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Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan

Expected start date:01 February 2013
Type of contract:Fixed-term (until 31 January 2015)
Closing date:31 December 2012

BACKGROUND

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, was founded in 1948 and brings together over 1,100 members (States, government agencies, NGOs and affiliates) and some 11,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Within the framework of global conventions IUCN has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. IUCN has approximately 1,100 staff, most of whom are located in its regional and country offices while some 150 work at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN is represented in Pakistan by IUCN Pakistan Country Office with the Country Representative as its head. IUCN Pakistan assists the federal, provincial and district governments, civil society organisations, private sector and other stakeholders in promoting conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and overall sustainable development in the country.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
1. Ensure that harmonious relationships are maintained between IUCN and governmental, non-governmental and other civil sector partners, as well as with members of the international community in Pakistan.

2. Promote IUCN as an institution capable of helping build bridges between governmental & non-governmental sectors and between national, regional & global institutions and of providing a neutral platform for debate;

3. Provide overall direction to and ensure efficient and cost effective, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of IUCN’s programme in Pakistan and the delivery of the expected results which contribute to the achievement of the Asia Region component of the IUCN Intersessional Programme; including the establishment of programme, financial, and administrative reporting schedules as required by relevant agreements and partners, and ensuring that these reporting schedules are adhered to;

4. Ensure the delivery of programme and project planning, monitoring and reporting requirements in accordance with guidelines established for the Asia Region and globally and regular programme & project reporting requirements by both donors and ARO;

5. Provide leadership in programme development aligned with the ‘One Programme’ approach and take responsibility for ensuring that funding for the programme is secured, and ensure that associated programme and project documentation is produced for fund-raising purposes. This will include supervision of country specific project development activities and contribution to the development of integrated inter-country, regional and transboundary projects where and when appropriate;

6. Actively work with IUCN Membership and Commissions to link them to the secretariat programme and regional and global governance by facilitating network meetings that link the IUCN constituency in Pakistan.

7. Ensure that the IUCN programme in country is integrated within IUCN’s global and regional priorities yet aligned to the national agenda as defined by IUCN’s members and partners in the country;

8. Maintain regular contacts with Members and other partners , with a view to exploring new areas of interest for the IUCN Programme and ensure effective local organisation and coordination of all IUCN Secretariat contacts with all partners;

9. Effectively and prudently deploy the human, financial, technical and administrative resources available to the IUCN Secretariat Programme in Pakistan, and ensure that these are utilised in compliance with relevant IUCN policies, norms and standards, contributing to and benefiting from the regional model, and provide or make available support in this respect to other IUCN units as may be necessary;

10. Ensure that regular support and inputs are provided to IUCN staff through regular on-going performance management with a view to building up a diverse and integrated team of IUCN personnel in the country which is viewed and views itself as a component of a wider Country Group and regional team;

11. Ensure that the IUCN Programme in Pakistan achieves scientific and technical integration with the regional Ecosystems and Livelihood Group and with other country programmes as appropriate in support of national and regional programme objectives;

12. Ensure that information and learning at the local level is utilized to impact on national policy and is fed into IUCN’s KM systems to enable impacts on regional and global policies; and make regional and global knowledge available to support and inform national and local debate and decision making;

13. Establish regular management, administrative and programme reporting linkages with ARO and other IUCN programmes and administrative units or offices as required;

14. Mutually work out joint operational modes and ‘value added’ working relationships (including facilitation with government and other national institutions) with any other IUCN units operating in the country whether at project level or as & when a decision is taken to co-locate another unit with the Country Office. In the latter case there is an additional responsibility to provide adequate premises and efficient services to the co-located unit;

15. Lead in change management in the Country Office as and when new regional structures and systems adjustments are put in place to group or re-group Country Offices; and

16. Perform any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director from time to time.

Please Note: The above TOR contains the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However in an ever evolving organisation such as IUCN staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular TOR. Where any task becomes a regular part of staff member’s responsibilities, the TOR should be changed in consultation between the manager, the staff member and the HR Unit. Any one of the three may initiate the consultation.
REQUIREMENTS

• A Masters Degree in natural resources management, sustainable development or a similar field.

• At least 10 years of progressive experience in senior management roles within similar organisations.

• A proven track record of managing adaptive organizations and handling complex operations and diverse teams with a special focus on strategic programme planning and project development.

• Excellent managerial, analytical, interpersonal, negotiating and team building skills.

• Knowledge of key conservation & development issues, government and donor networks in Pakistan and South Asia.

• Ability to work under pressure and to deal tactfully with sensitive political issues including experience of handling a cross-cultural work force in a multi cultural, multi disciplinary setting.

• Knowledge and experience with donor funded programmes and projects.

• Strong cultural awareness and sensitivity to gender issues.

• Fluency in written & spoken English and Urdu, computer literacy and willingness to travel frequently.  
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/