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Regional Director, Oceania Regional Office (ORO)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Director and Top Executive Full-time
Close on 31 Oct 2025
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Posted 12 hours ago
Job Description
Vacancy #: 7418
Unit: Oceania Regional Director's Office
Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location: Oceania Regional Office, Suva, Fiji
Reporting to: Regional Director, Asia
Work percentage: 100%
Grade: M2
Expected start date: 01 January 2026
Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date: 31 October 2025
BACKGROUND
This position requires an accomplished, credible, and reliable senior leader and manager with strong experience and a good understanding of environmental policy issues in the regional and global context.

The Regional Director represents the IUCN Secretariat and provides leadership and guidance for all activities undertaken by the Secretariat in the region. With a firm understanding of Oceania and international challenges and opportunities, he/she is responsible for fundraising efforts to achieve the IUCN Programme as approved by its members.

Fully supported by a range of local, regional, and global experts, the Regional Director is accountable for financial, human, and administrative resources, and ensures the regional financial viability of the IUCN Programme in line with IUCN policies, rules, and procedures.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Major Responsibilities
As the official representative in the region, he/she is responsible for maintaining a high and professional corporate profile for IUCN particularly with IUCN Members, partners and stakeholder groups at different levels. The Regional Director ensures that all organisational activities are consistently performed under the principles of equity, fairness, inclusiveness, and respect for the diversity of people.

In the IUCN Secretariat, ORO along with the Asia Regional Office (ARO) is under the the general oversight of the Regional Hub for Asia and Oceania -- which directly supervises both regional offices, coordinates key project portfolios, and provides shared corporate and programme support services. The ORO Regional Director reports to the Hub Director with matrix reporting to the Director General.

2. Specific Tasks:

2.1. Leadership, Policy Influencing and Representation
• Represent and promote the mission of IUCN in Oceania in a manner that enhances the status of the Union and influences decision-making bodies, intergovernmental agencies, governments, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and the private sector.
• Represent, or arrange for appropriate representation, of IUCN in relevant regional events.
• Promote IUCN’s mission and ensure that IUCN’s policy positions and Programme are known and considered in the decisions of countries and institutions in the region.
• Provide strategic leadership and guidance in delivering IUCN’s Programme in the region.
• Serve as a member of IUCN’s senior management team to establish and implement strategic decisions for the IUCN Secretariat.
• Establish diplomatic relations with governments and formalise such relationships by forging agreements that enhance active cooperation and collaboration to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature.
• Establish priorities and remain accountable for the implementation of work plans to manage and mitigate strategic and operational risks associated with various programmatic engagements.
• Provide strategic direction on regional and country-specific knowledge products and reports.

2.2 Membership and Engagement
• In collaboration with the IUCN Membership Unit and focal points at the regional level, implement the IUCN Membership Strategy and develop and implement membership recruitment, engagement, and retention plans.
• Develop and maintain regular contact with governments, regional and national committees of Members, existing and potential IUCN Members, partner organisations, and Commission members.
• In collaboration with the different parts of IUCN – governments, indigenous peoples, and NGO Members, National and Regional Committees of Members, Commission experts, and the Secretariat – work together to develop, implement, and advance IUCN’s Programme in Oceania
• Initiate, promote, and facilitate initiatives and dialogues on key issues of conservation policy, based on IUCN's regional and global priorities.
• Partner with national and regional IUCN Member Committees in preparing IUCN’s quadrennial Programme.
• Identify institutions – both public and private – with which IUCN can establish collaborative relationships in programmatic work.
• Establish and maintain exceptional relations with the donor community in the region to obtain long-term engagement and support for IUCN’s Programme.

2.3 Resources, Operational and Change Management
• Develop and maintain long-term financial sustainability for IUCN Oceania through successful fund generation strategies and nurturing relations with the donor community in the region to ensure lasting engagement and support for IUCN’s Programme.
• Oversee preparation, implementation, evaluation and reporting of multi-year programmes for IUCN's work in Oceania, in line with IUCN's Programme and business model.
• Build, nurture and lead a coherent, fit-for-purpose and high-performing regional team in planning and delivering IUCN’s Programme including to attract, retain and motivate diverse talent.
• Maintain a positive, productive and innovative work environment that facilitates collaboration and information-sharing while fully aligned with IUCN’s institutional values, norms and overall culture.
• Develop and retain close coordination and knowledge exchange links across the IUCN Secretariat and IUCN constituencies.
• Direct the effective operation of the IUCN Secretariat’s activities in the region, including workforce resource and financial management, as well as the implementation of IUCN policies, procedures, and control mechanisms.
• Build and nurture a coherent IUCN team and coordinate with other IUCN offices, to develop deeper collaboration and enable the greater achievement of IUCN’s mission.
• Provide administrative oversight to the Regional Office in ensuring compliance with IUCN policies, procedures and guidelines.
REQUIREMENTS
• Advanced university degree or post graduate in a subject related to either nature conservation and sustainable development, with relevant professional experience in the other.
• Solid knowledge of environment and development policy issues as well as the geopolitical, development and multi-stakeholder contexts in Oceania; sound understanding of how this fits into the global context.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in regional-level senior management and governance of a complex international development, policy and/or scientific organisation, of which at least 5 years in Oceania.
• Track record in programme leadership, administrative management, resource mobilisation and partnership development.
• Fluency in written and verbal English.
• Fluency in one or more of the languages of the Pacific languages would be a distinct asset.
• Ability to travel frequently within the region and globally.
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.

www.iucn.org
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