Programme Officer, Technology and Innovation for Nature

Vacancy #:
- 7288- Unit:
- Protected and Conserved Areas Team- Organisation:
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)- Location:
- European Regional Office, Bonn, Germany- Reporting to:
- Programme Manager - Technology and Innovation- Work percentage:
- 100%- Grade:
- P1- Expected start date:
- 01 July 2025- Type of contract:
- Fixed-term (12 months)- Closing date:
- 25 May 2025 BACKGROUND

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organisations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.

Within the Centre for Conservation Action, the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas (PCA) team leads global efforts to enhance the integrity, resilience, and equity of protected and conserved areas worldwide, in collaboration with governments, site managers, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and conservation organisations.

A key strategic enabler for the PCA Team is technology and digital innovation, to help deliver on priority programmes that enhance area-based and species conservation effectiveness and impact. To achieve this, the Senior Programme Manager, and the technology and innovation team are developing and delivering a coherent and impactful programme of work that leverages IUCN’s knowledge, tools, metrics, and approaches to accelerate appropriate solutions that deliver conservation outcomes at scale. All of which is implemented through a diverse project portfolio delivered in collaboration with IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices, thematic teams, and members.

The Programme Officer, Technology and Innovation for Nature supports the coordination and implementation of IUCN’s activities related to the deployment and testing of appropriate technologies and digital solutions. S/he promotes the delivery of measurable conservation outcomes through innovative technologies and approaches for biodiversity monitoring, aligned with IUCN Programme targets. The Programme Officer will play a vital role in ensuring quality delivery, and effective collaboration across the portfolio of tech and innovation for conservation projects whilst generating high quality knowledge and learning.

S/he provides technical and administrative project management support, knowledge development and exchange, communication and training assistance. S/he supports the management of collaborative partnerships with global companies and public actors, including with the ICT sector, and contributes to the renewal of the portfolio. In doing so, s/he will be expected to collaborate closely with the Business & Nature Team, other thematic Teams, IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices, as well as with Commissions, and members as necessary and to ensure that lessons learnt are integrated into the programmes policy and knowledge work.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, Technology & Innovation, the main duties and responsibilities include:
1. Project Management and Delivery
- Support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of projects focused on the appropriate use of technology and digital solutions for biodiversity conservation, focusing on technical and economic feasibility for upscaling.
- Based on the development and implementation of science-based technology-driven projects that enhance biodiversity monitoring capabilities, design and support the management of initiatives that establish methodologies for biodiversity certificates and related nature-positive market mechanisms.
- Consolidate, advance, and promote innovative technologies for biodiversity monitoring to yield metrics which are efficient and widely applicable on a large scale.
- Develop improved technical approaches, monitoring concepts, and tailored guidelines for biodiversity certification and holistic project implementation.
- Coordinate with technical partners and stakeholders to ensure quality delivery of project outputs and outcomes.
- Lead the drafting of Terms of Reference, conduct risk assessments and due diligence, and coordinate consultants and partner inputs.
- Develop project workplans, budgets, and monitoring frameworks with clear milestones and deliverables.
- Track project progress, compile reports, synthesise information, and manage risks.
- Organise and facilitate stakeholder meetings,