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IUCN Water Policy and Sustainability Adviser

Vacancy #:331
Unit:Global Water Programme
Location:Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:Director - Global Water Programme
Work percentage:100%
Function group:P2
Expected start date:16 April 2012
Type of contract:Indefinite
Closing date:26 February 2012

BACKGROUND


The IUCN Global Water Programme aims to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of water resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The goal of the Water Programme is healthy river basins that provide sustainable ecosystem services to livelihoods and societies.

The activities of the IUCN Water Programme are carried out primarily in the regions and countries under the administrative control of IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices. Other activities are carried out in collaboration with other global thematic programmes located in the IUCN Headquarters and elsewhere.

The Water Policy and Sustainabilty Adviser contributes substantively to the development of the IUCN Water Programme, in particular by implementing the agreed strategy and supporting regional programmes and projects, including the IUCN Water and Nature Initiative and other water-related initiatives.

The role of the Water Policy and Sustainability Adviser is to provide high-quality advice and support for IUCN’s water-related work at global and regional levels, with specific responsibilities relating to practice, learning, policy and programme delivery.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Practice
• Support implementation of IUCN’s strategy on mainstreaming an ecosystems approach to water management, ensuring particularly that mechanisms for scaling up of results on the ground are developed and supported.
• Provide backstopping to the IUCN regional water programmes on project and programme development and implementation, emphasizing the social development and equity aspects of water management and applications of multi-stakeholder processes to water governance.
• Support development of practical applications of systems-based approaches to water resources management that build social and ecological resilience.

Learning
• Ensure that effective links are created and maintained between practice and the development of tools and policy guidance on water resources management.
• Lead the analysis of the social impacts of water management projects, including equity and gender dimensions, and the synthesis of results and lessons into learning, communications and policy-relevant outputs.
• Guide the application of lessons learned from demonstration projects and policy processes in capacity building for IUCN members and partners.
• Lead the design and implementation of capacity building activities for sustainable water resources management and water policy, including training workshops and communities of practice.

Policy
• Support development of IUCN influence on global and regional policies on water, river basin and wetland management issues, including in the context of food security and climate change resilience, through policy analysis, development of information products and implementation of policy campaigns.
• Advise the Global Water Programme on the political economy of water management and on strategies for supporting reform processes in water governance at community, national and transboundary levels.
• Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with government agencies, NGOs and businesses on water and wetland issues.
• Represent IUCN at international policy and scientific meetings addressing issues relating to water management and inter alia food security and climate change adaptation.

Programme Delivery
• Contribute substantively to the preparation of proposals, work plans, budgets and progress reports on the programme, projects and activities as required.
• Support the implementation of project and programme monitoring and evaluation, including the management and analysis of data.
• Lead on the social, equity and political-economic aspects of the preparation of IUCN publications dealing with the management of water resources and ecosystems, in cooperation with Regional Offices, the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, Commissions and the members of other scientific and technical networks.
• Develop and maintain good contacts with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, and raise funds for IUCN activities on water resources management at global, regional, national and field levels.
• Support the preparation and delivery of communications on ecosystems and water management issues, including in relation to food security and climate change resilience.

REQUIREMENTS


• The successful candidate will hold a post-graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in social policy or international development studies relevant to water. He or she may, alternatively, have a post-graduate degree in water resources management or another relevant environmental science with experience of social development and policy applications.

• He or she will have at least 8 years of experience and 3 years of international experience, including work in developing countries.

• The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent knowledge of current policy priorities and policy processes relevant to water resources and sustainable development at global level.

• A strong track record in writing and editing of high-quality publications is a requirement.

• The position also requires experience of project design and management, including familiarity with monitoring and evaluation systems, fundraising and communication.

• IUCN aims to significantly increase the relevance of its work to food security. Knowledge and experience of the integration of sustainable water management into strategies and policies on food security will be an advantage.

• An excellent command of English is essential. Ability to work and write in Spanish, French and additional languages is a major advantage.

• Experience of actively facilitating integration of knowledge across disciplines, including for example social development, economics and environmental sciences, is also an advantage, preferably in a team environment.

• The successful candidate will be expected to be fully computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Office and major software packages.

• The position carries considerable autonomy and requires excellent organizational capacity and networking skills and a willingness to work as part of a team in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual setting.

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/