Job opportunity – IUCN World Heritage Programme Development Officer

IUCN has a long-standing and high-profile role on World Heritage, delivered via a World Heritage Unit of specialised staff within the Heritage and Culture Team based in the IUCN Centre for Society and Governance, and involving Union wide engagement on a wide range of issues. This work includes a unique statutory role as Advisory Body within the 1972 World Heritage Convention, a role that is focused on advising the annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

The World Heritage Programme Development Officer will lead collaborative work to develop, negotiate and implement proposals and project agreements in line with the IUCN World Heritage Strategy, working with colleagues in the Team, and across IUCN Programmes, Regional Offices, IUCN Commissions and IUCN members and partners, including the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and other World Heritage Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS and ICCROM). The position will be responsible for leading the expansion of the portfolio of IUCN’s World Heritage work, developing innovative and effective concepts and proposals, and managing and creating new relationships and opportunities with a range of donors and partners. The position will also ensure provision for effective monitoring and evaluation of the results of this portfolio.

Details of the specific tasks, and personal requirements are:

World Heritage programme design and fundraising

Lead and support effective programme development in line with the priorities of IUCN’s World Heritage (WH) Strategy to develop creative, innovative and effective WH-related project concepts, proposals and agreements.
Investigate potential of donors and partners to fund WH-related priorities, and maintain a current awareness of funding opportunities and relationships with key donors, in conjunction with IUCN’s Strategic Partnerships Unit.
Develop, prepare and lead presentation and negotiation of successful project proposals to access new and existing funding channels from a wide range of sources including government, international agencies, philanthropic, corporate and other donors, including to:

• Secure as the highest priority the resources and partners necessary to deliver IUCN WH Outlook 4 by 2025 timed to the next IUCN World Conservation Congress;
• Collaborate across the IUCN Programmes to identify synergies and opportunities on IUCN Knowledge Products, including with the Green List, and develop joint programmes of activities;
• Develop new programmatic initiatives focused on agreed thematic WH priorities including climate change and nature-based solutions; industrial commitments and impacts; tourism; species; rights, culture and indigenous heritage and geospatial technology.

Ensure effective communication, consultation and collaboration in the development, design and implementation of WH projects across IUCN, including between Teams and Centres in the IUCN Programme, IUCN Regions, IUCN Commissions, Members and Partners.

Maintain a current awareness of the full suite of activities that are being undertaken by the UNESCO WH Centre and other WH Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS & ICCROM), and by other parts of IUCN that have relevance or offer opportunities for the advancement of the WH portfolio.

Coordination and project management

Collaborate with the IUCN Global Programme Operations Unit (GPOU) of project coordination and technical and financial management and reporting arrangements for funded projects.
Lead and support as appropriate negotiations with funders and partners of project proposals, budgets and workplans as required.
Lead and support as appropriate project inception, implementation and reporting, including through agreements with internal and external partners.
Establish effective project governance and implementation oversight arrangements.
Liaise with relevant legal, financial, human resources, IT and communications personnel in IUCN Headquarters and regions to secure programme and project effectiveness, and adequate provision of IUCN capacity and the relevant operating costs and overheads, and implementation in line with relevant IUCN policies.
Lead on updating and maintaining the WH project portfolio for the Team within IUCN’s Project Portal.
Manage as necessary project and programme staff and or consultants, and related project budgets;
Ensuring implementation of relevant IUCN policies and norms in all aspects of the WH portfolio, including necessary project assessment and safeguard processes.

The salary is £38,281 p.a. Location is the Cambridge office. Contract is fixed-term (24 months with possibility of renewal).

Closing date for applications is 02nd April 2023.

Click here to apply.