UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is one of the most prestigious international agreements which aims to protect the world’s remaining natural and cultural places of outstanding universal value (OUV). The World Heritage List comprises those sites which both meet the rigorous criteria for OUV and that in principle should have the highest standards of care and management. Natural World Heritage sites are often considered as nature’s “crown jewels” and include sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites.
This role mainly involves four functions:
(1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List;
(2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties;
(3) promoting a range of training and capacity building initiatives; and
(4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention.
In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme, and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and from other programmes and Commissions as appropriate. Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention and are financially supported by a contract with UNESCO.
World Heritage is an integral part of the work of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. It is seen as making a central contribution to the achievement of the Core Programme Area of IUCN on “Conserving Biodiversity”. It also has potential to contribute to other Thematic Programme Areas, and is a key communication tool for IUCN’s work. There is considerable potential for expanding the role of the World Heritage Convention to ensure that natural world heritage sites are used effectively to promote conservation and development efforts worldwide. IUCN is uniquely placed to influence the World Heritage Convention to achieve this.
The World Heritage Unit comprises a small team of staff based at IUCN Headquarters, and also supports the work of focal points based in IUCN regional offices. The Knowledge and Information Officer will be part of the IUCH HQ team which performs the above role in close cooperation with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, IUCN Commissions and members, the other two Advisory Bodies to the Convention, and other networks and partners.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Knowledge Management
1.1 Support the World Heritage Programme to develop and implement a focussed knowledge management strategy, working in coordination with the IUCN Librarian as appropriate, including gathering and managing IUCN’s knowledge bank on World Heritage including the collection held within the IUCN Library, in order to improve access to information within the Programme, and to enable outreach to target audiences;
1.2 Maintain and manage IUCN’s World Heritage Outlook information system, in coordination with the Protected Planet knowledge product. This includes identifying web development needs and opportunities, and commissioning and managing required work from external web development consultants;
1.3 Support the production of the second IUCN World Heritage Outlook Report, by ensuring its technical coordination through database development, management and coordination of the Report’s publication in 2017, in coordination with the work of the IUCN WCPA/SSC Joint Taskforce on Biodiversity and Protected Areas, and the proposed IUCN Green List of Protected Areas;
1.4 Ensure the maintenance and development of IUCN’s documents database and archiving systems on World Heritage properties, and of the database of key contacts for World Heritage properties and issues, making use of appropriate online systems, including the IUCN Library catalogue, IUCN World Heritage Outlook website, the IUCN Union Portal and IUCN’s Constituency Relationship Management (CRM) system;
1.5 In coordination with the Programme’s GIS and Remote Sensing Analyst, support the integration of remote sensing functionalities into the IUCN World Heritage Outlook website, and possibly other relevant World Heritage monitoring tools, ensuring ease-of-use.
2. Analysis of results of World Heritage Outlook
2.1 Undertake analyses, as agreed in the Programme, of the findings of IUCN’s World Heritage Outlook in order to identify priority conservation needs at the site level and inform IUCN’s activities to address those needs, in coordination with the work of the IUCN WCPA/SSC Joint Taskforce on Biodiversity and Protected Areas, and of the proposed IUCN Green List of Protected Areas;
2.2 Support the Programme in the establishment of site-focussed partnerships embracing site managers, IUCN State and NGO members, Commission experts and others, including through stakeholder analyses to identify suitable potential partners, thereby supporting threatened sites to improve their Conservation Outlook.
3. Communications and Networking Support
3.1 Ensure increased access to IUCN’s World Heritage knowledge through distribution in multiple languages, including commissioning and managing translations of Outlook site assessments in local languages for use by site managers and local stakeholders;
3.2 Manage the IUCN World Heritage Outlook’s photo database, within the IUCN Photo Library, in line with standards on Intellectual Property (including copyright) and develop functionality to enable appropriate attribution of images on IUCN websites;
3.3 Build contact lists of key decision-makers and influencers and identify effective means of communication to deliver relevant knowledge directly to them.
4. Conservation Policy and Projects
4.1 Assist in the preparation and presentation of fundraising and project proposals to reinforce IUCN’s work on World Heritage;
4.2 Participate in planning and delivering the development and improvement of IUCN’s conservation and monitoring systems for World Heritage, and ensure coordinated delivery of the above tasks.
5. Other
5.1 Promote the work of the World Heritage Programme within the IUCN programme, and with IUCN members and partners;
5.2 Other duties related to the implementation of the annual World Heritage contracts and overall work of the World Heritage Programme, as discussed and agreed with the line manager;
5.3 The position may involve some international travel, including to the annual World Heritage Committee and international events;
5.4 All of the above listed tasks will be carried out in a team environment, and the postholder is expected to ensure support to the Programme as a whole, and full coordination of their work at all times, working via their line manager and with other team members, including the Director of the Programme.
REQUIREMENTS
• University degree in knowledge management, information science, or other relevant field, and ideally a masters level qualification in a subject relevant to the position
• At least 3 years’ relevant work experience, including experience working in a similar organization
• Proven analytical skills and experience in data analysis and database development and management
• High proficiency in the use of computer software, including web content management systems, and a strong understanding of website development and architecture; familiarity with CSS and HTML an advantage
• Solid understanding of nature conservation issues, preferably with an understanding of the World Heritage Convention
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent and collegiate team worker, but also with the ability to work independently on agreed priorities and deliver quality products within agreed tight deadlines
• Excellent written and spoken English is an essential requirement; skills in French and/or Spanish (the second and third official language of IUCN) and/or another official language of UNESCO (Russian, Chinese, Arabic) are highly desirable. Other language skills are also a bonus. Please do not apply for the position if you do not meet the language requirement in English
• Understanding of geo-spatial technologies (Geo-Information Systems and Remote Sensing)
• A strong aptitude and ability to communicate both informally (interpersonal skills and networking) and formally (presentations)
• Willingness to travel and work non-traditional hours as required
• Strategic and creative thinking, with an ability to think outside the box; ability to turn technical information into compelling messages are desirable
• Experience in one or more fields of conservation relevant to the World Heritage Convention would be an advantage (e.g. Marine, Forests, Wetlands, Mountains, Climate Change)
• Experience working in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment would be an asset.
Location: Gland, Switzerland / Cambridge, United Kingdom
Application deadline: 25 July 2015 (extended)
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