Senior Programme Officer - Protected Planet Initiative

We are looking for a highly motivated self-starting leader with a strong reputation in the field of Protected and Conserved Areas. The successful candidate will be both enthusiastic and pragmatic in their search for solutions to global biodiversity challenges. The main purpose of the job is to manage the Protected Planet Initiative, recognised as one of the most important global biodiversity knowledge platforms. It will be based in the Centre’s Conserving Land and Seascapes Programme.  

The Protected Planet Initiative encompasses key databases on protected and conserved areas, including the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), and Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness. The Initiative increasingly explores issues of quality in protected and conserved areas, including through collaborations on equitable governance and connectivity, and links with IUCN’s Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

The post-holder will lead implementation of the refreshed Protected Planet strategy and coordinate a portfolio of project resources to support its delivery with a small team of experts. The post-holder will have a strong vision of how UNEP-WCMC can strengthen the Protected Planet Initiative’s technical underpinnings to influence decisions at all scales and across sectors through the global knowledge value chain.

The successful candidate will preferably hold a higher degree in biological sciences, geography, ecology, environmental sciences, economics, social sciences or similar. They will be a highly skilled relationship manager as demonstrated through an extensive and productive professional network. They will have significant technical expertise working with large datasets and their underlying workflows and infrastructure.

WCMC attaches great importance to addressing safeguarding and ethical considerations in all activities carried out by its staff, including where partner organisations or individuals are part of the delivery of our work. This includes children and vulnerable adults in the community who may be vulnerable to abuse. WCMC act with integrity, are transparent and expect applicants to share the same values.

We will provide you with the challenge of leading a high-profile conservation initiative, where your work really makes a difference to the field of conservation in an area aligned to our strategic aims and broader global initiatives. In addition to training and development opportunities, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including generous pension contributions.

WCMC is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of age; race; sex; disability; gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity; religion; faith or belief.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging post where you can impress us with your leadership and vision, we want to hear from you. Please complete our application form and send it together with your CV and a short covering letter through the link below by 30th November 2020. Applicants must be able to evidence the right to work in the UK.

The UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is a global Centre of excellence on biodiversity. The Centre operates as a collaboration between UN Environment Programme and the UK registered charity WCMC.  Together, we are confronting the global crisis facing nature. We do this through our unique position ensuring science, knowledge and insights shape global and national policy, and by collaborating with partners around the world to build capacity and create innovative solutions to environmental challenges. We use our position as respected custodians of powerful and trusted environmental data to create positive impact for people and nature.

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