Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION
Junior Natural Capital Officer
Work percentage: 100%
Function group: A3
Expected start date: 1 March 2019
Duration: 12 months
Duty station: IUCN EU Representative Office, Brussels, Belgium
Reporting to: European Programme Manager Nature Based Solutions
Closing date: 13 January 2019

Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the IUCN European Programme Manager Nature Based Solutions, the Natural Capital Assistant will support the work and projects related to natural capital for business and cities in Europe. This will include knowledge development and research on selected topics, support to project tasks, policy analysis, the organisation of workshops and events, communication, fundraising as well as a range of administrative activities.

This assignment will include the following responsibilities:

• Assist in the implementation of the Horizon 2020 project We Value Nature, which will encourage businesses to embed the value of nature into their decision making and adopt the Natural Capital Protocol, the internationally standardised framework for the identification, measurement and valuation of natural capital impacts and dependencies to inform private sector decision making;
• Strengthen collaboration and create new liaisons with business partners, experts, networks and other relevant actors engaged in the natural capital;
• Assist in identifying opportunities for IUCN to create new partnerships and projects related to natural capital and green finance;
• Support the development of funding proposals for the EU and other donors that focus on natural capital issues and the upscaling of investment in nature-based solutions in cities and other landscapes;
• Develop communication materials, such as web stories, infographics or presentations to raise awareness of natural capital and strengthen the economic evidence base on nature based solutions for business and cities;
• Follow relevant EU and international policy developments related to natural capital, green growth, bio-economy and green finance;
• Represent IUCN in relevant natural capital related meetings and workshops;
• Organise workshops and meetings of relevance to this theme and participate in relevant events;
• Provide a range of administrative support functions.

All of the above tasks will be done in close collaboration with the IUCN Global Business and Biodiversity and the Lead Natural Resource Economist.
REQUIREMENTS

• A University degree (preferably a post-graduate degree) in sustainable development, economics, or business studies, with an affinity to nature conservation, socio-ecological systems or assessment of the value of natural capital;

• A minimum of 3 years’ professional experience, preferably in the private sector;

• Good understanding of the EU decision making process and familiarity with EU nature conservation policies;

• Affinity with the vision and mission of IUCN and a deep interest to work on the topic of natural capital;

• Experience and ability to work in multi-cultural environments, with a diversity of experts and stakeholders;

• Good communication, organisational, administrative, and reporting skills;

• A motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;

• Excellent written and spoken English skills (other languages are an asset);

• Experience working with social media;

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications;

• Willingness to travel.

• EU National or holder of an EU work permit.