Vacancy #: 7378 Unit: World Heritage Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Cambridge Office, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Reporting to: World Heritage Programme Officer, Nominations and Strategy Work percentage: 100% Grade: A3 Expected start date: 08 January 2026 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months with possibility of renewal) Closing date: 05 September 2025 BACKGROUND Programme Background
IUCN has a long-standing and high-profile role on World Heritage, delivered via the World Heritage Team based in the IUCN Centre for Conservation Action, and involving Union wide engagement on a wide range of issues. This work includes a unique statutory role as Advisory Body within the World Heritage Convention, developing a series of lines of action on World Heritage focused on the IUCN World Heritage Outlook, and the connection of Nature and Culture. IUCN is also, as an independent union, engaged directly in supporting the conservation of World Heritage Sites, as these areas are places of globally significant importance for the conservation of nature.
The salary range for this position is ยฃ27,645 - ยฃ32,645. JOB DESCRIPTION The Project Associate, World Heritage, will contribute to the technical evaluation work and coordination for the evaluation of new World Heritage Preliminary Assessments and Nominations, ensuring standards and meeting deadlines as specified by the World Heritage Convention Operational Guidelines, including the following processes:
1. Act as focal point for the assessment process of Preliminary Assessment requests:
โข Liaise closely with ICOMOS and the Nomination Team of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on all matters related to Preliminary Assessments.
โข Ensure the timely implementation of the desk assessment process of Preliminary Assessment requests, including working directly with the focal points of States Parties having submitted Preliminary Assessments, including bilateral meetings with States Parties.
โข Coordinate and contract experts, panellists and authors and provide appropriate supervision of their work prior to and following the ICOMOS/IUCN Preliminary Assessment Panel.
โข Act as the Executive Officer of the ICOMOS/IUCN Preliminary Assessment Panel for IUCN, as defined in the Panelโs Terms of Reference, and in this role ensure the efficient organization and delivery of Panel outputs, including at its annual meeting in May-June each year, and any subsequent follow up meetings.
โข Provide, review and solicit technical input and oversight for the examination of Preliminary Assessment requests.
โข Lead on the timely and high-quality production, review and layout of the IUCN Preliminary Assessment Reports and manage its transmission in line with UNESCO deadlines.
2. Contribute to the evaluation of World Heritage nominations:
โข Support the coordination of field missions to evaluate World Heritage nominations, including working directly with the focal points of nominating States Parties on mission agendas, budgets and logistics.
โข Implement jointly with colleagues the desktop peer review process for World Heritage nominations, including through IUCN networks, especially Commissions such as WCPA and SSC, and external organizations such as International Union of Geological Scientists (IUGS) and International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG).
โข Prepare drafts of evaluation reports following the recommendations of the WH Panel.
โข Support appropriate coordination with ICOMOS where appropriate, such as on mixed sites.
โข Contribute to ongoing processes to enhance working methods, scientific, technological and communication activities related to IUCN evaluation processes.
3. Support project and programme activities on the connection of Nature and Culture:
โข Facilitate and convene consultations towards increased awareness and support for concerted efforts on culture in non-human species.
โข Contribute to the development of publications and the implementation of events on the connection of Nature and Culture.
โข Contribute to the day-to-day financial administration of projects, including monitoring income and expenditure against budget to support effective and timely delivery of project outputs and reporting by project managers. REQUIREMENTS โข Required: A degree in biology, nature conservation, environmental management and/or natural resources conservation and management or other relevant fields, and ideally a masters level qualification in a subject relevant to the position;
โข Required: Knowledge of the World Heritage Convention and its operation;
โข Required: Exceptional organizational skills and ability to coordinate and manage others to deliver timely project results, contract deliverables, effective supervision of consultants, liaison with relevant stakeholders, etc.;
โข Required: Ability to work independently, strong technical understanding of nature conservation and deliver quality products within agreed tight deadlines;
โข Required: Excellent written and spoken English. A high standard of written and spoken French and/or Spanish (official IUCN languages) is a strong advantage;
โข Required: A strong aptitude and ability to communicate both informally and formally. (Well-developed presentation, interpersonal and networking skills);
โข Required: Ability to prepare high quality written communications depending on the respective audiences (correspondence, briefs etc.), with attention to detail;
โข Required: Willingness to travel and work flexibility if required (subject to agreement with line manager and in line with IUCN policies);
โข Desired: Experience working in a scientific, cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment;
โข Desired: Experience and understanding with Preliminary Assessment process and evaluation process of the World Heritage Convention;
โข Must have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, 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 but which are not part of their regular job description. 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 worldโs 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 peopleโs well-being.
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