The Tour du Valat is a private foundation recognized as being of public utility, created more than 65 years ago by Luc Hoffmann and working to conserve Mediterranean wetlands. Its activities are deployed with the constant concern to reconcile humanity and nature. Convinced that the preservation of wetlands will only be possible if human activities and protection of the natural heritage go hand in hand, the Tour du Valat has for many years been developing research and integrated management programs that promote exchanges between users and scientists of the areas. wetlands, mobilizes a community of actors and promotes the benefits of wetlands to decision-makers and socio-economic actors.
The Tour du Valat employs around 90 people, as well as around 20 civic services, European volunteers and doctoral students. It also hosts several other structures (associations, OFB service).
The Tour du Valat is recruiting an advocacy officer for the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands
Context
As part of the development of its activity, the Tour du Valat is opening a position as an advocacy officer for the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands [1]. This project manager is dedicated to the implementation of advocacy and communication actions to conserve and restore wetlands through the Red Alert and Green Light projects. These two projects are part of the activities of the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands (AMZH), a coalition of 32 civil society organizations (CSOs) and research, which started its activities in 2017 with the aim of increasing the capacity of Mediterranean civil society to ensure the protection, restoration and sustainable use of wetlands and rivers.
The Tour du Valat coordinates the AMZH in partnership with Wetlands International European Association (WI-EA) and with the support of IUCN-Med – the IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation. Within the AMZH, the Tour du Valat is also responsible for the Red Alert and Green Light advocacy mechanisms. These two mechanisms are essential for the Alliance and aim to support small CSOs to protect and/or restore wetlands in the Mediterranean region:
- Red alert [2]: Implementation of advocacy and communication actions to support one or more CSOs in their activities to protect a threatened wetland. Red Alert is activated by a CSO who then receives support from the entire AMZH network to develop and implement an advocacy strategy and communication campaign.
- Green light: implementation of advocacy and communication tools to support one or more CSOs and mobilize the competent authorities in favor of the ecological restoration of a wetland or a degraded watercourse. The AMZH contributes to building a vision of the future restored wetland (including the production of landscape visualizations) and to the development of an advocacy strategy aimed at decision-makers and stakeholders of the site.
The project manager is responsible for advocacy actions for these two mechanisms: joint development and implementation of advocacy strategies and action plans with Alliance members; development and implementation of associated communication strategies.
Description
Placed at the “Science-Society Interfaces” team at the Tour du Valat, the project manager develops and implements advocacy and communication strategies and action plans within the framework of these two mechanisms. He/she works under the supervision of the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands Project Manager, in close collaboration with the other members of his/her team as well as the Communication, Advocacy and Development Director of the Tour du Valat. Depending on the projects, he/she is required to work with many other colleagues – project managers and research managers at the Tour du Valat, members of the Alliance, etc.
He/she assists the AMZH project manager in her search for funding from a wide range of donors, in the development of strategic partnerships with key actors in terms of advocacy, and actively collaborates with a wide network of regional partners, national and local (NGOs, international organizations, national and local authorities, scientists, etc.). He/she ensures budget monitoring, reporting and communication concerning the projects for which he/she is responsible, under the responsibility of the project manager.
More specifically, the project manager:
- Participates in meetings of AMZH coordinators and actively collaborates with its members.
- Implements Red Alert and Green Light actions with local partners, under the supervision of the AMZH project manager.
- Support CSOs in demand in the construction of advocacy and communication strategies and action plans to convince decision-makers to protect and restore wetlands.
- Helps to capitalize and disseminate the results in the form of, for example, training, tools promoting the expertise of AMZH members, guides to good advocacy practices, etc.
- Facilitates communication around red alerts and green lights by IUCN Med (which coordinates AMZH communication) and the communication teams of AMZH partners.
- Occasionally represents AMZH, as required, in local, national, regional and international arenas.
- Contributes to the monitoring and evaluation of Red Alert and Green Light actions and ensures reporting to donors.
- Supports the project manager in her search for partners and additional funding in order to increase the volume of activities and the impact of red and green light alerts.
Profile and skills
Required:
- Bac+5 (master 2 level) in one of the following fields: political science, geography, international relations, sociology, communication, environmental law.
- At least one-year’s experience in designing and implementing advocacy and communication strategies and campaigns.
- Experience in the field of the environment.
- Familiarity with the issues of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change and good understanding of the associated scientific bases.
- Excellent editorial skills (reports, official letters, press releases, social media posts, etc.).
- Ability to coordinate, lead and facilitate inter-organizational dialogue.
- Capacities of synthesis, autonomy and spirit of initiative, taste for teamwork, interpersonal skills, listening skills and sense of diplomacy.
- Fluent in French and English, both written and spoken.
Not required, but preferable:
- Knowledge of the issues, problems and main actors involved in the Mediterranean basin on the conservation of biodiversity and the fight against climate change.
- Knowledge of wetlands and associated issues, and strong interest in other Mediterranean ecosystems, particularly marine, coastal, island and forest.
- Proficiency in a third Mediterranean language.
- Successful experience in fundraising (development aid agencies, foundations, European funding, etc.).
- Experience in the associative world.
- Mastery of simple graphics software (Canva).
Practical aspects
The project manager will be under the supervision of the AMZH project manager, within the Science-Society Interfaces team.
Full-time fixed-term contract (18 months), after a 3-month trial period. Possible possibility of part-time.
Place of work: Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France, with national and international travel, particularly in the Mediterranean basin.
Remote work possible: 2 days a week.
Start date: as soon as possible.
Remuneration: Group F, G or H of the ECLAT collective agreement, i.e. €2,200 to €2,700 gross monthly, depending on profile and experience.
Benefits: health insurance, quality meals (organic and local) in the canteen 70% covered by the employer, 60% local public transport subscription, unique working environment at the heart of the Camargue.
How to apply
Send applications by email to Florence Daubigney: [email protected] [3] (Reference to be indicated: “TdV 2023/CMAlliance_Candidate name”) no later than March 15, 2023 at midnight (Paris time), including:
- A cover letter
- A resume
- Two referral contacts
Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. Incomplete files will not be reviewed.
For any questions on the application submission process, please contact Florence Daubigney: [email protected] [3]