The Regional Director leads the development and effective implementation of the IUCN Programme in Oceania. This position requires an accomplished and credible manager with good understanding of environmental policy issues in the regional context. The Regional Director is supported by a range of experts but has the institutional responsibility to authoritatively handle a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from biodiversity and ecosystem-based resource management strategies and policies to organizational management and financial planning.
As the official representative of IUCN in the region, the Regional Director is responsible for maintaining a high and professional corporate profile for IUCN, particularly with IUCN members and partners.
As the senior leader of the Regional Office, the Regional Director is accountable for financial, human resources and administrative matters and is also responsible for ensuring the financial viability of the regional programme. The Regional Director ensures that all organizational activities are consistently performed under the principles of equity, fairness, inclusiveness and respect for the diversity of people.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
• Represent IUCN in the region in a manner that promotes IUCN's mission and enhances the status of the Union among decision-making bodies, intergovernmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.
• Initiate and facilitate initiatives and dialogues on key issues of conservation policy based on IUCN's regional and global priorities.
• Develop and maintain long-term fund generation strategies and nurture relations with the donor community in the region in coordination with the Strategic Partnerships Unit in Headquarters.
• Oversee preparation, implementation, evaluation and reporting of multi-year programmes for IUCN's work in Oceania, in line with IUCN's global programme and business model.
• Support the operational management of all IUCN Hubs activities in the region and ensure the efficient management of financial and human resources including development and maintenance of relevant policies, procedures and control systems.
• Develop and maintain regular contact with governments, regional and national committees of Members, existing and potential IUCN Members, partner organizations, Councillors, and Commission members.
• In collaboration with Membership focal points and the IUCN Constituency Unit, implement the IUCN Membership Strategy and develop a membership recruitment and retention plan.
• Maintain regular contacts and coordination to ensure operational and programmatic alignment.
• Contribute to the management of the IUCN Secretariat and Programme.
• Build and nurture a coherent IUCN team within the Oceania Region and develop deeper collaboration opportunities that strengthen IUCN presence in Oceania.
COMPETENCIES:
• Enthusiastic commitment and vision, characterized by:
o A commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use.
o Ability to provide inspiration and strategic direction.
• Leadership abilities and experience, maturity and management skills, characterized by:
o A deep sense of self-awareness as evidenced by the ability to articulate one’s own strengths, weaknesses and one’s impact on others.
o Unimpeachable integrity as evidenced by behavior, communication style and way of handling ambiguous or difficult situations.
o Demonstrated ability to manage and lead the work of the Secretariat with diverse skills, personalities, and backgrounds.
o Proven ability to effectively delegate, empower and motivate staff and others.
o Experience developing teams and individuals and effectively leading improvement and change.
o Clear commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results, differentiate performance and assertively give feedback and take decisive action when necessary.
o Demonstrated ability to both plan and take action, keeping the staff focused on priorities.
o Demonstrated experience in the selection, coaching and appraisal of staff.
o Demonstrated experience in building teams diverse in gender, nationality and background to achieve business results. This commitment to diversity and inclusion should be exemplified through staffing decisions (recruitment, promotion, recognition, etc.) and the ability to model behaviors that promote a more inclusive organizational culture.
• Senior management experience, characterized by:
o Demonstrated experience and achievements in organizational, financial and human resources management, and in decision-making.
o Proven experience in maintaining and nurturing expert networks with demonstrated ability to handle politically and culturally sensitive issues.
o Maintain a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
• Professional competencies, characterized by:
o Good understanding of world affairs and experience with the workings of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and governmental and non-governmental institutions.
o Ability and commitment to act in accordance with the core values of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as spelled out in IUCN’s Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics.
• Sound judgment and decision making, characterized by:
o Experience in identifying key issues in a complex situation, and consulting, gathering, and analyzing relevant information before proposing and implementing decisive actions or recommendations.
o Well-organized and logical in thought and action.
o Ability to foresee and manage risk.
