Head of Office-Uganda Jobs

Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Regional Programme Coordinator

Annual Gross Salary: USD 41,990 to USD 52,488.

About IUCN:

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.

About Country Programme:

IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature, Uganda Office has extensive experience in working with IUCN Government and Non-Government members to influence the national conservation agenda. The Programme of Work executed by the office has largely been focused around the relationship between ecosystem conservation and sustainable development. In doing so, a critical element of the Uganda Office’s work has revolved around identifying and applying demonstrable solutions towards enhancing equitable governance of natural resources as a key mechanism for both improving livelihoods of communities and the wider economic development of the country.

Job Summary: The Head of Office, IUCN Uganda will primarily be responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of IUCN’s Programme of Work at a sub-regional level, providing strategic oversight and day to day management of the Office, as well as providing a representation role through supporting and building IUCN’s Constituency in the region

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Overseeing the effectiveness of IUCN’s Programme of Work: IUCN is seeking to build on the success of the Programme to date and consolidate and further develop this into a cohesive sub-regional programme – covering transboundary ecosystems as well as underlying drivers affecting biodiversity across Uganda and its neighbouring countries. The Head of Office will play a lead role in this process, working closely with regional Technical Coordinators as subject matter specialists. This will involve the following:

• Working collaboratively with the (regional and sub-regional) Programme team to clearly define strategic areas of focus, in line with the IUCN Global and Regional Intersessional Programme;
• Identifying core issues and opportunities for project/programme development;
• Working in liaison with the relevant Technical Coordinators to develop and secure new projects and programmatic initiatives; and
• Effectively planning for and mobilizing resources (financial, human and physical) necessary for the effective implementation of the Programme.
• The Head of Office will also be responsible for ensuring that all programmatic initiatives are effectively implemented. This will involve strategic oversight, ensuring that projects are realizing their overall results/objectives; high quality and timely delivery of outputs as well as efficient use of resources in line with approved budgets. This involves establishing clear mechanisms for adaptive management – guiding both the strategic direction of the portfolio of activities at the sub-regional level as well as coordinating the day to day operations.

2. Organizational Management:

The Head of Office is responsible for the overall management of the office and its resources. This includes overarching responsibility for the financial viability and sustainability of the Office.

•          The Head of Office bears responsibility for the management of the offices human resources. The office is comprised of Programme and Project Officers, Finance and Administration as well as Support staff – all of whom report to the Head of Office. The Head of Office is responsible for both individual performance as well as ensuring that all individuals across the different departments work together as a team.
•          The Head of Office will be responsible for ensuring that IUCN policies and procedures are adhered to in the day to day running of the office and management of all assets.

3. Representation:

• The Head of Offices work as a liaison between IUCN and its constituency, particularly the IUCN membership at country level. This includes providing support to the National Coordination Committee (NCC), ensuring that regular meetings are convened, supporting individual members in matters related to IUCN and acting as a liaison between the membership and the IUCN Regional Director. The Head of Office is also responsible for identifying new members and recruiting with the support of the IUCN Regional Membership Administrator.
• The Head of Office is also responsible for monitoring key sub-regional developments and trends affecting biodiversity conservation across the sub-region and bringing these to the attention of the Regional Programme Team. From time to time, the Head of Office may also be required to issue formal statements on behalf of IUCN as directed by the Regional Director.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The prospective employee should have over eight years’ of proven experience with an advanced degree in natural science related to the management of natural resources or related fields; 
• Proven experience in working with international/regional organizations would be an asset 
• Proven high level of knowledge about policy and political issues in the sub-region related to the management of natural resources with demonstrated experience in engaging with relevant national and sub-regional forums and other policy processes 
• Good understanding and familiarity with established and emerging relevant conservation and natural resource management approaches, methodologies and processes – including Landscape/Ecosystem based approaches 
• Demonstrated experience with climate change adaptation and mitigation would be an added advantage; 
• Demonstrated fundraising, budgeting and programme planning abilities and past performance, including experience of development and successful marketing of project proposals with donors, and subsequent delivery and reporting 
• Significant experience with result based portfolio and project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and principles and facilitation skills 
• Excellent interpersonal, management and supervisory skills and experience, with over five years’ experience in managing organizations and/or teams 
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating the establishment of networks and multi-stakeholder participatory processes 
• Excellent verbal and communication skills in English essential, with a working knowledge of French an added advantage 
• Computer literacy skills i.e. proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint) use of internet and online communication tools; and 
• Be willing to undertake frequent travel (approximately 40% of one’s time) and interact with different stakeholders from diverse cultures. 

How to Apply:

All candidates should endeavor to send their online applications through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button. All applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information.

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Deadline: 5^th February, 2014 at Midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST).