Intern Advisor for Europe, Switzerland

Deadline: 22/08/2010

International Union for Conservation of Nature is looking for an Intern/Assistant Advisor for Europe for the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. The Convention Secretariat, which currently comprises 20 employees, is co-located with the world headquarters of IUCN in Gland (near Geneva), Switzerland.

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar (1971) is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Ramsar Convention is independent of the United Nations system of environmental treaties and reports only to its own Contracting Parties, or Member States. The Secretariat operations are administered by IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Eligibility
* candidates should be European nationals and have lived most of their lives in that region.
* enthusiasm and a commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use issues.
* university degree (preferably a post-graduate degree) in a subject relevant to wetland conservation and sustainable use, such as geography, biology, hydrology, marine sciences, natural resources management, land use planning, or anthropology/sociology.
* well-developed computer skills (Word, Excel, e-mail) and be able to perform routine secretarial tasks efficiently (typing in particular).
* full ability to work in English is required for all the regional internships and high-level French and/or Spanish would be a clear advantage for the Europe internship.

Responsibilities and Duties
* valuating data sheets (“Ramsar Information Sheets”) and preparing related documentation to accompany the designation process of Ramsar Sites and their updates;
* Entering Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) data in the Ramsar Sites Information Service database for new designations and updates;
* Evaluating/assessing project proposals for the Convention’s small grants assistance programmes and monitoring projects over their cycle, maintaining contact, checking reports and results. This may also include a field visit evaluation;
* Dealing with the conservation and sustainable use issues of individual wetland sites in the respective region and particularly assisting with the procedure concerning adverse changes in the ecological character of Ramsar Sites (Art 3.2);
* Maintaining routine contacts with governments of Ramsar member and non–member countries, as well as with national NGOs and international partner organizations and other relevant bodies in the respective region;

For more specific information check the oficial web page

The Ramsar Secretariat will provide for each intern:
– a return train/boat or air ticket from and to a previously-agreed point of departure;
– a monthly remuneration, of which roughly 18% is deducted for statutory Swiss social security and unemployment schemes and for pension and internal tax. After payment of studio rent and associated charges, interns “take home” a net salary of approximately SFR 2,000.- per month;
– SFR 290 gross per month as a contribution towards his/her premium for medical insurance coverage;
– studio apartments at a short distance from the office are rented on a permanent basis for the use of Ramsar interns.
– a half-price tariff ticket on the Swiss railway system, to allow travel at reasonable cost on the excellent Swiss rail network;
– a subsidized mid-day meal in the IUCN cafeteria;
– IUCN applies for work permits (and if required an entry visa to take up employment in Switzerland);
– Working hours: 40 per week;

Application procedure
All interested applicants need to apply through he HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the “Apply” button.

The application deadline is 22nd August 2010.

More detailed info