Senior Project Officer

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is seeking a Senior Project Officer in Pakistan to oversee project activities related to wildlife surveys and species assessments. Responsibilities include managing project budgets, collaborating with stakeholders, ensuring compliance with policies, and contributing to project development. The role requires strong coordination with government and conservation organizations, and the candidate can be based in Islamabad, Lahore, or Multan.
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations including government and state members and the input of more than 17,000 experts in some 160 countries. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The candidate can be placed in Islamabad / Lahore / Multan.

The Senior Project Officer will work under the overall guidance of the IUCN Country Representative and the Project Manager, IUCN, ensuring the successful implementation of project activities related to wildlife surveys, species assessments, and initiation of the process for development of the Red Data Book. Specific responsibilities include:
• Oversee and implement all project activities as per the agreement between IUCN and Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department, in accordance with the approved workplan.
• Prepare project budgets and maintain record of project expenditures in compliance with IUCN’s financial policies and donor guidelines.
• Lead and coordinate the project team, including key experts, consultants, and field staff, to ensure timely delivery of the workplan and high-quality outputs.
• Maintain close collaboration with government agencies, research institutions, and conservation organizations to effectively implement the project.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including wildlife authorities, academia, communities and NGOs, to enhance data collection, knowledge sharing, and conservation efforts.
• Ensure timely submission of technical, financial, and progress reports to IUCN for onward submission to donor in accordance with project requirements.
• Carry out stakeholder engagement, consultations, meetings, workshops and capacity-building sessions on wildlife assessment, surveys and monitoring of the work of consultants/staff.
• Oversee data collection, field surveys, and species assessments, ensuring the use of standardized methodologies for robust scientific outputs.
• Ensure compliance with IUCN’s and donor policies, including ethical guidelines for biodiversity research and conservation activities.
• Develop and implement a project communication plan to disseminate key findings and promote awareness of species conservation.
• Provide technical support to the project staff on surveys, assessments, reporting and data processing for developing Red Data Book.
• Any other task as assigned by the Supervisor.

PROJECT/PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT
• Contribute to the expansion of IUCN’s wildlife conservation portfolio by designing and implementing new projects aligned with global biodiversity goals.
• Develop funding proposals for complementary initiatives related to species conservation, ecological research, and policy advocacy.
• Provide technical expertise in biodiversity assessments, conservation planning, and policy recommendations, supporting IUCN’s broader programme.
• Facilitate cross-programme learning, integrating themes such as ecosystem-based conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable natural resource management.

Responsibility:
• Contribute to IUCN’s One Programme Approach, ensuring integration across different conservation initiatives.
• Strengthen institutional relationships with government agencies, conservation organizations, and IUCN Members to foster collaboration.
• Represent IUCN in meetings, workshops, and technical forums related to wildlife conservation and species assessments.
• Support knowledge-sharing efforts by contributing to publications, reports, and policy briefs.
• Ensure IUCN’s branding and conservation messaging are effectively communicated in all project-related activities.
• Ensure timely and effective communication of project updates within IUCN and externally with partners in consultation with IUCN senior Management.

Requirement:
• Master’s degree in Zoology or Forestry having at least 05-06 years of experience in wildlife surveys/assessments/conservation etc. M.Phil./Ph.D will be an added advantage
• Must Read, Write and Speak English and Urdu. Fluency in local languages of Punjab will have advantage.
• Physically fit to travel and hike in mountainous and rough terrains

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=11328&lang=en