Flyways and Action Plan Consultant - CMS Avian and Aquatic teams

The consultant will support the coordination and implementation of four CMS-approved species action plans and the CMS Flyways Working Group. The role involves planning, stakeholder coordination, monitoring progress, and producing reports to strengthen delivery of avian and aquatic conservation mandates relevant to the East Asian-Australasian and Pacific region.

Responsibilities

• Support planning and delivery of Flyways Working Group activities including preparation of agendas, background papers, draft recommendations, minutes, and follow-up communications.
• Compile and synthesize implementation updates from Parties, Range States, and partners relevant to flyways decisions.
• Maintain and update an action tracker for Flyways Working Group follow-up including status of actions, next steps, responsible entities, and risk/issue flags.
• Draft decision-ready briefing notes and concise summaries for CMS bodies.
• Translate each species action plan into operational implementation packages with prioritized work packages, sequencing, stakeholder roles, coordination mechanisms, and indicators.
• Support partner engagement and coordination across Range States and stakeholders through outreach and documentation of agreed actions.
• Identify cross-cutting implementation needs across species action plans and propose integrated options for efficiency and synergy.
• Develop practical implementation roadmaps for priority measures for each species action plan.
• Support coordination of implementing partners including preparation of action logs and progress updates.
• Support development of implementation support products such as project concept notes, factsheets, and partner briefs.
• Review and update species action plans with new information and identify high priority activities.
• Support preparation of progress updates and recommendations to strengthen delivery and address bottlenecks.
• Support preparation of an online Meeting of Signatories to the Pacific Cetaceans MOU as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain an integrated monitoring framework and evidence repository to support traceable reporting.
• Prepare periodic progress updates against the integrated roadmap including achievements, delays, risks, mitigation options, and recommended next steps.
• Prepare mid-term and final consolidated progress reports summarizing outputs, progress, lessons learned, and recommendations.
• Produce clear, concise communication and decision-support materials such as briefing notes, factsheets, summaries, and PowerPoint presentations.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in conservation biology, ecology, environmental policy, international environmental law, international environmental governance, marine biology, ornithology, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience in migratory species conservation, biodiversity policy and implementation, and/or support to multilateral environmental agreement processes is required.
• Experience with flyways-related work and/or species action plan implementation is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience supporting multi-stakeholder working groups/task forces, including preparation of agendas, background briefs, minutes, action trackers, and decision-ready summaries is required.
• Proven capacity to translate technical action plans into implementable workplans and tracking tools, and to produce high-quality progress reporting products is required.
• Excellent drafting skills in English, including the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate outputs.

Skills

• Conservation Ecology
• Ecology
• Environmental Policy
• International Environmental Law
• International Environmental Governance
• Marine Biology
• Ornithology
• Migratory Species Conservation
• Biodiversity Policy Implementation
• Multilateral Environmental Agreements
• Flyways Conservation
• Species Action Plan Implementation
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Meeting Documentation
• Workplan Development
• Progress Reporting
• Technical Report Preparation
• English Drafting

Languages

English