View Vacancy – Biodiverse Landscapes Fund Landscape Coordinator

Main purpose of job

The post-holder will manage regional coordination and implementation of the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund. The £100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund will be delivered across 6 landscapes globally, is owned by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will be used to fund the advertised role. The Fund will deliver conservation, poverty reduction and climate outcomes across a range of biologically diverse, transboundary landscapes worldwide. The post holder will work to support the implementation of the Fund in the Andes/Amazon landscape, which will span areas across Peru and Ecuador, therefore this this role will have a regional focus. The programme is currently in the design phase. Activities under the programme will be delivered by an individual or consortium of delivery partners in each landscape, potentially including international and local conservation and development organisations, community groups and land management organisations. An external fund manager will be in place to administer and implement the Fund and an independent evaluator will be contracted to carry out regular reviews and learning for the programme. The post holder is expected to work with all of these partners and provide an on the ground quality assurance and reporting function for the Defra programme team based in the UK. The post holder will also work to lead and promote wider UK biodiversity objectives in the region and work with host governments on these matters. The post holder will report to Gemma Sykes in the British Embassy Quito, but will work closely with and deliver to the UK based Defra Programme team.

The post holder will develop and lead strong relationship and engagement management with external contractors, project delivery partners and regional, governmental and non-governmental stakeholders with an interest in the Fund. This is in order to effectively maintain and lead on the ground project oversight, capacity building, regional co-ordination and engagement activities. The post holder will act as Defra’s lead HMG contact in the region, acting to ensure the Fund is implemented effectively and remains aligned to UK government interests and objectives. They will provide regional oversight to the Defra programme team and in turn external contractors working to effectively monitor, implement and evaluate the programme. They will also coordinate a range of administrative, logistical and project management activities. The post holder must be fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish, have excellent organisational prioritisation and coordination skills to meet complex logistical and operational deadlines. They will lead work on behalf of Defra and the Embassies in the region to ensure communication, policy and strategic opportunities provided by the Fund’s activities are identified and delivered. This is in order to raise awareness of the Fund and to capitalise upon the Fund’s activities to achieve wider and long-lasting impacts.

The post holder will have strong communication skills, be able to work in a team and independently. He/she must also be able to engage effectively and develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders at local, national and international levels. While the post will be based in Quito, they will be required to work closely with others across the region and in the UK. They will also provide wider mission critical support to the Embassy as required. Occasional internal and international travel will be required.   

Roles and responsibilities 

• Programme Support – 25%
• Work effectively with the Defra programme team in the UK, external contractors and regional colleagues to review implementation of the programme.
• Monitor and assess risks and opportunities associated with the programme, reporting clearly to the programme team.
• Identify errors or problems, take action as necessary to resolve and/or notify others in the team.
• Write clear reports and briefings as required.
• Assist with the orientation of visiting UK officials or contractors associated with the Fund, providing local knowledge and understanding.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement – 40%
• Build a network and communicate with a wide range of professionals at a local, national, regional and international scale.
• Work with the Communications Officers regionally and in the UK to create and deliver publicity for the programme.
• Provide an effective and professional service when liaising with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and the public using tact and diplomacy to encourage effective working.
• Respond to enquiries from key stakeholders to provide information in line with agreed protocols and procedures.
• Support the planning of meetings, high level events and conferences.
• Support projects by developing and identifying communication resources required, ensuring all materials and resources are current and appropriate.
• Strategic and contextual analysis – 25%
• Build a strategic awareness and continue to analyse the economic, environmental and policy context to inform effective delivery of the programme.
• Develop an in depth understanding of the UK’s international biodiversity priorities and approach and how the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund can support these regionally.
• Identify and facilitate opportunities to deliver capacity building and technical assistance with programme partners and key stakeholders, to further the long-term impact of the Fund.
• Identify connections, opportunities and risks to align programme activities/impact and the delivery of wider national and regional objectives on biodiversity loss, climate change and poverty reduction.
• Support the sustainable impact of the programme objectives and its longer-term legacy in the landscape, including through policy and technical expertise development

Other – 10%

• Delivery wider mission critical work as required as part of the team at British Embassy Lima
• Summarise correspondence, reports and compile letters, both routine and ad hoc, ensuring that deadlines are met.
• Assess and prioritise own workload within given timeframe, to meet project schedules.
• Manage own workload and activities, including emails and diary management.
• Participate in self-development to continually improve performance/systems and undertake development activities that are identified.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Defra programming team. These responsibilities may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Support external contractors and the Defra programme team in oversight of approx. £XX million over X years of programme funds held by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Qualifications

• Degree qualification or equivalent experience. 

Knowledge and Experience

• Previous experience in similar role in project/ programme management in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organizations.
• Experience of building a network and managing effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government officials, delivery partners and local and community groups.
• Experience drafting briefing papers, reports and presentations.

Skills and Capabilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
• Ability to identify strategic opportunities and risks, underlying drivers and connections.
• Ability to effectively as part of a team which is dispersed across the region and in the UK.
• Effective organization, prioritization and planning skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organize own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales. 
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Ability to handle strictly confidential information from internal and external sources whilst always adhering to best practices of confidentiality.
• Computer literate and proficient user of Microsoft programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint.  

Equality and Diversity

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Language requirements:

Language: English and Spanish.

Level of language required:  fluent written and oral.

Must have the legal status to live and work in Ecuador.