Organisation:
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:
Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:
Senior Governance Manager
Expected start date:
01 September 2026
Type of contract:
Max-term (up to 24 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:
19 June 2026
BACKGROUND
The Governance Unit supports the IUCN Council, Bureau, Council Standing Committees and the President in the exercise of their functions under the IUCN Statutes, Regulations and Rules of Procedure. The Unit supports the effective organisation of governance processes, the timely preparation and follow-up of decisions, and the maintenance of accurate records and governance documentation.
Under the supervision of the Senior Governance Manager – Secretary to Council, the Governance Officer provides professional, coordination, drafting and administrative support for the planning, preparation and follow-up of governance processes. The role supports assigned aspects of Council, Bureau, Standing Committee and related governance workflows, with a particular focus on documentation, meeting coordination, record-keeping, decision tracking, subsidiary-body support and selected governance-related correspondence. The position requires accuracy, discretion, service orientation and the ability to work under tight deadlines. The role requires occasional travel.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Governance meeting preparation and delivery
Support assigned aspects of the preparation and delivery of meetings of the Council, Bureau, Council Standing Committees and related subsidiary bodies, under the supervision of the Senior Governance Manager – Secretary to Council.
Prepare and review agendas, annotated agendas, draft decisions, decision sheets, presentations and related governance documentation.
Undertake quality control of documentation before circulation, including consistency, completeness, formatting and clearance status.
Support online, hybrid and in-person meetings, including documentation, participant coordination, speaking lists and real-time consolidation of draft decisions or meeting outputs.
Support governance-related preparations for the World Conservation Congress and Members’ Assembly, particularly where these relate to Council responsibilities.
2. Records, decisions and follow-up
Prepare first drafts of summary records, minutes, outcome documents and post-meeting communications for review and finalisation by the Senior Governance Manager – Secretary to Council.
Maintain decision registers, implementation trackers and governance records, and follow up with relevant units on deadlines and status updates.
Support the preparation of reports and updates on the implementation of Council, Bureau and Committee decisions.
3. Support to Standing Committees and subsidiary bodies
Support the coordination of calendars, workplans, documentation and outputs for Council Standing Committees, working groups and other subsidiary bodies.
Assist Secretariat focal points and Committee Chairs with meeting preparation, materials and outputs for Council consideration.
Prepare briefing notes, background summaries, factual inputs and research on governance-related matters, as requested.
4. President and leadership support
Support the preparation of governance-related briefing materials, speaking notes and correspondence for the President and Council leadership, under the guidance of the Senior Governance Manager – Secretary to Council.
Support the tracking and organisation of selected correspondence addressed to or issued by the President.
5. Administrative, document-management and budget support
Support the circulation, formatting, publication and filing of governance documents in accordance with applicable internal procedures.
Assist with meeting administration, contact lists, invitations, logistical information and liaison with service providers.
Assist the Senior Governance Manager in tracking Governance Unit and Council-related budget matters and flag administrative, financial or procedural issues requiring follow-up.
Contribute to improving governance templates, filing systems, trackers and workflows.
6. Other duties
Carry out other duties consistent with the role and grade, as requested.
REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree in international relations, public administration, law, political science or another closely related discipline is required.
At least two years of relevant professional experience in governance support, executive or board secretariat work, institutional processes or coordination functions in an international organisation, public institution, NGO or similar environment.
Experience preparing meeting documentation, drafting minutes or decisions and tracking follow-up actions is required.
Experience working with senior leadership, governing bodies, committees or elected members is highly desirable.
Experience in multilingual and multicultural working environments is an asset.
Strong drafting, analytical and organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail.
Ability to manage several workflows simultaneously and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
Good judgement and ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion, tact and professionalism.
Strong interpersonal skills and service orientation towards internal clients, including Council, Bureau, Standing Committees and the President.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, online collaboration tools and virtual meeting platforms.
Solution-oriented, flexible and committed to accuracy, institutional memory and continuous improvement.
Excellent written and spoken English is required.
Good working knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 86'330 and CHF 107'913, 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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