Senior Programme Officer (AD1232)

We are looking for a motivated and technically experienced individual to join our Business and Biodiversity Programme as a Senior Programme Officer. This role will develop and lead a portfolio of work, supporting the development and application of biodiversity metrics, indicators and targets by business and the finance sector.

Our team’s focus is on strengthening natural capital considerations in private sector and financial decision making. We enhance the evidence-base for biodiversity and natural capital’s importance through horizon scanning and scenario modelling; threat and opportunity analysis; accounting approaches; and corporate biodiversity and natural capital impact, risk and opportunity assessments. We predominantly work with the agri-business, finance, energy and mining sectors.

You will develop and oversee a portfolio of work within these sectors. While the precise scope of the portfolio will be flexible around the right candidate, our work on biodiversity metrics and reporting frameworks for the private sector is growing rapidly. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience in this area.

As an experienced and qualified individual with a sound analytical background, we will provide you with the opportunity to lead and manage projects to deliver impact. You will bring established credibility with the private and financial sectors and a track record of developing new ideas and securing funding. You will have a passion for, and experience in engaging constructively with the private sector to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes, based on sound science.  An outstanding collaborator with proven technical skills, you will be able to build on your existing networks and develop relationships to create new areas of work for UNEP-WCMC, guide the delivery of existing programmes and further the specialist knowledge base that underpins the organisation’s business engagement.

We will provide you with the chance to work with like-minded individuals, in an environment that supports your technical and personal skills development. The Centre staff are experienced and results-orientated, providing an excellent environment for you to develop the capacity of the team and contribute your own skills. In addition to training and development opportunities, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including generous pension contributions.

Our team plays a leading role in high profile collaborations which are at the leading edge of the business and biodiversity field. This includes; delivering ENCORE, the world’s first tool to support exploration of natural capital-related risk for the finance sector; The Proteus Partnership, our flagship initiative which engages leading members of the private sector; our collaboration in the Science-based Targets Network; support to the upcoming post-2020 global biodiversity framework; and our work to align biodiversity measurement approaches for businesses.

If you are looking for a rewarding and motivating post where you can have an impact at the interface between business and biodiversity, we want to hear from you. Please complete our application form and personal details form and send it together with your CV and a short covering letter through the link below by Sunday 6th June. First stage phone screening will take place on the 15th and 16th June and video conference interviews will take place on the 30th June and 1st July. Please do not include a photo on your CV for blind shortlisting purposes.

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.

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.  

WCMC is a UK charity that promotes for public benefit the conservation, protection, enhancement and support of nature and natural resources worldwide. We do this by collecting, storing, processing, analysing, interpreting and sharing data that increase our knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and the conservation of nature. Good data are the foundation of informed decision-making and we work with many partners to help them develop their knowledge and capacity to make good decisions.

Please note that this is a UK based role and the successful applicant will be expected to reside within commuting distance of Cambridge and within the UK. Some of our roles are eligible for visa sponsorship, providing the relevant sponsorship criteria are met. 

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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