Project Officer - Western Gray Whale Conservation

Closing date:

10 August 2012

BACKGROUND

IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme is one of the largest teams within IUCN, working on ocean governance, offshore renewable energy, minimizing the environmental impacts from coastal oil and gas operations etc. Additionally, the GMP works with several Commissions, including the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) – Marine Division, the Species Survival Commissions (SSC) – Specialists Groups, the Marine Conservation sub-committee, and the Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) – Oceans Law and Governance Specialists Group. On top of this, the IUCN GMPP works extensively with members and partners around the world.

IUCN has been involved in cetacean conservation for decades; Since 2004, IUCN was designated the coordinator of a public-private sector partnership to oversee progress in the conservation of a critically endangered whale species – the Western North Pacific Gray Whale (WGW).

The critical status of the WGW population is well known. The total population is estimated at about 150 individuals. Little is known about its breeding grounds or migration routes; its only known feeding grounds lie along the coast of north-eastern Sakhalin Island, in the Russian far east. As a result, the western gray whale has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The few surviving animals face a number of potential hazards throughout their range, including collisions with ships, underwater noise, entanglement in fishing gear and modifications of their physical habitat. However, particular concerns have been raised about the impact of offshore oil and gas exploration and production developments along the coast of Sakhalin Island.

One of these developments, the Sakhalin II oil and gas development undertaken by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd (SEIC or Sakhalin Energy), lies in close proximity to the only two identified feeding areas of WGW. Its impact on the survival of the population is therefore potentially critical. Sakhalin Energy is a consortium of companies including the following shareholders: Gazprom 50%, Shell Sakhalin Holdings B.V. (Shell) 27.5%, Mitsui Sakhalin Holdings B.V. (Mitsui) 12.5% and Diamond Gas Sakhalin, (Mitsubishi )10%.

Since 2004, IUCN has worked with SEIC in order to provide advice and recommendations on how the company can minimize risks associated with its operations on the whales and their habitat. As one part of this broad initiative, in October 2006 IUCN convened a long-term independent scientific advisory panel (WGWAP – Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel), to provide advice to Sakhalin Energy on how to minimize and mitigate the impact of its Sakhalin II operations on western gray whales in the vicinity of Sakhalin Island. The WGWAP has been established to provide an independent review process and advice regarding the management of risks to the western gray whales. Its main roles and responsibilities are:

- To focus on the conservation of Western Gray Whales and related biodiversity
- To assess the status of the Western Gray Whale population
- To independently assess the contracting Companies’ plans and assessments, and review the effectiveness of the mitigation measures put into place to minimize their impact on the whales
- To provide advice and recommendations to the contracting Companies regarding research and operational plans for the conservation of the whales

The WGWAP provides an important mechanism of cooperation and collaboration between various stakeholders, and builds on the work that has been done since 2004, but in a more proactive and strategic way.

While WGWAP process represents a valuable contribution to the conservation of WGW, its remit is limited largely to oil and gas activities on the Sakhalin shelf, which are not the only factors affecting the WGW population’s recovery prospects. Particularly in light of the deaths of western gray whales in fishing gear, IUCN is developing a Rangewide Conservation Initiative for WGW, to consider not only the full range of threats within the vicinity of Sakhalin Island, but also across the entire geographic range of this population.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel Bi-Annual Meetings (50%)
• Coordinate an event of 30 – 40 people coming from around the world.
• Oversee the logistics of the WGWAP meetings including, but not limited to, reserving meeting facilities, booking catering, finalising delegate accommodation, hiring interpreters, requesting visas and circulating documents.
• Support the Programme Officer in establishing clear communication with the delegates at least three months before the meeting and following up regularly as needed.
• Support the WGWAP Chairman in the logistics before and after the meeting takes place.
• Coordinate with the Global Marine Programme Administrative Assistant to write contracts and finalise payments for the panel members and associate scientists.
• Liaise with Sakhalin Energy Investment Corporation Ltd (SEIC) to assist in the logistics of the Russian delegates.
• Liaise with observers from the banking industry, non-governmental organisations and government to support any requirements leading up to the meeting.

2. Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel Communications (15%)
• Oversee the management of the WGWAP content management system website (news stories, updating recommendations table, uploading documents).
• Raise visibility of the WGWAP through increased publicity of the Panel’s work and increasing opportunities that the Panel process has for constructive collaboration.
• Liaise with the Global Communications Unit and WGWAP Chairman to create new links and web stories.
• Coordinate internal communication between WGWAP meeting participants by easing the transition to new document-sharing programmes (Sharepoint) and ensuring clear communication lines and protocol for exchanging sensitive material.
• Write and distribute the monthly internal WGWAP newsletter for the panel with the Programme Officer.

3. Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel Support (20%)
• Assist Panel members and other scientists in the logistical elements of organizing task force meetings (Photo-ID, Environmental Monitoring, Oil Spill), e.g. transportation, venue, documents both before and after the meetings.
• Undertake any other tasks as needed to aid the Panel in functions to increase the effectiveness of the Western Gray Whale Conservation Initiative.
• Coordinate the outreach effort to increase government and petroleum industry participation in the WGWAP including organization of the meetings and coordination of the translation of key documents.

4. Western Gray Whale Rangewide Conservation Initiative (15%)
• Coordinate the outreach efforts to solicit Governments’ participation (Russian, Chinese, Japanese, South Korean etc.) in the Western Gray Whale Rangewide Conservation Initiative including organization of the meetings and coordination of the translation of key documents.
• Support fundraising work of the Programme Officer.
• Assist the Programme Officer in developing and updating the key documents for the western gray whale rangewide conservation initiative including the conservation plan.
• Work with the Programme Officer to create a communications plan for the entire range of the western gray whale (outreach, multilingual brochures, training courses), and support its implementation.
• Support development and implementation of the Western Gray Whale Conservation Plan and Rangewide Conservation Initiative (researching strategy, coordination of satellite tagging).

REQUIREMENTS

• A graduate degree in communications, business administration, international relations, marine science or related studies.

• At least 3 years’ experience in event management (preferably at international level), communications, preparing press releases, writing stories, and communicating technical information to a more general audience.

• Knowledge of marine mammal conservation is an advantage.

• Ability to work in a multilingual and multicultural setting. Previous experience with an international NGO/multilateral or intergovernmental organization is an advantage.

• Computer literate and proven ability to work in the Windows environment (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Outlook). Web-savvy, ideally with experience in layout/photography (using CMS and Adobe InDesign). Familiarity with Sharepoint and/or Indesign an advantage.

• Track record of working as a team member as well as independently, demonstrating application of initiative in problem solving and trouble-shooting, creativity and flexibility.

• Proven ability to complete assigned tasks in a timely and high quality manner.

• Fluency in written and spoken English essential and knowledge of another IUCN language (French and/or Spanish) an advantage. Knowledge of Russian a distinct advantage.

SALARY

The gross annual salary for this position is in the range from CHF 80'640 to CHF 100'800, 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/