ThaiNGO

Position title:              OECMs Senior Officer

Reports to:                  Senior Program Manager, GBF 30 x 30

Location:                     Bangkok

1. Background:

For over 50 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works across 100 countries and is supported by close to 5 million members globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at all levels locally to globally, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

In 2022, more than 100 nations met at the 15^th Conference of the Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (COP15) and committed to “30 by 30,” the goal of protecting 30% of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats worldwide by 2023. The Government of Thailand endorsed this initiative.

To date, Thailand has permanently protected approximately 21% of its terrestrial habitats and 5% of its marine habitats. Approaching 30% in 7 years will be a significant challenge, and will require the collaboration of numerous public and private partners.

WWF's goal is to support government agencies through the complex process of protected area designation and OECM identification and recognition; our support may include but not be limited to wildlife inventory, interagency coordination, geospatial services, boundary demarcation, and community outreach.

While meeting this challenge is a fundamentally governmental activity, WWF-Thailand plans to support key government agencies in achieving this goal. Our 30 by 30 Conservation Program is designed to support agencies in two elements that we believe will be central to this initiative:

1. Accelerating the designation of proposed National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Non-Hunting Areas;
2. Supporting initial management of new protected areas, in particular in initial development of SMART patrol systems and ranger training.
3. Supporting the development of a national framework to identify and recognize “Other Area-Based Effective Conservation Measures” (OECMs), endorsed by COP15, which are defined areas of land that are not protected areas but provide biodiversity conservation benefits, and are expected to into the future. We believe that many Government of Thailand agencies hold lands with these characteristics.
4. Collaborating with governmental authorities and ensuring land rights in potential OECMs areas and understanding OECM management guidelines and frameworks and monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.

WWF is seeking a Senior GIS Officer - PAs and OECMs at 100% level of effort for the project in Thailand

2. Major Functions:

OECMs Senior Officer will provide technical support on spatial analysis and related operations to the Senior Program Manager, coordinate with government agencies, engage civil society organizations and the local community to achieve the program’s goals and targets, and ensure that all activities comply with project agreements, WWF’s contractual obligations, and donor requirements.

The OECMs Senior Officer will take full responsibility for the preparation of mapping products, including analysis & synthesis and processing into technical reports, and support the preparation of project financial documents.

3. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize meetings and workshops related to the designation of protected areas and recognition of OECMs in close coordination with key government partners.
• Monitor and update contact lists of program stakeholders and partnerships.
• Gather and update GIS data relevant to the Thailand 30 by 30 planning process from all sources
• Support technical spatial analysis and planning for the 30 x 30 program and preparation of documents for official coordination with government agencies.
• Provide technical support for spatial landscape mapping to identify and prioritize potential and candidate sites for OECMs in Thailand. 
• Provide periodic GIS technical support for meetings of the Thailand OECM Advisory Committee and Specialist Group.
• Working as a team with the Senior Program Manager - OECMs and the Program Officer- Protected Areas to conduct field ground-truthing of remote sensing products and provide technical support to local stakeholders.
• Support the program in the preparation of project financial documents.
• Support the Senior Program Manager in development of 30 by 30 program and OECM workplans;
• Support the project team to ensure timely completion of permitting and reporting requirements of Thailand government agencies;
• Develop donor reports and M&E plans;
• Ensure program compliance with all WWF safeguards requirements (risk/quality assurance/ESSF)
• Support other work as required.

4. Profile:

Required Qualifications       

• Graduate degree in related fields or wildlife or conservation biology, natural resource management.
• At least 5 years of experience in (Thailand preferred) in protected area management, or biodiversity conservation.
• Demonstrated expertise in GIS skills in terms of wildlife, landscape, and/or connectivity program development.
• Understanding of land conservation processes and Thailand's protected areas systems that support community participation and empowerment.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Competence interpersonal and communication with the ability to interact at middle levels of national or experience international, multicultural, and multilingual organizations would be advantage.
• GIS expertise adequate to support the goals of two parallel programs (protected areas and OECMs)
• Familiar with governmental and non-governmental environmental conservation initiatives, key players, and challenges in Thailand.
• Fluency in Thai and competence in English.

5. Working Relationships:

Internal: WWF-Thailand Conservation, Finance, and Communications staff, as well as WWF Greater Mekong specialists and WWF-Network donor offices (WWF European and other national offices).

External: Different departments of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental and other relevant government offices, provincial and military representatives, individual protected area managers and wildlife researchers, as well as academic and INGO partners.

This JD covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.