Senior Governance Manager

Vacancy #: 7118
Unit: Governance
Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location: Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to: Director General
Work percentage: 100%
Grade: M1
Expected start date: 01 July 2025
Type of contract: Max-term (24 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date: 02 February 2025

BACKGROUND

As the highest organ of IUCN meeting in ordinary session every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress, among others, elects the President and other members of the IUCN Council. Between sessions of the Congress, the IUCN Council (IUCN’s “governing board”) has responsibility for the oversight and general control of all the affairs of IUCN and sets strategic direction and policy guidance for the work of the Union, provides oversight and guidance on the performance of the components of the Union and fulfills fiduciary responsibilities to the Members of the Union. It usually meets twice a year in person, once at the IUCN Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland and once in the Regions, funding permitting.

As provided in IUCN’s Statutes, the members of the Council are the: (a) President; (b) Treasurer; (c) Chairs of the (seven) Commissions (networks of expert volunteers); (d) twenty-eight Councillors elected from the Regions; (e) Indigenous Councillor; (f) Councillor from Switzerland where IUCN has its seat; and (g) additional appointed Councillor. As Chief Executive of IUCN and Head of the Secretariat, the Director General participates in the Council without the right to vote.

The Senior Governance Manager coordinates the Secretariat’s services enabling the President and Council, including its subsidiary bodies, to accomplish their governance functions. As Secretary to Council in conformity with IUCN Regulation 56bis, s/he provides independent advice and support to the President and Council in the exercise of their duties.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The main duties and responsibilities of the Senior Governance Manager are the following:

The IUCN Council

• Organize the meetings, in person (hybrid) or virtually, of the Council and its Bureau, Council’s standing committees (Finance and Audit Committee, Programme and Policy Committee and Governance and Constituency Committee) and any other working groups and task forces established by Council or its committees, including logistical and financial aspects, preparation of the agenda and summary minutes and coordination of the Secretariat’s preparation of high quality, clear and concise documents, in close consultation with the President and the Director General and other members of the Secretariat’s leadership team and, as the case may be, the chairs of the bodies concerned.
• Discharge the responsibilities of the Secretary to Council in accordance with Regulation 56bis including to provide independent advice and support to the President and the Council in the exercise of their duties and to ensure that the provisions of the Statutes, Rules of Procedure and Regulations related to the Council and its subsidiary bodies including the Bureau are adhered to. This responsibility includes working in confidence with the President and Council on specific matters as and when required.
• In the spirit of Regulation 48(b), foster effective cooperation between the Council and the Director General and, through her/him, the Secretariat staff with clarity of and respect for their respective authority as defined in the Statutes, the Council Handbook and the decisions of the Council.
• Organize decision-making by email correspondence of the Council and its Bureau as required between their meetings.
• Serve as procedural adviser to the President as chair of the Council and its Bureau, and to the chairs of the other subsidiary bodies of the Council.
• Monitor follow-up to Council and Bureau decisions.
• Support the Vice-Presidents acting as the Council’s Ethics Committee.
• Manage the financial resources allocated to the Council through the annual budget.
• Publish the decisions, minutes and documents of the Council and its Bureau in the official languages of IUCN in accordance with the Council’s Transparency Policy, maintain an appropriate archival record of their work for future generations and keep the Council Handbook up-to-date.

IUCN President

• Administer the President’s official correspondence.
• On request and in close coordination with the Director General, provide or coordinate the Secretariat’s support services enabling the President to exercise her/his official duties as defined in the Statutes and the Council Handbook, including representational functions in international fora.

Governance team

• Lead the small team of Secretariat staff in charge of organizing in person and virtual meetings of the Council, its Bureau, standing committees, working groups and task forces and providing secretariat services to them.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organization 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 job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee's responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.

REQUIREMENTS

• Master of Law or equivalent level of education.
• 5 to 10 years of experience in an international organization with relevant exposure to its governance.
• Good understanding and/or practice of good governance and democratic decision-making.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written. A good knowledge of Spanish and/or French (the two other IUCN official languages) would be an asset.
• Organizational skills; be personally well organized.
• Astute and self-confident adviser on process and procedure and clear and concise communicator verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to nature conservation and ecologically sustainable development.
• Integrity, sound judgment and familiarity with and sensitivity to a highly diverse work environment.

SALARY

The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 134'355 and CHF 167'944, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.

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). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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