Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location: Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to: Director, Multilateral Finance Unit
Work percentage: 100%
Grade: SP
Expected start date: 01 July 2026
Type of contract: Max-term (up to 24 months)
Organisation Background
IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to pressing environmental and development challenges. Its work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN, and companies together to develop policy, laws, and best practice. With over 1,400 members and more than 18,000 volunteer experts in around 160 countries, IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest environmental international organisation.
Unit Background
The Multilateral Finance Unit (MFU) is part of Corporate Services. It engages strategically with the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and other multilateral funds. MFU advises IUCN regional and thematic experts on pipeline development, oversees portfolios, and ensures compliance with GEF and GCF requirements. It manages the largest IUCN-funded portfolio of projects.
Responsibilities
Pipeline Development and Quality Assurance
* Lead strategies to guide engagement with the Funds and ensure portfolio quality and alignment with their strategies and policies.
* Develop and implement systems, guidelines and processes for managing IUCN portfolio and projects funded by the GEF and the GCF.
* Prepare training sessions and materials to raise internal awareness.
* Ensure projects comply with Funds and IUCN requirements, coordinating with Corporate Units and Regional Programmes.
* Coordinate project and programme reviews across the project cycle (concept, proposal, mid‑term review, terminal evaluation).
* Review and provide inputs to proposals to ensure conformance with GEF and GCF requirements before submission.
* Lead and coordinate submission of projects to the Funds.
* Develop capacity-building materials on GEF and GCF across the Secretariat and IUCN project partners.
Portfolio Performance Management
* Improve the portfolio monitoring system and report to senior management dynamically.
* Develop results‑based management systems aligned with IUCN programme results and GEF/GCF frameworks.
* Ensure the portfolio delivers intended impact and outcomes.
* Train Portfolio Managers and experts on supervision and monitoring requirements.
* Participate in selected project supervision missions.
* Monitor project performance, compliance, and identify projects at risk.
* Design and implement mitigation measures in collaboration with Portfolio Managers.
* Approve risk mitigation plans when required.
Technical and Policy Advisory and Coordination Support
* Monitor and communicate updates on portfolio management changes for GEF and GCF.
* Ensure Portfolio Managers receive consistent and timely information on GEF and GCF requirements.
* Communicate project review timelines according to the Funds’ approvals.
* Lead the development of content communicating results achieved by the portfolio.
* Represent IUCN at relevant meetings, task forces, and regional meetings.
Requirements
* Education: Master’s degree or higher in a field relevant to environment and development (e.g., natural resources management, environmental science, climate change, forestry, environmental economics, or equivalent).
* Experience & technical skills: At least eleven years of international experience managing large, complex natural resource projects, especially in biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, restoration, water, marine, ecosystems, climate change adaptation, resilience, and livelihoods. Proven engagement with GEF and/or GCF programme development and management. Demonstrated technical knowledge across GEF/GCF themes, results‑based management, fiduciary matters and environmental and social safeguards.
* Other skills: Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English; knowledge of French or Spanish is highly preferable. Work experience in developing countries and multicultural hybrid environments is required. Experience in programme monitoring and evaluation and a strong network of international professional relationships are assets. Knowledge of IUCN operations and partners is an asset.
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