Unit:
Business and Nature
Organisation:
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:
Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:
Director, Business and Nature Team
Expected start date:
01 September 2026
Type of contract:
Max-term (up to 24 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:
05 July 2026
BACKGROUND
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global Union of over 1,400 members, primarily government and civil society organizations, supported by more than 18,000 experts. Headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, with offices worldwide, IUCN is recognized as the leading authority on the status of nature and the actions needed to protect it.
As a trusted source of conservation data, analysis, and standards, IUCN provides a neutral platform where governments, NGOs, businesses, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders collaborate to advance sustainable development. Its global projects blend scientific innovation with local knowledge to restore ecosystems, halt habitat loss, and enhance human well-being.
The Business and Nature Team drives the adoption and improvement of Nature Positive business practices by leveraging IUCN’s tools, approaches, metrics, and partnerships across corporate, sectoral, and regulatory levels. This work is delivered through collaborations with the private sector and working closely with IUCN’s regional offices, members, and partners worldwide.
Biodiversity credits have emerged as a potential financing tool for conservation, leading to the creation of numerous standards, platforms, and pilot schemes. While some show promise, others raise concerns about their ability to deliver measurable, verified “Nature Positive” outcomes. IUCN’s key role is to ensure these schemes generate real, additional, and significant biodiversity benefits by promoting robust metrics and approaches. This includes advancing tools like IUCN’s approach to delivering Rapid High-Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes (IUCN RHINO) for use by financial institutions and engaging with various initiatives to guide their development in line with IUCN’s standards and stakeholder perspectives.
JOB DESCRIPTION
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY
The Senior Programme Officer – Finance and Nature is responsible for providing technical leadership and scientific support for the development and adoption of IUCN RHINO by financial and insurance sectors, while evaluating biodiversity credit schemes to ensure they deliver credible, measurable outcomes aligned with IUCN Programme targets.
In doing so, s/he will be expected to collaborate with IUCN thematic Teams, IUCN’s Regional and Country Offices, as well as with IUCN Commissions, Members, and partnerships as necessary and to ensure that lessons learnt are integrated into the programmes policy and knowledge work.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Director, Business & Nature, and in close coordination with the Business and Nature Team, Biodiversity Assessment & Knowledge Team, Economy & Finance Team, Science Team, and European Regional Office, the main duties and responsibilities include:
1. Portfolio technical basis, development and implementation
- Provide technical and scientific leadership to the ongoing development and adoption of IUCN RHINO, especially for financial and insurance companies through the Investor Impact Track (https://www.iucnrhino.org/investor-impact-track)
- Evaluate and review emerging credit frameworks and schemes (e.g. IAPB, BCA, etc) and serve as technical lead towards ensuring that such schemes use metrics and approaches (IUCN RHINO) that deliver robust and significant contributions to the status of biodiversity and respect IUCN standards and policies.
- Develop and support proposals to the private sector that leverage IUCN’s tools and expertise to deliver Nature Positive outcomes
- Support work related to relevant IUCN Resolutions and Recommendations, including "Regulating financing mechanisms based on biodiversity certificates and credits and guarantee positive effects on nature" (https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/52728) and the "IUCN Policy on Biodiversity Offsets" (https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46476).
- Promote, advocate and support the use and adoption of IUCN’s metrics, tools and approaches aimed at delivering measurable Nature Positive outcomes, notably IUCN RHINO, the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR), the IUCN NbS Standard, and the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT).
2. Project management and delivery
- Provide technical assistance and capacity building to private sector partners, contributing to sectoral transformation and high-quality project outcomes.
- Ensure timely and effective delivery of projects and initiatives in line with annual workplans and IUCN standards.
- Ensure effective, efficient and adaptive use of financial, human, and technical resources in accordance with IUCN project management standards.
- Coordinate with project teams across IUCN on joint implementation and delivery of projects.
- Supervise consultants to ensure effective implementation and compliance with IUCN standards.
3. Capacity building and communication
- Promote knowledge sharing and visibility of results through communications and events, reaching both external and internal audiences.
- Strengthen IUCN's capacity, influence and external visibility on work with the private sector, including by developing new training programmes to promote IUCN’s tools and approaches for the private sector and support their uptake (in collaboration with the IUCN Academy).
- Participate in meetings, conferences, and platforms of relevance to the work program, to advance and showcase IUCN technical and thought leadership.
- Build and maintain partnerships, support fundraising efforts, and represent the organisation in relevant forums to strengthen impact and stakeholder engagement.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organisation such as IUCN, 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.
REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree in Sustainability Management, Sustainable Finance, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Economics, or related field.
Minimum 8-10 years of experience, and minimum 5 working for industry (e.g. finance sector) or consulting in a biodiversity related role focusing on biodiversity credit schemes, portfolio risk screening, and analytics.
Extensive experience of biodiversity credits and biodiversity offsets, including knowledge of focal areas and strengths and weaknesses of biodiversity credit platforms and credit mechanisms.
Technical understanding of IUCN key standards, tools and metrics (in particular IUCN RHINO, STAR metrics, and IBAT) or other scientifically reputable equivalents.
Technical understanding and practical experience of the evolving biodiversity disclosure landscape (e.g. TNFD, CSRD, ESRS, SBTN, GRI, EUDR), ESG, impact investing and sustainable finance principles.
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 100'355 and CHF 125'444, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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