Senior Program Officer - Ecosystem Restoration

Iucn; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 99,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in North America is seeking a Senior Program Officer to oversee restoration and sustainable land management across drylands, grasslands and forests. You will lead technical delivery, coordinate multi-partner work, and secure donor funding while ensuring compliance with international standards.

The role emphasizes land degradation neutrality, nature-based solutions and climate adaptation, with opportunities for international collaboration and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in ecology, forestry, natural resource management or related field.
• 6–8 years of relevant professional experience in restoration, biodiversity conservation or sustainable land management.
• Experience with international donors or multilateral funds (GEF/GCF) is highly desirable.
• 4+ years in project implementation, coordination or management of field-based conservation initiatives.
• Ability to translate scientific knowledge into practical conservation and policy actions.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic oversight on ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management projects.
• Lead technical implementation with focus on drylands, rangelands, forests and grasslands.
• Coordinate workplans, budgets, reports and donor requirements.
• Incorporate safeguards, gender equality and Indigenous Peoples’ rights into project delivery.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with government, NGOs and funding partners.
• Translate technical findings into policy recommendations and knowledge products.

Skills

Project management

Ecology

Restoration

Biodiversity conservation

Soil health

Land degradation neutrality

Climate adaptation

Stakeholder engagement

English proficiency

Policy advocacy

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

PhD advantageous

Tools

ROAM methodology

Restoration Barometer

Red List of Ecosystems

Monitoring & evaluation frameworks

Job description

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in North America is seeking a Senior Program Officer to oversee restoration and sustainable land management across drylands, grasslands and forests. You will lead technical delivery, coordinate multi-partner work, and secure donor funding while ensuring compliance with international standards.

The role emphasizes land degradation neutrality, nature-based solutions and climate adaptation, with opportunities for international collaboration and