Ecosystem Conservation Manager

OVERVIEW                                                        

Position

Ecosystem Conservation Manager

Starting date

September 2024

Supervised by

Director of Biodiversity

End date

September 2027

Division / Unit

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Division

Department

NEOM Authority Environment Department

Role Purpose

Contribute to the development of appropriately-targeted ecosystem policies (e.g. strategies and plans) and regulatory instruments (e.g. regulations, rules, guidelines, protocols, and codes of conduct) to support the ambition of NEOM in establishing a world-class ecosystem regulatory framework promoting the conservation management and maintaining the resilience of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems in NEOM.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & ACTIVITIES

Key Accountability Areas

Key Activities

Ecosystem Policies and Regulations 

• Oversee the development of appropriately targeted strategies and plans promoting the conservation management and sustainable use of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems as well as their associated biodiversity components (e.g. species and habitats) in NEOM.
• Ensure the full alignment of ecosystem conservation management policies, developed by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Division, with the “NEOM Region Environment Strategy”, “NEOM Environmental Protection and Sustainability Law”, and “NEOM Environmental Protection and Sustainability Regulations”.
• Ensure that NEOM’s ecosystem conservation management regulations conform to (and preferably exceed, wherever possible) the highest international standards and best practices.
• Propose efficient mechanisms and practical approaches ensuring full integration of ecosystem conservation and sustainable use considerations in the sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, plans, programs, and activities as well as political and socio-economic planning and decision-making processes within NEOM.
• Build synergies between NEOM ecosystem policies and national, regional and international biodiversity-related agenda to strengthen the contributions of NEOM in fulfilling the obligations of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards bi- and multi-lateral biodiversity agreements, and foster the contributions of NEOM to ecosystem conservation and resilience at the national, regional and international levels.
• Engage with key stakeholders in NEOM to foster long-term partnership, promoting voluntary and proactive contributions by various sectors in the conservation management of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems.
• Oversee the development of a world-class natural capital regulating framework for NEOM, stipulating, inter alias, the identification and assessment of natural capital stocks as well as ecosystem service flow.
• Support the development and implementation of a science-based biodiversity offset counting and trading system outlining the offset impact assessment, mitigation, and best practices across NEOM’s development activities.
• Oversee the development and support the review and continual improvement of a world-class legislative framework that includes, inter alias: ecosystem and biodiversity regulations, rules, standards, guidelines and procedures, regulating the ecosystem conservation management in NEOM with a particular focus on: in- and ex-situ conservation management, biodiversity mainstreaming, biodiversity positive recovery, biodiversity natural capital and offsets, protected areas, threatened species, sustainable use, biosecurity, access and benefit sharing of genetic resources, and biotechnology.

Program Management

• Work within a highly efficient and professional team that supports NEOM’s ambition of a world-class ecosystem policy and regulatory framework.
• Ensure a program of performance monitoring and constant improvement that includes strong awareness of emerging trends and technologies that can improve program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identify and utilize data sources, databases, software, data analysis and management tools and GIS to support evidence-based policy reviewing process.

• Coordinate, supervise and review projects and reports delivered by appointed vendors.

Budget Management

• Support the line manager in managing annual budgeting cycles and processes.
• Be accountable for the effective utilization of allocated budget.