Senior Advisor for National Parks

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Overview of Position

In support of the realization of the ambitious Saudi Arabia & Middle East green initiative under the Saudi Vision 2030, the National Center for Vegetation Cover & Combating Desertification (NCVC) has been tasked with combating desertification, rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local endangered plant species & managing national parks. This project is designed to support NCVC in increasing necessary institutional, technical & technological capacities to realize its mandate more effectively & efficiently. The enhanced NCVC capacity will be achieved through transforming information technology & digital capabilities, establishing cooperation & strengthening its network internationally & promoting forest conservation practices & increasing environmental awareness to ensure the long term sustainability of NCVC activities at the policy level & on the ground. The project will support the achievement of the ambitious Saudi green initiative by designing a model of a tree nursery & seed bank with a road map for establishing a large scale nursery facility to meet the Kingdom’s afforestation goals, along with by aligning policy & standards of tree planting & creating a mechanism to coordinate the afforestation work among different actors. These objectives will be achieved through a whole of society approach, in close partnership with the private sector, academia, youth & other relevant stakeholders to ensure the long term sustainability of the activities across the project lifecycle & beyond. This project will build upon the long standing Standard Basic Framework Agreement (SBBA) which was agreed upon between the Kingdom & our client in 1975. The project expected outputs are:

• Output 1: Strengthening international national park cooperation & network.
• Output 2: Promoting conservation practices & strengthening environmental awareness via advocacy & outreach.
• Output 3: Model tree nursery design & ecosystem conservation.
• Output 4: Transformation of information technology & digital infrastructure.
• Output 5: Strengthening institutional & technical capacity.

Role Objectives

The Senior Advisor for National Parks will play a key role in developing the capacity of the NCVC to provide & manage sustainable tourism, national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters. This will include providing strategic guidance, national parks policy development, planning, management, governance, research, monitoring & standards & communication relevant to the role of the NCVC. The Senior Adviser will also foster collaboration to enhance international & national cooperation & partnerships for the NCVC. The scope of work will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Strategic planning & partnership development:

• Develop a strategic plan for the development of sustainable tourism, national parks & nature based recreation across NCVC lands & waters.
• Identify key stakeholders, potential partners & international entities with expertise & best practices relevant to the NCVC’s mandates.
• Develop a strategic plan for international cooperation & partnerships related to sustainable tourism & national parks, aligned with the NCVC’s vision & goals.

Policy development & knowledge sharing:

• Provide strategic advice & support in the development & implementation of policies, legislation & regulatory frameworks related to sustainable national parks & nature based recreation.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing & collaboration through conferences, workshops, field visits, study tours & exchange programs with national & international entities & partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing & capacity building activities on international best practices, standards & innovative approaches in the field of sustainable national parks & nature based recreation.
• Adopt or develop internationally recognized standards for national parks & nature based recreation services including visitor facilities, communications & education.
• Initiate relevant capacity building programs for NCVC staff & relevant stakeholders across nature based recreation, sustainable national parks.
• Contribute to the production of knowledge products, policy briefs & research papers to enhance the NCVC’s visibility & thought leadership in the national & international arena.

Nature based recreation planning, development & management:

• Develop or modify existing planning tools for the selection of priority areas for national parks & natureb based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.
• Development or modify tools to assist in the development & management of national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.
• Collaborate with responsible divisions within NCVC to ensure the integration of national parks & nature based recreation within overarching management plans.

Research, monitoring evaluation & standards:

• Develop a monitoring & evaluation framework to assess the progress & impact of the national parks initiatives.
• Commission national parks research that has an applied focus to guide NCVC & national parks businesses operating within & adjacent to NCVS lands & waters.
• Maintain close collaboration with the tourism research program of the STA (& the tourism research of governorates & other agencies).
• Investigate proven effective approaches for certification / codes of conduct for commercial national parks operations.

Governance & activation:

• Contribute to the development of regulations, by laws, leases & permitting systems that will apply to national parks & nature based recreation.
• Contribute to the development of policies & regulations related to charging & revenue collection for national parks & nature based recreation activities on NCVC lands & waters.
• Establish a multi disciplinary team to provide specialist national parks input into the various divisions of NCVC & within protected areas.
• Contribute to the development of consumer focused information, promotion & marketing of national parks & nature based recreation options on RCVC lands & waters.

Expected outputs & deliverables:

Strategic planning & partnership development:

• Develop a strategic plan for the development of sustainable national parks & nature based recreation across NCVC lands & waters.
• Prepare a report identifying key stakeholders, potential partners & international entities with expertise & best practices relevant to the NCVC’s mandates, including a strategic plan for international cooperation & partnerships related to sustainable national parks, aligned with the NCVC’s vision & goals.
• Develop a plan & schedule to engage with global & regional conservation, national parks entities, organizations & experts based around building relationships, contributing to their initiatives & attending strategic meetings.

