World Meteorological Organization is looking for a Country Engagement Specialist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) coordinates the Global Ecosystems Atlas, an open data initiative providing globally harmonised information on ecosystem extent and condition, aligned with the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology. The Atlas supports ecosystem accounting, biodiversity reporting and regulatory compliance. GEO is seeking a Country Engagement Specialist (April–December 2026) to engage countries, secure open licensing of national ecosystem datasets and support the uptake of Atlas outputs for national and international reporting, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA).

1. Country engagement and partnership development

• Build and maintain relationships with national governments, statistical offices, environmental agencies and mapping institutions.
• Support coordination with regional organisations and capacity-building centers.
• Act as liaison between national stakeholders and Atlas technical teams, ensuring national priorities are reflected.
• Represent or support representation of the Atlas in national, regional and global forums related to ecosystem accounting, biodiversity monitoring and CBD implementation.

2. Data collection, licensing, quality assurance and integration

• Coordinate country outreach to identify, access and integrate national ecosystem datasets into the Atlas catalogue and synthesis map.
• Support cross-walking of national typologies to the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology.
• Negotiate open licensing agreements (e.g. CC BY) in line with Atlas open data policies.
• Work with the Science Lead and technical partners to ensure datasets meet agreed quality standards.
• Track country engagement status, licensing outcomes and cross-walking progress against Phase 1 deliverables.

3. Support for global reporting and national uptake

• Promote use of Atlas outputs for national ecosystem monitoring, policy development and reporting.
• Provide guidance on use of Atlas products for GBF and SEEA reporting.
• Support countries in applying Atlas results to biodiversity strategies, investment planning, NBSAPs and GEF proposals.
• Organise or support national and regional workshops, expert meetings and webinars.

4. Project management, coordination and reporting

• Support implementation of national engagement activities under the Atlas outreach strategy.
• Contribute to progress reporting and documentation for governance bodies and donors.
• Consolidate user feedback on platform usability and data needs for continuous improvement.

DELIVERABLES (by December 2026)

• National Engagement Update within one month of start, covering priority countries, engagement status, dataset contributions, cross-walking, licensing, opportunities and challenges.
• At least two Global Ecosystems Atlas adoption case studies documenting national use.
• Coordination of approximately 20 Atlas-facilitated engagements with national and regional partners, including targeted engagement with Armenia in the context of the CBD COP process (e.g. SBSTTA).
• Atlas Platform Feedback Report compiling national user feedback to inform enhancements and Phase 2 planning.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Master's degree or higher in a relevant field such as Environmental Science, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Management, Sustainability, Earth Observation, Statistics, or a closely related discipline.

Experience

• At least 7–10 years of relevant professional experience working at the interface of environmental data, policy, and national or regional implementation.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with national governments, statistical offices, environmental agencies, or mapping institutions, particularly in the context of biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment, or environmental reporting.
• Proven ability to build and manage partnerships with government and regional institutions and to represent initiatives in technical and policy-oriented forums.
• Experience supporting or contributing to international reporting frameworks and processes, such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), UN SEEA, CBD national reporting, or related multilateral environmental agreements.
• Experience facilitating the integration, harmonization, or use of geospatial or ecosystem datasets at national or sub-national levels.
• Previous experience working with or for multilateral organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, or public–public / public–private partnerships is a strong asset.

Other requirements

• Strong understanding of national ecosystem data systems, biodiversity monitoring approaches, and environmental or ecosystem accounting frameworks.
• Familiarity with the IUCN GET, Earth observation, geospatial data, or ecosystem mapping tools, and their application in policy, planning, and reporting contexts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical and scientific concepts into policy-relevant messages for government and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across diverse cultural, institutional, and regional contexts, building trust and long-term relationships with country partners.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills, including experience managing multiple engagements and contributing to structured reporting.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and operate effectively in a global, multi-stakeholder environment

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English (both oral and written). Knowledge of other official languages of WMO would be an advantage. (Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

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