Programme Officer.

Closing date: 18 January 2013
BACKGROUND

Since the creation of IUCN in 1948, General Assemblies and Congresses of IUCN Members have passed approximately 300 resolutions that include or focus on business related activities. The range of topics in these resolutions varies greatly, including a focus on fisheries, tourism, agriculture, oil and gas, the extractive industries and the business sector in general.

In 2003 the Business and Biodiversity Programme (BBP) was established seeking to address specific business sector issues and bilateral strategic relationships were established in BBP with groups such as Rio Tinto, Shell and Holcim.

Today, IUCN has a better understanding of the risks and opportunities posed by such interactions and the resources required to implement these engagements. In addition, IUCN knows where it is best placed to add value to, and complement, the work of its Members.

This resulted in the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme becoming part of the Nature-based Solutions group. Also a new head of the Global Business and Biodiversity Programme (GBBP) with a strong business background was appointed in May 2012.

Ativities with business are now guided by the new IUCN Business Engagement Strategy (BES) prepared and approved by Council in April 2012.

The Business Engagement Strategy aims to encourage transformational and demonstrable change at the company and sectoral level in how biodiversity is valued and managed by businesses in order to conserve and restore biodiversity and to ensure that biodiversity benefits are shared equitably.

The Strategy’s main objective is that business practices at landscape and seascape levels are transformed to generate benefits for biodiversity and natural resource?dependent livelihoods.

To achieve this aim and objective, three interconnected entry points are recommended:

1. Businesses adopt policies to manage biodiversity risks so as to avoid and minimize biodiversity impacts and seek opportunities for biodiversity conservation and benefits for natural resource dependent people.

2. Supply chains apply sustainability standards and safeguards that positively impact biodiversity and local livelihoods.

3. Public and financial sector policies promote the integration of biodiversity and livelihood values in business decision?making.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GBBP is in the implementation phase of relevant knowledge products around the Business Engagement Strategy and the 2013-2016 one Programme of IUCN as part of the Nature-based Solutions group. The position is envisaged to play a key role in supporting the Head and Deputy Head of BBP to establish the relevant team structure, reorganize the relationships with key strategic partners, attract new business and create new platforms of engagement to deliver on the three entry points of the Business Engagement Strategy.

The focus of this position will be on the extractives, agribusiness and financial sector as well as the development of business-relevant policy frameworks with an aim to deliver Net Positive Impact (NPI) on Biodiversity and develop further the concept of natural capital.

The current business engagement in the area of NPI are Shell, Rio Tinto and IFC (International Finance Corporate subsidiary of World Bank) and TNC (The Nature Conservancy). We will extend to the most impactful sectors where IUCN wants to drive transformational change (agri-business, power producers). The candidate has to be willing to influence these players with concrete conservation actions on the ground often and in difficult geographic areas (Niger Delta, Iraq, Sub Saharan Africa).

Main Objectives

(1) Effective coordination of the implementation of the entry points of the BES within BBP with a view to ensure that agreed commitments are delivered in time and to the highest standards of quality

(2) Coordinate the BBP activities in integrating Net Positive Impact on Biodiversity at a landscape level and develop further the concept of Natural Capital.

(3) An efficient and timely implementation of other projects as assigned from time to time as the IUCN and BBP programme priorities evolve.

REQUIREMENTS

• Masters degree in an inter-disciplinary subject, combining ideally environmental sciences, with social science business or economics.

• At least 10 years of experience in the area of sustainable development and / or nature conservation.

• Excellent project management and relationship management skills and experience in dealing with implementing conservation or sustainable development actions in a business environment.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact in a multicultural environment.

• Demonstrable experience in developing strategies for business or other organizations in conservation or sustainable development will be an advantage.

• Knowledge and or specific experience of specific sectors such as extractives, mining, oil and gas, agribusiness or finance will also be an advantage.

• An excellent command of written and spoken English is essential, understanding of Spanish, French and additional languages is also desirable.
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is in the range from CHF 96'160 to CHF 120'200, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax.

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).

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/