Policy development & knowledge sharing:

• Reports on strategic advice & support provided in the development & implementation of policies, legislation & regulatory frameworks.
• Report on technical inputs & collaboration efforts through conferences, workshops, field visits, study tours & exchange programs with national & international entities & partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing & capacity building activities on international best practices, standards & innovative approaches in the field of sustainable national parks & nature based recreation.
• Document internationally recognized standards for national parks & nature based recreation services including visitor facilities, communications & education / interpretation.
• Report on capacity building programs undertaken for NCVC staff & relevant stakeholders.
• Report on the production of knowledge products, policy briefs & research papers to enhance the NCVC’s visibility & thought leadership in the national & international arena.

Nature based recreation planning, development & management:

• Develop & document planning tools for the selection of priority areas for national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.
• Develop & document planning tools suitable for the natural & cultural settings of the Kingdom, for national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.
• Development & document tools to assist in the development & management of national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.
• Report on collaboration with responsible divisions within NCVC to ensure the integration of national parks & nature based recreation within overarching management plans.

Research, monitoring evaluation & standards:

• Develop & document a monitoring & evaluation framework to assess the progress & impact of the national parks initiatives.
• Report on national parks research that has been undertaken guide NCVC & national parks businesses operating within & adjacent to NCVS lands & waters.
• Maintain close collaboration with the tourism research program of the STA (& the tourism research of governorates & other agencies).
• Prepare a report on the recommended approach to certification / codes of conduct for commercial national parks operations.

Governance & activation:

• Prepare a report on policy recommendations in relation to the development of regulations, by laws, leases, permitting & charging regimes that may apply to national parks & nature based recreation.
• Prepare recommendations for the establishment of a multi disciplinary team to provide specialist national parks input into the various divisions of NCVC & within protected areas.
• Strategic plan on the development of consumer focused information, promotion & marketing of national parks & nature based recreation on NCVC lands & waters.

Project Reporting

• The Senior Digital Transformation Lead will work under the direct supervision of National Project Coordinator at NCVC & indirectly to the National Project Officer.

Key Competencies

• Master’s degree in environmental studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in international cooperation & partnerships, preferably in the field of environmental conservation & sustainable development.
• Substantial knowledge & applied experience in the creation & operation of national parks operational units within government.
• Substantial experience in protected area management & the management of tourism & recreation on protected areas.
• Substantial experience in the creation & management of multi disciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge & understanding of international national parks & conservation cooperation frameworks & mechanisms.
• Proven experience in establishing & managing partnerships with national & international organizations & government agencies.
• Excellent strategic planning & negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical & problem solving abilities.
• Effective communication & interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently & as part of a team.
• Familiarity with the Middle East region & understanding of its environmental challenges.
• Experience in working with national & international stakeholders on sustainable national parks projects.
• Knowledge of sustainable development goals & their implementation in the context of environmental tourism initiatives.
• Project management skills & experience in coordinating & overseeing complex projects.
• Commercial experience of operating national parks enterprises on protected areas.
• Excellent proficiency in English (both written & spoken) is required.
• Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable.
• Qualifications in protected area planning would be advantageous.
• Set & align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Create & act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Proactively initiate & champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Think beyond immediate task / barriers & take action to achieve greater results.
• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter agency collaboration.
• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce & champion inclusivity.
• Ability to manage programs & projects with a focus at improved performance & demonstrable results.
• Ability to take decisions in a timely & efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise & resources.
• Sustainable urban & regional development.
• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise & creates win win situations.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of public & private partners, build, sustain & / or strengthen working relations, trust & mutual understanding.
• Ability to allocate & use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability & integrity.
• Effective & efficient delivery & implementation of programs & projects.

Team Management

• Team management experiences is desired for this role.

Further Information

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.
• The specific deliverables & timelines will be determined in consultation with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) & the project team, considering the project’s duration & objectives.
• It’s important to note that the expected outputs & deliverables may be subject to adjustment & refinement during the project based on evolving needs & priorities.
• The expected duration of the work is 12 months.
• The completion of deliverables & milestones will be spread out throughout the duration of the project, with specific timelines provided in the deliverables table.
• The timeline for review & feedback on deliverables will be communicated by the Project Manager at the NCVC.
• Any adjustments or extensions to the duration of the work will be mutually agreed upon by the Senior Advisor for National Parks & the NCVC, considering the project’s progress & requirements.
• This assignment will be NCVC Riyadh.
• Our client will cover the return tickets to / from the duty station.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station city is requested by our client & not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by our client in line with applicable rules & regulations & upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).
• A written approval from our client & relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant’s travel to any locations than stated on this TOR on official missions where necessary.