Timber Trade Programme Officer TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC Europe is seeking a Timber Trade Programme Officer. The Programme Officer will assist in developing TRAFFIC Europe’s regional timber trade programme and will be responsible for the implementation of timber trade related projects in Europe. S/he will also support TRAFFIC´s Global Timber Trade programme. This is a fixed-term position for a period of 24 months with the possibility of extension. The position will be based in Cambridge, UK. The expected start date is May 2012.

BACKGROUND

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, works to ensure that trade in wild animals and plants is not a threat to the conservation of nature. TRAFFIC actively monitors and investigates wildlife trade and provides information to diverse audiences worldwide as a basis for effective conservation policies and programmes. The organization was founded in 1976 and has grown into an international network, with 25 offices worldwide, organized in eight regional programmes. TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF, the conservation organization, and IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

DUTIES

The Timber Trade Programme Officer will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing TRAFFIC Europe’s regional timber programme and support the global timber trade programme of TRAFFIC, working in close collaboration with other TRAFFIC’s offices as well as TRAFFIC´s partners WWF and IUCN.

The Timber Trade Programme Officer will, among others, be responsible for the co-ordination and implementation of the assigned activities under an EC-funded project led by the TRAFFIC International office in Cambridge, UK. This project seeks to facilitate understanding, knowledge and capacities of countries in South America to assess and align national policy development with requirements of market control mechanisms to avoid illegal timber, with special focus on the EU FLEGT Action Plan. The results will also be used to formulate feedback to European decision-makers and the private sector.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Assist in the development and planning of TRAFFIC Europe’s regional timber trade programme, including proposal development, project design, liaising with potential donors, and implementation of projects and formulating appropriate policies and recommendations on timber trade controls, FLEGT and related policies;
• Leads in the implementation of TRAFFIC Europe´s activities under the EC-funded FLEGT project led by TRAFFIC International, including planning and design, technical and financial reporting, communication and monitoring;
• Leads specific TRAFFIC Europe projects, in particular those dealing with timber trade and its governance, trade routes and trends, with a particular emphasis on the European Union as a significant consumer market;
• Contributes to TRAFFIC´s global timber trade programme with strategic and programme development, proposal writing, policy advice and project implementation as required in consultation with TRAFFIC’s European Programme Coordinator and the Global Forest Trade Programme Leader;
• Provides technical assistance, data analysis, scientific information and research support to TRAFFIC Europe staff and to the TRAFFIC network, and to related national and international agencies and organizations, including formulation of recommendations for TRAFFIC, WWF and IUCN, the European Commission, government agencies, and other appropriate audiences;
• Contributes and co-operates in internal and external monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting;
• Communicates the nature and results of the work that TRAFFIC undertakes and represents TRAFFIC at designated international meetings and conferences, and reports on these meetings;
• Supervises assigned TRAFFIC staff and consultants as directed;
• Other tasks related to TRAFFIC’s global conservation programme as agreed with the line-manager.

REQUIREMENTS

• University qualifications in forestry, forest economy, resource management, ecology, environmental policy or similar;
• Significant professional experience in international forestry, and/or forest or wildlife conservation preferably with government or an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) / Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO);
• A good understanding of international conservation laws and agreements, with focus on forestry and timber trade governance issues and regulations, including the different elements of the EU FLEGT Action Plan (Voluntary Partnership Agreements, Illegal Timber Trade Regulation, timber legality verification systems etc.), and of other relevant regulations and legislation such as the US Lacey Act, etc;
• Relevant and proven experience in project cycle management, i.e. co-ordinating larger projects, incl. overseeing a number of staff/consultants and managing project budgets and reporting;
• Experience in implementing EC-funded projects an advantage;
• Experience in working with the private sector an advantage;
• Strong fundraising skills including the development of project concepts and proposals;
• Strong research and analytical skills, and an ability to articulate complex issues clearly;
• Strong networking skills and communication skills and ability to work in different cultural contexts;
• Willing and able to travel within Europe and beyond;
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish; fluency in other languages an advantage.

SUPERVISION: Supervises consultants and TRAFFIC staff as required.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are asked to submit their CV and a covering letter in English. The letter must specifically address the job requirements in the order presented above.

Applicants are requested to apply online through the IUCN HR Management System (which is an administrative system used by TRAFFIC), by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button at:

https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=349

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) on 10th April 2012.