Regional Center for Central and West Asia -- two vacancies

RRC-CWA Vacancy Announcement

The Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in the Central and West Asia (RRC-CWA) has two vacancies for Communication Officer and Technical Officer.

The 8th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) to the Ramsar Convention adopted Resolution VIII.41 which welcomed establishment of a Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in Western and Central Asia, in the city of Ramsar, Iran, and expressed its approval for this initiative.

The Centre works to meet the wetland training and research needs of the Ramsar Convention in the Central and West Asia Region as defined by the Ramsar Secretariat. The Centre also seeks to work with other Contracting and non-contracting Parties in all activities and in particular to share and exchange special experience in wetland conservation and wise use.

A 12-month renewable contract is offered for both positions, starting in June 2008 with a trial period of three months.

Position: Communication Officer

Responsibilities for Communication Officer:

1. Provide environmental educational opportunities through conferences, short courses, seminars and publications, at both local and regional levels;
2. Provide technical expertise for people, organisations and governments seeking assistance for the conservation of wetlands;
3. Coordinate the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of the Program for Strengthening of Capacities and Research on Wetlands based on RRC-CWA objectives.
4. Coordinate, organizs and promote training events related to wetlands;
5. Maintain constant communication with Ramsar Contracting Parties in the Central and West Asia region and with other partners in relation with the specific technical functions of the position;
6. Contribute to and support the RRC-CWA strategic and financial planning process within the framework of the position;
7. Prepare technical reports of the programs under his/her responsibility to the Executive Director, donors, and others, in timely manner;
8. Perform administrative tasks related to his/her responsibilities;
9. Follow up and evaluate personnel under his/her charge;
10. Maintain inventory control of goods and project supplies under his/her responsibility;
11. Carry out other tasks requested by the Executive Director based on the job description.

Communication Officer Requirements:

1. Academic profile: University degree in the field of environmental studies;
2. At least 5 years' experience in wetlands ecosystems. Experience at regional level in Central and West Asia will add value;
3. Proven knowledge of the Ramsar Convention, its guidance Handbooks and operation;
4. Studies or experience in capacity building with emphasis in wetlands and related issues to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention;
5. Experience in promoting and raising awareness about wetlands and in the development of training materials (i.e. didactic, audiovisual and for environmental education);
6. Experience with community work and in the governmental sector;
7. National and resident of a country that is part of the Ramsar Convention in the Central and West Asia region;
8. Capacity for teamwork and organization skills, as well as respect for cultural diversity;
9. Availability to travel;
10. Languages: High proficiency in English. Knowledge of Farsi, Russian, and Arabic desirable;
11. Strong oral and writing skills;
12. Creativity and initiative;
13. Software knowledge: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Position: Technical Officer

Responsibilities for Technical Officer:

1. Produce the technical information required to formulate proposals related to his/her position;
2. Work with Communication Officer to coordinate the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of the Program for Strengthening of Capacities and Research on Wetlands based on RRC-CWA objectives;
3. Work with Communication Officer to coordinate, organize and promote training events related to wetlands;
4. Support the development and maintenance of a database for the regional wetlands specialists directory;
5. Contribute and support in RRC-CWA strategic and financial planning process within the framework of the position;
6. Perform administrative tasks related to his/her responsibilities;
7. Follow up and evaluate personnel under his/her charge;
8. Prepare technical and financial reports of the programs under his/her responsibility to the Executive Director, donors, and others, in timely manner;
9. Maintain inventory control of goods and project supplies under his/her responsibility;
10. Other tasks requested by the Executive Director based on the job description.

Technical Officer Requirements

1. Academic profile: Applicant should have a university degree in the field of environmental studies;
2. At least 5 years' experience in wetlands ecosystems. Experience at regional level in Central and West Asia will add value;
3. Proven knowledge of the Ramsar Convention, its Handbooks and operation;
4. Proven experience on management and project planning; a record of participation in a successful project supported by the Ramsar Convention will be an asset;
5. National and resident of a country that is part of the Ramsar Convention in the Central and West Asia region;
6. Capacity for teamwork and organization skills, as well as respect for cultural diversity;
7. Availability to travel;
8. Languages: High proficiency in English. Knowledge of Farsi, Russian, and Arabic desirable;
9. Strong oral and writing skills;
10. Creativity and initiative;
11. Software knowledge: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Specific tasks for both Positions:

- Develop technical proposals to implement the Strengthening Strategic Plan and the Regional Training Program in coordination with the Institutional Development Officer;
- Undertake project design, planning, coordination, execution, and monitoring based on RRC-CWA Annual Work Plan, Strategic Plan, Strengthening Needs Assessment, Strengthening Strategic Plan, Regional Training Program, among other documents;
- Identify and develop themes for new programs and training actions;
- Participate in curricula and thematic development, coordinate the preparation of training modules, and identify keynote speakers and professor for training events according to RRC-CWA objectives and the Strengthening Strategic Plan;
- Produce didactic and audiovisual materials for trainings about wetlands and the training program;
- Identify and collect relevant training material produced by other organizations and share the materials with partners in the region through e-mail or by posting the documents on the website;
- Update the wetlands specialist directory (including speakers, facilitators and trainers by thematic area);
- Provide technical assistance to governments in the region that are part of the Ramsar Convention in topics relevant to the Center's mandate, in coordination with the Executive Director and in consultation with the Ramsar Secretariat as required;
- Organize training events on wetland issues when the Center has direct responsibility to carry out the training and provide logistic support to governments and/or other entities when they are in charge of providing the training on behalf of the Center;
- Travel (local or international) according to the needs and requirements for the fulfillment of functions;
- Provide information to develop proposals and as input to the Center's newsletter and website;
- Support in the development of projects to strengthen the wetlands network of international importance in the West and Central Asia.
- Support in eventual administrative tasks, in coordination with Executive Director.

Expected results:

- Strengthening of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention in the Central and West Asia region in wise use and management of wetlands;
- Strengthening of other partners in management and conservation of wetlands;
- Implementing actions in promotion and for raising awareness about wetlands in Central and West Asia - distribution of: a) information about training opportunities on a national, regional or international level, b) didactic and audiovisual material related to wetlands, and c) general information about wetlands at the Central and West Asia level.

Applications should be sent with the following documents in English before May 20th, 2008:

a) Application letter and expression of interest.
b) Currículum vitae, including a recent photo (English )
c) At least 3 work or academic reference letters with the position and complete contact information of the person providing the reference. The references shall be different from the ones mentioned in the application form.

Please send the documents to both of the following addresses: (It is preferable to send information by email)

1. Ramsar Regional Center- West and Central Asia
Ms. Yasaman Rajabkhah
Executive Director
Fax: 0098 (0) 21 88241659 E-mail: yasaman_rajabkhah@yahoo.com

2. Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Ms. Pragati Tuladhar
Technical Officer for Asia-Oceania
Fax: +41 (0)22 999 0169; Website: www.ramsar.org
Email: asia@ramsar.org

Note: only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for interview no later than on May 27th, 2008. The interviews through teleconference will be held in the week of May 27 to 31st. The final decision will be made no later than May 31st when the selected candidate will be informed to start the contracting process and the rest of the pre-selected candidates will be informed about the decision made.

Please note that the Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in Central and West Asia (RRC-CWA) is an independent institution partially funded by the Ramsar Convention as one of its "regional initiatives under the framework of the Convention". The positions described above are not positions in the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.