Senior Programme Officer, Business

Senior Programme Officer, Business & Nature

Background

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global Union of over 1,400 members, primarily government and civil society organizations, supported by more than 18,000 experts. Headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, with offices worldwide, IUCN is recognized as the leading authority on the status of nature and the actions needed to protect it.

As a trusted source of conservation data, analysis, and standards, IUCN provides a neutral platform where governments, NGOs, businesses, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders collaborate to advance sustainable development. Its global projects blend scientific innovation with local knowledge to restore ecosystems, halt habitat loss, and enhance human well‑being.

The Business & Nature Global Team drives the adoption of nature‑positive business practices by leveraging IUCN’s tools, metrics, and partnerships across corporate, sectoral, and regulatory levels. This work is delivered through collaborations with IUCN’s regional offices, members, and partners worldwide.

In South America, IUCN’s Regional Office (IUCN SUR) has operated from Quito, Ecuador, since 1992, with a National Office in Brasília, Brazil, since 2010. In Brazil, IUCN implements regional and global initiatives on protected areas, the Green List, Nature‑based Solutions, Forest Landscape Restoration, and other Nature 2030 priorities. Partners include federal and state agencies, academia, NGOs (24 members), and growing private‑sector collaborations. IUCN is also engaged in strategic collaborations with leading private sector actors and intends to expand this portfolio with this position.

This position is based in São Paulo, Brazil. The person will be contracted according to the Brazilian law (CLT), and it will include medical and life insurance.

Job Description

Overall Responsibility

The Senior Programme Officer in Business & Nature is responsible for the technical management, implementation and development of a portfolio of collaborative partnerships with companies and public actors in sectors in Brazil with important impacts on biodiversity (including but not limited to the metals and mining, aggregates, paper & pulp, chemicals industries, nature‑based industries and agrifood) to support the delivery of measurable Nature Positive outcomes aligned with IUCN Programme targets, whilst generating high quality knowledge and learning. In doing so, s/he will be expected to collaborate with the IUCN Business & Nature Global team, IUCN Regional Office for South America (IUCN SUR), the Brazilian Country Office, the Brazilian National Committee of IUCN members, IUCN thematic Teams, as well as with IUCN Commissions as necessary to ensure that recommendations and lessons learnt are integrated into the programmes policy and knowledge work.

Specific Responsibilities and Duties

Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Coordinator and close coordination of the Business and Nature Senior Programme Manager, the main duties and responsibilities include:

1. Portfolio technical implementation and development

• Develop private sector use and application of IUCN standards, metrics, and tools, such as the IUCN RHINO approach (Rapid High‑Integrity Nature‑positive Outcomes), Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, NbS Standard, and the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) while promoting the application of the mitigation hierarchy and IUCN’s relevant policies in Brazil;
• Collaborate with companies and sectoral bodies in Brazil to refine IUCN tools, providing technical feedback to IUCN global teams to strengthen knowledge and best practices on nature‑positive approaches, and increase their relevance and uptake in the business sector;
• Explore ways to combine IUCN tools (e.g., STAR) with other approaches, such as Life Cycle Assessments, to enhance their relevance and use across sectors;
• Facilitate Independent Scientific and Technical Advisory Panels in Brazil, providing strategic expertise to address complex and controversial issues and build trust amongst stakeholders;
• Help identify opportunities and support the development of technical proposals to the private sector in Brazil, that use IUCN’s data, tools, and expertise to deliver Nature Positive results;
• Develop concepts and funding proposals to donors for projects that strengthen enabling conditions—such as policies and regulations—supporting the sectoral transition toward Nature Positive outcomes;
• Support the regional team in establishing and strengthening collaborations with the private sector in the region and in preparing high‑quality technical proposals.

2. Project portfolio management, delivery, and quality assurance

• Provide technical assistance and capacity build