Head of Office
Vacancy #: 6308
Unit: Cambodia Programme Coordination
Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location: Cambodia Country Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Reporting to: Deputy Head of Low Mekong Subregion
Work percentage: 100%
Grade: P2
Expected start date: 01 March 2023
Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months)
JOB DESCRIPTION
Under the guidance of the Deputy Head, Lower Mekong Sub-region (LMS), the Head of Office (HoO) will manage the personnel and finances of IUCN’s Cambodia Programme to ensure effective and timely development, planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of an integrated and coherent programme. With support of the Deputy Head LMS, the HoO will represent IUCN to external parties, provide analytical leadership, prepare concept notes and project proposals, secure new funding, and monitor staff performance in achieving programmatic and financial objectives.
The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is the Cambodia State member of IUCN and IUCN operates under an indefinite duration Host Country Agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that was signed in 2017.
IUCN’s major projects in Cambodia include: serving as the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) program in the Indo-Burma Hotspot; providing technical assistance to MOE on geospatial and biodiversity data and policy reforms for conservation compatible economic activities within protected areas as part of the GEF Cambodia Sustainable Landscapes and Ecotourism Project (CSLEP); coordinating the SDC Building River Dialogue and Governance (BRIDGE), which has a focus on the 3S River Basin; implementing the UK Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) Lower Mekong, which in Cambodia focuses on Virachey National Park in partnership with Fauna & Flora International and SNV; and serving as the Lead Operational Partner for the GEF International Waters Cambodia Mekong Delta Aquifer (CMDA).
- Programme and Project Development
- Develop and maintain relationships with government, NGO and other civil sector partners, as well as with members of the international community.
- Assist the Deputy Head LMS in mapping out strategic priorities.
- Coordinate with Science & Strategy Group (SSG) and other thematic units to ensure effective delivery of IUCN's One Programme approach.
- Take the lead on conceptualizing and preparing large multi-year proposals.
- Support staff in preparing project concepts and proposals, including facilitating technical input and reviews by regional and HQ bodies.
- Assist the Deputy Head LMS in accessing new funding by developing alliances with new and emerging donors, especially businesses, GEF, and GCF.
- Work with finance staff on financing and sustainability, notably, updating and review of ABC list, preparing project budget and donor contracts, and integrating annual work planning and budgeting.
- In coordination with Deputy Head LMS and LMS HR Manager, regularly review work force and take initiative on work force planning to ensure high quality technical delivery and cost-efficiency.
- Programme and Project Planning, Monitoring and Reporting
- Coordinate the process of country programme and project planning, monitoring and reporting in accordance with regional and HQ guidelines.
- Ensure the development of good quality strategic and annual plans, including the development and regular monitoring of programme and project work plans.
- Liaise closely with thematic units and projects to ensure outputs and commitments identified in work plans are delivered in a timely and high quality manner.
- Integrate monitoring and evaluation in the work of all projects including the development and use of performance indicators for quality management.
- Ensure that lessons learned in various projects and units are documented and internalized in the current and future work of the program.
- Ensure regular programme reporting requirements by both donors and ARO are met (e.g., monthly RD reports, annual report).
- Ensure strong links between communications/knowledge management and programme coordination and delivery.
- Capacity Development in Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
- Identify needs for technical support and recommend to the Deputy Head LMS on how these may be met.
- Undertake specific capacity building measures and exercises (training, mentoring, etc.) as necessary.
- Institutional tasks
- Represent in external and internal IUCN meetings, at national, regional and international levels, as needed.
- Ensure that project offices and field operations are conducted to a high level of health, safety, integrity, environmental good practice and cultural sensitivity. This includes ensuring that field medical kits are in good order and taken out on every field trip.
- Ensure that IUCN policies and guidelines are followed within the implementation of project activities.
- Other
- Undertake any other tasks as may be assigned by, and mutually agreed with the line manager.
- Master’s degree or similar qualification including natural resources management, business management, public administration, project management, economics, conservation and sustainable development or relevant social sciences. Candidates with a background in business/economics/international development, with a specialism in environment, is an advantage;
- At least 5 years of project management experience in Asia ideally related to natural resource management or similar;
- Leadership experience in managing the performance of and leading diverse and multi-cultural teams;
- A high level of organisational skills and attention to detail; good analytical and presentation skills, strong English language speaking and writing skills;
- An ability to work co-operatively as part of a large team with strong inter-personal skills and an ability to work in different cultural contexts with strategic partners;• A willingness to travel widely and frequently and work under pressure.
- Ability to prepare successful fund raising proposals;