Senior Programme Officer for Participation

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Last Date: March 18, 2011

The Secretariat of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Seeks a Senior Programme Officer for Participation

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international organisation based on a multilateral agreement amongst countries and international organisations with the purpose of making scientific biodiversity data available via the internet. Learn more about GBIF from our web site: www.gbif.org .

The GBIF Secretariat (GBIFS), located in Copenhagen, is seeking a committed and proactive Senior Programme Officer for Participation, to be based in Copenhagen.

Scope
This Senior Programme Officer post is a full time, professional-level position responsible for leading on development and implementation of strategies and activities for the Participation work area outlined in the GBIF Work Programmes and Strategic Plans. Broadly this encompasses leading on engagement with GBIF Participants i.e. the countries and international organisations which make up the GBIF membership.

Key responsibilities of the Senior Programme Officer for Participation:
1. Leading the development and implementation of strategies and mechanisms to strengthen the GBIF Participant network;
2. Together with other GBIFS senior staff, actively engage Participants (particularly Heads of Delegation, Node Managers, and other relevant stakeholders at the Participant level) in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and promotion of the GBIF strategic plans and work programme;
3. Coordinate GBIF’s activities to support Participants in the process of establishing, consolidating and expanding their national, regional, and thematic biodiversity information facilities (BIFs);
4. Promote and facilitate cooperation and partnerships across the GBIF network, in particular with regards to the sharing of expertise and best practices, and the transfer of technologies;
5. Be the main contact point in the Secretariat and provide overall support to the various Participant Nodes Committees;
6. Together with the Nodes Committees, develop effective mechanisms for implementing the GBIF Work Programme in a timely and most cost-effective way;
7. Coordinate the design and implementation of mechanisms to assess GBIF Participants needs and priorities, as well as to document Participants’ activities and contributions via regular reporting scheme/s;
8. As appropriate, make visits based on identified needs of the Participants;
9. Play a major role in the design, promotion, implementation and oversight of the GBIF Capacity Enhancement Programme for Developing Countries (CEPDEC);
10. Represent GBIF at relevant scientific meetings and conferences.
Key skills and experience:
1. Excellent understanding of the biodiversity informatics field, it’s applications and relevance to support policy and decision making;
2. A minimum of five years of experience leading or coordinating the implementation of national, regional, thematic or global technical cooperation networks or facilities;
3. Excellent understanding of the various aspects (political, scientific, technical, etc.) involved in the establishment of technical cooperation networks, preferably where related to biodiversity data and information;
4. Excellent social and political networking and presentation skills, in particular in promoting and facilitating network-wide cooperation, partnerships, technology transfer and engagement;
5. Broad experience of working in different regions of the world, conducting needs assessments and establishing capacity building programmes;
6. Fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in at least one of the other major UN languages, preferably French or Spanish, would be desirable.

Additional requirements:
1. Availability for extensive international travel
Remuneration:
GBIF salaries are competitive and based on the IOS standard and are exempt from Danish income tax. Salary will be negotiated according to experience and qualifications within the general range for the position, according to the GBIF Staff Rules.
This post is an exciting opportunity to work in a multicultural environment for an international organisation at the cutting edge of scientific and technical developments in biodiversity informatics for serving science, society and sustainable development. If you match these requirements and are able to start on the 1st of May 2011 or soon thereafter, we look forward to hearing from you.

Application procedure and deadline:
Applications for the position must include:
a) a letter of application specifically outlining your experience in each listed required area;
b) a concise 1-page motivation as to why you believe you are the best candidate for the position;
c) a complete curriculum vitae;
d) one reference letter and contact details for two further referees;

Applications must be submitted in English by e-mail to: participation_po@gbif.org

By the 18th of March 2011

Enquiries concerning the position can be addressed to the GBIF Senior Programme Officer for Nodes, Juan Bello, at e-mailjbello@gbif.org or phone: +45-35321489.

Telephone interviews for the position will take place from the 28th to the 31st of March 2011, and personal interviews at the Secretariat will take place from the 4th to the 8th of April 2011, and we ask applicants to indicate their availability on these dates in their applications.