Project Officer, Wadden Sea World Heritage Management Plan in Groningen

(Vacancy Announcement No. 01/18)

The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, is the Secretariat of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation (the Danish, Dutch, German cooperation at government level for the protection of the Wadden Sea, TWSC) and the coordinating hub for the Wadden Sea World Heritage. The Secretariat is located in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The working language of the TWSC and CWSS is English.

CWSS is seeking to recruit, as soon as possible, a

The Presidency of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation rotates between the three Wadden Sea countries at intervals of approximately 4 years. As of June 2018, the Federal Republic of Germany has assumed the Presidency until 2022. One of the key tasks to be fulfilled during the 2018-2022 period will be the elaboration of a single integrated management plan for the Wadden Sea World Heritage, as requested by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The incumbent’s task will be to act as focal point for the development of the Plan and to provide support to the Presidency in carrying out a variety of other tasks. This is a full-time post covering a broad range of policy-related issues, including project-management and involving a wide variety of stakeholders across the Wadden Sea region.

Working in close cooperation with the German presidency of the TWSC the incumbent will

• Be the focal point for all activities related to the development of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Management Plan (WHMP);
• Prepare and organize the planning process, for instance by organizing and servicing international stakeholder workshops aimed at discussing and developing the elements of the future WHMP; Prepare consecutive drafts of the WHMP for discussion by the relevant bodies of the TWSC;
• Support the respective trilateral task groups/working group(s)
• Develop a draft WHMP based on the structure adopted as Annex 1 of the Leeuwarden Declaration 2018;
• Prepare a final WHMP document for submission to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee;
• Support the independent Chair of the WSB with a variety of tasks beyond the scope related to the chairmanship of the Board as well as on-site events and specific strategic tasks that fall within the responsibility of the Chairpersons;
• Support the German presidency in the preparation and organization of a variety of conferences, meetings and workshops scheduled to take place during the 2018-2022 period, such as the 15th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium (ISWSS, 2020), a Wadden Sea Youth Congress (2021), the 14th Trilateral Wadden Sea Governmental Council Meeting (2022);
• Carry out other tasks as assigned.

• Masters-level university degree in landscape architecture, biology, marine science, environmental science or a related discipline. A degree in another field with relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the above requirements;
• Experience in environmental policy and nature protection, preferably at the international level;
• Experience of or proven interest in international cooperation, knowledge of and experience with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention is an asset;
• Proven track record in project management, including international/multinational projects;
• Experience in report writing;
• Excellent English drafting skills;
• Experience in handling international projects;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of another Wadden Sea language (German, Danish, Dutch) is an asset;
• The incumbent will be a self-starter and a client-oriented team player;
• Interpersonal skills will include the ability to cooperate with partners across the
• Trilateral Cooperation on the protection of the Wadden Sea and externally; 
• The incumbent will possess confidence in representing the TWSC vis-à-vis external partners and stakeholders, including public speaking as necessary.
• Candidates must be prepared to travel.

Based on the German Collective agreement for Civil Service Employees (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst, TVöD), depending on qualification and experience comparable up to level 14.

This is a fixed-term contract, with employment foreseen through December 31, 2022.
For further information please contact:

Ms Simone Goth
Virchowstraße 1
D 26382 Wilhelmshaven
Phone: +49 (0)4421- 9108-0
Email:

Please submit your email application in English to the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, att. Rüdiger Strempel ().
Please cite the vacancy announcement no. in the subject line.

Deadline for applications: July 31, 2018.