Unit:
Global Information Systems Group
Organisation:
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:
Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Switzerland is the preferred location. However, alternatives in countries where IUCN has a registered office can be considered for particularly highly qualified candidates.
IMPORTANT - the advertised salary range is specific to Switzerland only. Shortlisted candidates that are interested in alternative locations will be provided local-specific salary ranges.
Reporting to:
Chief Financial Officer
Expected start date:
01 April 2027
Type of contract:
Max-term (up to 36 months)
Closing date:
21 September 2026
BACKGROUND
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 1,600 Member organisations and around 18,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis.
IUCN's Programme 2026–2029 places digital transformation, data stewardship and technology-enabled collaboration at the heart of the organisation's ambition to remain the trusted, science-led voice for nature. The Union's global reach — spanning headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, multiple regional offices, six expert Commissions, and a distributed network of thousands of members and partners — demands a coherent, modern and secure digital infrastructure.
As part of this strategic commitment, IUCN is hiring its new Director, Global Information Systems to lead the organisation's Information Technology and Digital Transformation function. The role will serve as the principal technology executive, accountable to the Director General for defining and delivering an IT strategy that advances IUCN's conservation mission, enhances operational efficiency, and positions the Union as a digital-first organisation
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director, GISG is responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for information technology, data governance and digital innovation across the IUCN Secretariat. The role leads a global IT function covering systems architecture, cybersecurity, data management, digital platforms, and user-facing technology services — all in alignment with the IUCN Programme 2026–2029 and the broader Union's 20-year Strategic Vision.
The Director, GISG champions responsible and inclusive technology adoption, ensuring that digital solutions serve IUCN's conservation goals, contributes to organisational efficiency, strengthens connectivity with Members and Commissions, and respects IUCN's values of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as well as sustainable usage of resources. The Director, GISG works in close collaboration with programmatic Centres, Regional Offices, the Finance and Administration function, and external technology partners.
A. IT Strategy and Governance
1. Develop, maintain and implement a multi-year IT and Digital Transformation Strategy aligned with IUCN's Programme and 20-year Strategic Vision, subject to approval by the Executive Board and relevant governance bodies.
2. Establish and maintain effective IT governance frameworks, including policies, standards, risk management procedures and compliance mechanisms consistent with all applicable Swiss and local laws, GDPR and IUCN data-protection obligations.
3. Advise the Director General and the Executive Board on technology trends, emerging digital risks and opportunities relevant to international conservation organisations.
4. Lead the development of IUCN's data governance framework, ensuring the responsible collection, management, sharing and stewardship of conservation and organisational data assets.
5. Ensure alignment of the IT strategy with IUCN's financial planning cycle, contributing to the preparation of the annual IT budget and multi-year capital investment plans.
B. Infrastructure, Systems and Cybersecurity
1. Oversee the design, implementation and continuous improvement of IUCN's global IT infrastructure, including cloud services, networks, end-user computing, and hosted platforms used by headquarters and regional offices.
2. Lead the organisation's cybersecurity function, including threat detection, incident response planning, staff awareness and compliance with relevant security standards and frameworks.
3. Ensure resilience, integration, availability and performance of mission-critical systems including but not limited to Financial Systems, HR Systems, Project Portal, all IUCN Portals (Members, Commissions, Library), and the IUCN website.
4. Oversee the lifecycle management of enterprise applications, ensuring timely upgrades, vendor management and integration across systems.
5. Maintain a robust business continuity and disaster recovery plan for all critical IT systems.
C. Digital Transformation and Innovation
1. Provide technical leadership and oversight for Project Harmony and other organisation-wide transformation initiatives, ensuring robust systems architecture, integration, cybersecurity and data integrity. Support the executive sponsors and business owners in delivering the programme through strong IT governance, solution design and implementation.
2. Drive organisation-wide digital evolution, facilitating the adoption of modern collaboration tools, workflow automation and AI-enabled solutions that enhance operational efficiency and conservation impact.
3. Lead the development of innovative digital services that strengthen IUCN's engagement with its Union constituency, including Members, Commissions, donors and partners, building on platforms such as IUCN Engage and the Union Portal.
4. Champion the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other emerging technologies in support of IUCN's scientific and programmatic work, including species assessments, biodiversity monitoring and global reporting.
5. Foster a culture of digital literacy and innovation across the Secretariat, designing and overseeing training and capacity-building programmes for staff at all levels.
D. Team Leadership and Management
1. Provide visionary and accountable leadership to the IT and Digital Transformation team, which includes staff at headquarters and in regional offices, ensuring clear roles, high performance standards and strong team cohesion.
2. Recruit, develop and retain a diverse, skilled technology workforce, promoting gender balance and geographic diversity in line with IUCN's human resources policies.
3. Establish clear objectives, performance indicators and appraisal processes for all IT staff, in accordance with IUCN's conditions of service.
4. Foster a collaborative and inclusive working environment, encouraging knowledge-sharing and cross-functional teamwork with programmatic, administrative and regional colleagues.
E. Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
1. Develop and manage strategic relationships with technology vendors, cloud providers, open-source communities and digital innovation partners in the conservation and international development sectors.
2. Represent IUCN in relevant technology and data-governance forums, including inter-agency UN working groups on digital infrastructure and sustainability.
3. Collaborate with donor-funded technology projects, ensuring that IT requirements are integrated into project design, and that donor reporting obligations relating to digital deliverables are met.
4. Engage proactively with IUCN Membership and Commissions Unit and external partners to understand technology needs and co-develop digital tools and platforms that serve the broader Union constituency.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in 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, 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
A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in information technology, of which at least 7 years in a senior leadership role (e.g. CIO, CTO, IT Director) in an international or large-scale organisation.
Proven track record of leading enterprise-wide digital transformation programmes, including cloud migration, ERP implementation or platform modernisation.
Demonstrated experience in cybersecurity governance, risk management and data protection compliance in an international context.
Experience in international organisations, UN agencies, intergovernmental bodies, or large NGOs is a strong asset.
Demonstrated experience in managing diverse, geographically dispersed technology teams.
Experience working with conservation data systems, biodiversity informatics, or environmental science platforms is an advantage.
Track record in strategic budget planning and IT financial management, including cost recovery models.
Experience in design and implementation of AI driven systems is an advantage.
COMPETENCIES
1. Strategic leadership, characterised by:
Ability to translate organisational strategy into a coherent and actionable technology vision.
Demonstrated capacity to influence and align diverse stakeholders around a digital agenda.
Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
2. Managerial excellence, characterised by:
High level of integrity and transparency, demonstrated through communication style and conduct in ambiguous or complex situations.
Proven ability to recruit, develop, empower and motivate staff across diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Clear commitment to fostering a culture of performance, accountability and inclusion.
Experience building teams diverse in gender, nationality and background to deliver results.
3. Technical authority, characterised by:
Deep knowledge of enterprise IT architecture, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and modern software development practices.
Familiarity with data governance frameworks and open data principles relevant to scientific and international organisations.
Ability to evaluate and adopt emerging technologies (AI, IoT, Earth observation, blockchain) in a resource-conscious environment.
4. Communication and stakeholder engagement, characterised by:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences at all levels of the organisation.
Fluency in French or Spanish is a strong asset.
Strong networking and representation skills, with experience engaging technology partners.
5. Values alignment, characterised by:
Genuine commitment to nature conservation, sustainable development and the mission and values of IUCN.
Demonstrated ability to act with integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism, as set out in IUCN's Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics.
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 155'063 and CHF 193'829, 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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