Employer: BirdLife International

Description:SOUTHERN CONE GRASSLANDS ALLIANCE/ REGIONAL COORDINATOR
www.pastizalesdelconosur.org

BirdLife International seeks an experienced, energetic and proven
leader to coordinate the efforts of the Southern Cone Grasslands
Joint Venture or Alliance (herein referred to as the Alliance) to
lead on the protection, restoration and enhancement of Important Bird
Areas/ grassland habitats for resident and migratory birds and
biodiversity in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The
Coordinator will work with national focal points in each country, and
forge and advocate working partnerships among public agencies,
environmental organizations, business groups and landowners to achieve
the Alliance's mission.

Closing date is 14 April. Applicants for this position can
send an
introductory letter and curriculum vitae to Amanda
Tapia
amanda.tapia@birdlife.org

BACKGROUND
The Southern Cone Grasslands once occupied an area nearly twice the
size of Texas and supported some of the richest wildlife habitats in
the Americas.
Over the last three centuries, and particularly in recent years,
these
grasslands have largely been converted to intensive agriculture and
cattle grazing. It is believed that less than 5% of the one million km2
remain in pristine condition. With global demands for biofuels rising,
the pressure to convert remaining grasslands is increasing. With
the significant reduction in these grassland habitats, populations of
several resident and Neotropical migratory species have all but
disappeared. The emblematic Eskimo Curlew that once "filled" the skies
during migration was last seen in Argentina in the mid to late-30s and
charismatic grassland species like the Maned Wolf, Pampas Deer and the
Strange-tailed Tyrant have been forced into marginal habitat or
taken refuge in the few established protected areas. The Alliance was
established in 2004 through recognition by BirdLife and others that
grasslands in southern South America are perhaps the most threatened of
all grassland habitats globally and that a united effort
amongst key actors is needed to affect positive change for
their
conservation. Currently, the Alliance works through its members and
other partners to implement on-the-ground habitat conservation
projects that
benefit birds and wildlife throughout the region. The Alliance
also
provides a framework for its members to share skills,
funding
opportunities, and technical information.

COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Coordinator position represents the Alliance's first regional
position responsible for facilitating the development and
implementation of the Alliance's three year strategic plan, and at the
same time, supporting the ongoing conservation work of the Alliance
partners.

Primary Coordinator duties include (but are not limited to):

Strategic Planning
· Facilitate the development and implementation of a 3
year
strategic plan for the Grasslands Alliance.
· Track accomplishments and evaluate progress towards the
goal
and objectives of the Grasslands Alliance.

Project Implementation
· On behalf of the Alliance, oversee the
successful
implementation of the regional components of a regional
grasslands
conservation project funded through the Jensen Foundation
(including
annual work planning, technical and financial reporting, and
project
evaluation) (refer to Annex 1).
· On behalf of the Alliance, oversee the successful
follow-up
to the Regional Grasslands - Bage Producers Workshop supported by
the
United States Forest Service (Annex 2).
· On behalf of the Alliance, oversee the
successful
implementation of the regional components of a grasslands
conservation
project funded by the USFWS's NMBCA that focuses on conserving
migratory
grassland birds.
· On behalf of the Alliance, support the implementation of
any
regional elements of a proposal submitted to GEF to support
grasslands
conservation efforts by Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina and
Aves
Argentinas.
· On behalf of the Alliance, support the development
and
implementation of an action plan for the CMS Grasslands Migratory
Bird
MoU and ensure mutual cooperation between these two initiatives.
· Lead/ assist the development of other project
concepts in
support of the priorities identified in the Alliance's 3 year
strategic
plan.

Policy Development and Advocacy
· Understand and report on policies that are impacting
the
destruction of the grasslands in each of the four countries
with a
particular emphasis on the impact of bio-fuel production.

Communications
· Serve as a spokesperson for the Alliance and its goals
and as
liaison to other similar initiatives and environmental planning
efforts.
· Oversee the maintenance of an active web site on the
work of
the Alliance and its partners as well as generate and share
newsworthy
items affecting grasslands.
· Organize an international symposium on
grasslands
conservation to coincide with BirdLife's World Conservation
Congress in
2008.
· Represent the Alliance at national and regional events.
· Oversee the publication of materials that increase
awareness
of grasslands and their conservation.

Resourcing the Alliance
· Advise Alliance members of any funding programs,
highlight
grant opportunities, and coordinate development of collaborative
grant
applications for regional activities of the Alliance.
Administration
· Facilitate the development of terms of reference for
the
Alliance Council using similar models employed by Joint
Venture
initiatives.
· Oversee the day-to-day operations and communications of
the
Alliance as outlined in the 3 year strategic plan.
· Support National Grasslands Coordinators in
Argentina,
Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
· Support the work of an Alliance Management Board that
will
initially comprise active members of the Alliance (including
organizing
meetings, progress reports, evaluations, etc).

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND REPORTING
The Coordinator reports directly to the Director of BirdLife's
Secretariat in the Americas. The Coordinator develops and seeks approval
for a workplan based on a 3 year strategy agreed upon by the
Alliance Council. The Alliance Council initially comprises one
representative from each of the Partners in Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay and along with a representative from the
BirdLife Secretariat, is mandated to ensure the successful development
of the Alliance's work in the region.

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
· A profound and deep knowledge of the
issues
that affect the grasslands of southern South America.
· Proven ability to develop and
maintain
effective working relationships with leaders of diverse public
and
private interest groups.
· Experience in project and
financial
management.
· Excellent organizational and
presentation
skills.
· Strong written and oral communication
skills
in Spanish, as well as working knowledge of Portuguese and
English.
· Minimum bachelor's degree in a related
field.

Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the following areas is
desirable:
· Servicing a board of directors
and
its committees on organizational, fiscal and legislative issues.
· Fundraising from private and public
sources.
· News media relations and public outreach.
· State and federal legislative
processes,
environmental laws, regulations, and funding programs for
natural
resource protection and restoration.
· Land conservation strategies and
private
landowner incentives.

LOCATION
The position will be based in Argentina and managed through a
cooperative agreement between the BirdLife Secretariat and Aves
Argentinas (BirdLife in Argentina).

Note: candidate must be prepared to travel extensively with this
position.

For more information refer to http://www.pastizalesdelconosur.org

Closing date is 14 April. Applicants for this position can send an
introductory letter and curriculum vitae amanda.tapia@birdlife.org

Location: Argentina

Qualifications: QUALIFICATIONS Essential: ·A profound and deep knowledge of the issues that affect the grasslands of southern South America. ·Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with leaders of diverse public and private interest groups. ·Experience in project and financial management. ·Excellent organizational and presentation skills. ·Strong written and oral communication skills in Spanish, as well as working knowledge of Portuguese and English. ·Minimum bachelor's degree in a related field. Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the following areas is desirable: ·Servicing a board of directors and its committees on organizational, fiscal and legislative issues. ·Fundraising from private and public sources. ·News media relations and public outreach. ·State and federal legislative processes, environmental laws, regulations, and funding programs for natural resource protection and restoration. · Land conservation strategies and private landowner incentives.

Misc:

Documents:

Address: Applicants for this position can
send an
introductory letter and curriculum vitae to Amanda
Tapia
amanda.tapia@birdlife.org

Website:

Salary:

Benefits:

Deadline: April 14, 2008