Programme Officer - Wildlife Use and Trade

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global union of governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dedicated to influencing, encouraging and assisting societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensuring that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The sustainable use and trade issues that IUCN works on include assessing the impacts of trade on the status of wild species, assisting TRAFFIC on a range of wildlife trade projects as well as contributing to key issues within The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) through providing scientific evidence to support sustainable trade.

A growing area of IUCN’s work includes the development, application, and promotion of wildlife use and trade indicators at global, regional, and national levels, to improve the monitoring, communication, and understanding of the sustainability and impacts of wildlife trade. These indicators will be designed to improve the communication of complex data, support more informed decision-making, and foster a better understanding of the sustainability of wildlife trade activities. They will be essential tools for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and stakeholders to assess trends, identify risks, and formulate effective conservation strategies. These indicators will support decision-making processes under Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) such as CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as well as national biodiversity strategies and action plans. By providing standardised, scientifically sound metrics, these indicators will help align conservation efforts with international commitments and national priorities, enhancing transparency and accountability.

This role will play a critical part in shaping and influencing global policy on sustainable wildlife trade by ensuring that IUCN’s scientific contributions will be rigorous, but also timely and directly relevant to policy making, enabling stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions that will benefit both conservation and sustainable development.

The salary range for this position is between £34,891 to £40,000 p.a.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Major Responsibilities

The Wildlife Use and Trade (WUT) Programme Officer will support the execution of the portfolio of projects through the Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team. A key responsibility will be overseeing the delivery and supporting the implementation of a GEF-funded project on developing wildlife use and trade indicators, alongside algorithms for data mobilisation and analysis. This will be implemented jointly with peer conservation science-related institutions and networks, both among the IUCN Membership and beyond it (e.g., the Global Environment Facility). The Programme Officer will work closely these project partners and various stakeholders including MEA Secretariats, government agencies, international organisations, to ensure effective implementation and achievement of the project’s overarching objectives, such as increasing access to robust sustainability indicators and digital data for decision-making.

The WUT Programme Officer will be responsible for managing the delivery of multiple work streams, such as identifying priority indicators and relevant data sources, and developing new methodologies and technical guidance to fill critical gaps in MEA frameworks and national biodiversity strategies. The Programme Officer will also serve a substantial role in supporting the coordination of new work on implementing CITES projects. The WUT Programme Officer will support project design and management involving tracking and reporting on the WUT project portfolio, and liaison with the finance team for budget management aspects.

Specific Duties

GEF Wildlife Use and Trade Indicator and Data Mobilisation project (primary role):

• Support the Wildlife Use and Trade Senior Programme Officer in oversight and delivery of all GEF project outcomes and activities, ensuring all outputs meet quality standards, are completed on time, and effectively contribute to the achievement of project objectives.
• Assist in the coordination and liaison with implementing partner focal points to facilitate effective and timely implementation and delivery of all project outputs.
• Maintaining effective communication channels with key stakeholders, including governments, international organisations, and partners. In collaboration with the Senior Programme Officer, facilitate stakeholder engagement, especially with international conventions such as CBD, CITES, CMS, and SDGs, ensuring their active participation aligns with project goals.
• Support the development, dissemination, and uptake of wildlife trade indicators and data mobilisation algorithms, working with partners and stakeholders to improve data collection, analysis, and accessibility, and to ensure their relevance across cultural, gender, and policy contexts.
• Contribute to the explore and integrate innovative technologies (e.g., AI) to enhance wildlife trade monitoring and indicator development.

Support International wildlife trade policy:

• Support the coordination of IUCN (Secretariat and Commission Member) input into CITES meetings and intersessional activities.
• Link species use and trade with global strategies (e.g. Convention on Biological Diversity) and priorities (e.g. climate change, emerging zoonotic diseases).
• Support IUCN representation on the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), coordinating IUCN’s input and liaising with its Commissions as needed, in particular The IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi).
• Support IUCN representation IUCN on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Global Wildlife Program (GWP) Steering Committee, coordinating IUCN’s input and liaising with relevant parts of IUCN and its Regions and Commissions.

Other responsibilities:

• Support work with IUCN Commissions, particularly the Species Survival, and IUCN Regional Offices to support conservation work on sustainable use and trade (e.g. research, communications, working with local and national governments/ communities, policy and legislation).
• Support project portfolio development, and fundraising initiatives, especially regarding wildlife use and trade indicators.
• Develop and secure funding for projects focused on addressing illegal and unsustainable trade in fauna and flora.
• Contribute to risk assessments related to wildlife trade, including zoonotic disease emergence and biosecurity concerns.

REQUIREMENTS

• A relevant university degree and preferably a post-graduate qualification in conservation science or a related discipline.
• At least five years of work experience relevant to wildlife use and trade.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and experience in biodiversity indicator frameworks, for example CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets and indicators, UN Sustainable Development Goals (specifically Goal 14 & 15), CITES Strategic Vision: 2021-2030.
• Strong technical experience in data collection, management and analysis.
• Proficiency in analytical tools such as R, Python or GIS software, and experience with biodiversity/trade databases (e.g., Species+, CITES Trade Database) is desirable.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, including facilitation of workshops and capacity-building activities to co-develop or disseminate biodiversity indicators.
• Knowledge of inclusive and participatory approaches to indicator development, is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience translating complex scientific data into policy-relevant outputs.
• Project Management experience an advantage.
• Ability to work co-operatively and diplomatically with others, with respect for and sensitivity to diverse cultures and viewpoints.
• A willingness to travel internationally and to work to strict deadlines.
• Familiarity with standard word processing, data management, and presentations software.
• Fluency in English with the ability to work in Spanish and/or French an advantage.
• Passion for conservation essential

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organization such as the IUCN Secretariat, 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.

All candidates must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required prior to employment. We are unable to sponsor work visas for this position.