standing committees, working groups and/or task forces for periodic review and planning of the regional programme to better align with and contribute to IUCN’s One Programme results framework.
• Manages ARO support services for region-wide project portfolio management, pipeline development and grant-writing, and controls and safeguards in project operations.
• Supports the Regional Director and works closely with heads of ARO units and country offices in the formulation and roll-out of regional programme-related guidelines, measures and practices.
5. Programme Unit Administration
• Serves as overall in-charge of financial and human resources administration of the ARO programme unit.
• Exercises administrative authority in budget planning and review for relevant cost centres.
• Supervises and coaches assigned staff to help them meet performance standards, behavioural norms and career development goals, and completion of work plans and performance appraisals.
• Ensures staff compliance with applicable corporate services policies and procedures.
6. Others: Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.
– PhD degree in applied natural, physical and/or social sciences, specialising in fields of study associated with nature conservation for sustainable development.
– Professional areas of expertise and interest relevant to at least two of IUCN Asia’s: programme areas (species and habitats, water and wetlands, marine and coastal ecosystems, protected and conserved areas, forest and agriculture landscapes) and/or strategic themes (nature-based solutions and climate, livelihoods for nature and conservation finance, and governance and rights).
– Minimum 11 years of professional experience in combined roles as science/technical leader and programme manager.
– Held similar senior-level management role for multi-country/regional teams and units in international development-oriented organisation/s.
– Intra-regional work experience, with at least 3 years in a duty station within Asia.• Professional Competencies
– Demonstrated capacity: i) to provide strategic leadership in science-for-development programmes, and ii) to manage interdisciplinary teams and support staff, under a diverse multi-cultural working environment.
– Track record in i) collaborative programme development and implementation, ii) science-driven knowledge and innovation management, and iii) strategic resource mobilisation for diversified, novel funding streams.
– Solid knowledge of regional conservation and sustainable development issues as well as the geopolitical, development and multi-stakeholder contexts in Asia, and how this fits in the global context.
– Sound understanding of global affairs in relation to multilateral environmental agreements and sustainable development goals.
• Other Key Qualifications
– Network of professional contacts and institutional linkages, within the region and internationally, relevant to the IUCN Asia programme agenda.
– Advanced level of oral and written English communication skills; proficiency in an Asian language(s) is a plus.
– Proficiency in using computer systems and software, communication technologies, tools and web-based applications for data and information management.
– Commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results, effectively delegate and motivate staff, give feedback and take decisive action.
– Effective role model for ethical professional conduct to promote core values of integrity and trust, transparency, professionalism and accountability, equality, inclusiveness and respect for diversity.
– Willingness to undertake occasional travel, domestically and internationally.