Global Head, Nature-based Solutions

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) seeks a Global Head for Nature-based Solutions based in Gland, Switzerland. This senior, full-time, onsite role focuses on advancing the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, coordinating NbS activities, and strengthening institutional leadership through collaboration with Members, Commissions, and partners.

This role is designed to lead and coordinate IUCN’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS) initiatives, ensuring the organization’s strategic and coherent leadership in this field. It involves mainstreaming the NbS concept and standard across IUCN’s portfolio, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and developing a recognition scheme to enhance institutional credibility and impact.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the NbS team, including performance management, staff wellbeing, and workflow coordination.
• Manage project finances within approved budgets, policies, and timelines.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to prioritize and deliver NbS activities.
• Matrix-manage NbS-related staff in other teams when appropriate.
• Ensure adoption and implementation of the IUCN Nature-based Solutions Strategy across the organization.
• Develop and manage workplans to expand IUCN’s NbS portfolio and mainstream the concept and standard.
• Provide technical leadership for NbS-related projects and portfolio development.
• Report regularly to senior management on NbS progress and outcomes.
• Coordinate internal and external knowledge sharing and scaling of NbS efforts.
• Oversee quality and technical aspects of NbS capacity development, including training via the IUCN Academy and other platforms.
• Build NbS capacity among practitioners, governments, and local communities.
• Strengthen the evidence base for NbS by developing analytical tools and case studies with IUCN Members, Commissions, and partners.
• Lead global initiatives to mainstream and scale up NbS.
• Support countries and practitioners in designing and piloting high-integrity NbS projects.
• Assist countries in integrating NbS into national policies, laws, and frameworks.
• Promote social inclusion, safeguards, and equitable benefit-sharing in NbS projects.
• Facilitate public and private investment in NbS by developing finance-readiness criteria and screening tools.
• Identify advocacy opportunities for NbS through webinars, workshops, and international events.
• Bring together cross-sector actors to enhance IUCN’s global leadership in NbS.
• Advocate for NbS at global policy forums and collaborate with Indigenous peoples and local communities.
• Coordinate communications and partnerships with IUCN Members, Commissions, and external partners to promote NbS.
• Support high-level NbS engagement with IUCN leadership, Centres, Regions, and external stakeholders.
• Proactively seek and engage new partners relevant to NbS and IUCN’s broader program goals.
• Manage relationships with funders and partners to increase IUCN’s visibility and leadership on NbS.
• Engage strategically with existing and potential NbS donors and framework partners.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities for maintaining the IUCN Global Standard, databases, knowledge tools, and portfolio expansion.
• Support the International Standards Committee (ISC) for the IUCN Global Standard on NbS.
• Assist the Deputy Director General – Programme in representing IUCN on the ISC as needed.
• Work with the Office of the Legal Advisor to protect IUCN’s intellectual property related to the NbS standard.
• Support reporting of NbS results and impacts in collaboration with IUCN’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.
• Develop a NbS recognition scheme with IUCN Commissions, Members, and partners, including planning for its promotion and implementation.