CTG overview
CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions.
CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilize at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in very high pace.
Visit www.ctg.org to find out more.
Overview of position
In 2021, our client initiated a multi year project aimed at bolstering the technical, institutional & human resource capacities of the National Centre for Vegetation Cover & Combating Desertification (NCVC). This initiative supports the ambitious Saudi Arabia & Middle East green initiative, which aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030. The establishment of the NCVC aims to provide an institution to oversee the management & investment of grazing lands, forests, national parks & to preserve the plant genetic resources & vegetative cover outside the protected areas in the Kingdom in all its environments, as well as combating desertification. The project’s goal is to leverage our clients expertise at a global & regional level, to enhance NCVC’s institutional, technical & technological capabilities, enabling it to fulfil its mandate more effectively & efficiently. Enhanced capacity at the NCVC will be achieved through advancements in information technology & digital capabilities, fostering international cooperation & strengthening networks, promoting forest & dryland conservation practices, advancing research to monitor, control land degradation & supporting the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements. This will ensure the long term sustainability of NCVC’s activities at both the policy level & within local communities. To achieve this goal, the project will focus on the realisation of the following outputs:
- Output 1: Strengthening international engagement & presence.
- Output 2: Advancing innovation, technology & human resources capabilities in eco system restoration projects / initiatives.
- Output 3: Facilitating digital enablement, innovation & data excellence.
- Output 4: Enhancement technical skills & capacity development of national parks, GEO parks, forests & rangelands.
- Output 5: Support NCVC’s implementation of the UNCCD COP16 legacy program through research, capacity building & international workshops.
Role objectives
The Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following:
Strategic guidance & leadership:
- Provide high level strategic guidance to align the project with the NCVC overarching goals.
- Drive the development of strategic plans & policies, focusing on drought & climate resilience, ecosystem conservation & enhancing sustainable management of protected areas.
- Lead & guide the project team, fostering a cohesive approach to achieving project goals.
- Strategically coordinate & execute project activities to align with defined outputs.
Technical expertise & advisory:
- Offer expert advice on technical aspects related to drought resilience, ecosystem management, climate change planning & environmental restoration.
- Lead the capacity building processes to support NCVC in developing road maps & strategies for implementing UNCCD processes.
- Lead the advocacy process in line with global environmental policies & our clients climate change strategies.
- Guide the development of partnerships & networks with global & regional entities & fostering international cooperation.
- Advise on policy, legislative & institutional needs analysis, focusing on biodiversity, forestry & rangeland conservation.
- Supervise the quality control of all substantive technical reports & research, focusing on drought resilience, ecosystem conservation & ensure adherence to international best practices.
- Develop technical specifications for consultants & experts, managing their contributions effectively.
Stakeholder coordination & communication:
- Coordinate closely with our client’s Head of Pillar& their Project Manager for seamless project implementation at both institutional & national levels.
- Adhere strictly to our clients policies & procedures for project monitoring & reporting, upholding the highest standards of accountability.
- Lead the preparation & support for key stakeholders, ensuring their active involvement & commitment.
- Facilitate the project board, review & evaluation meetings, driving the implementation of board decisions & recommendations.
Partnership development:
- Strategically advise on & actively engage in partnership building with various regional, international institutions & agencies.
- Maintain & strengthen strategic project relationships through active liaison with stakeholders across multiple sectors.
- Coordinate with the National Project Coordinator for media related activities, enhancing project visibility & impact.
- Identify & pursue strategic alliances, unlocking opportunities to further the NCVC’s mandate & objectives.
Policy development & advocacy:
- Assist in formulating policies & strategies related to vegetation cover, desertification & sustainable environmental practices.
- Promote the integration of project outcomes into national & international policies, advocating for sustainable practices & conservation.
The Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for delivering the following:
Strategic guidance & leadership:
- Provide high level strategic guidance to align the project with the overarching goals of the NCVC.
- Development of a comprehensive strategic plan aligning with NCVC’s overarching goals.
- Periodic strategic guidance reports highlighting progress, challenges & opportunities.
- Execution framework for project activities, aligned with defined outputs & goals.
Technical expertise & advisory:
- Advisory reports providing insights on ecosystem management, climate change planning & environmental restoration.
- Quality control reports ensuring adherence to best practices in technical outputs.
Stakeholder coordination & communication:
- Detailed reports on stakeholder engagement activities, including coordination with our client & NCVC.
- Minutes & action points from the project board, review & evaluation meetings.
- Communication strategy for effective stakeholder engagement & information dissemination.
Partnership development:
- Reports on partnership development activities, highlighting new alliances & strategic engagements.
- Documentation of engagement strategies with regional, international institutions & agencies.
- Media coordination reports, detailing activities & impacts for enhancing project visibility.
Policy development & advocacy:
- Policy recommendations & strategy documents related to vegetation cover, desertification & environmental practices.
- Report showcasing the integration of project outcomes into national & international policies.
General deliverables:
- Regular progress reports documenting achievements, challenges, learnings & recommendations for future actions.
- Comprehensive final report summarizing the project outcomes, impacts & learnings.
- It’s important to note that the expected outputs & deliverables may be subject to adjustment & refinement during the project based on evolving needs & priorities.
Project reporting
- The Chief Technical Advisor will work at NCVC under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator & indirectly supervision of the National Project Officer.
- This advisor consultancy will be implemented under the total supervision of NCVC, which is according to the NCVC act no. 8 by law & is responsible for the design, establishment, operation & supervision of national parks, whether terrestrial or geologic parks, including but not limited to infrastructure, services, mapping, signposting, education services & the imposition of fines for violations of national law or its regulations.
Key competencies
- Master’s degree or higher in environmental science, climate change, natural resources, sustainable forest, land management or a related field.
- Professional certification in environmental management or climate change would be an advantage.
- Minimum 15 years of mixed experience in the areas of climate change mitigation, sustainable development, restored land & environmental policies.
- Minimum 3 years of experience working with any UN agencies or other relevant international organizations.
- Exhibits the ability to lead & inspire teams effectively, fostering an environment of cooperation & motivation.
- Strong knowledge & working experience in governance & public administration with particular focus on environmental governance & environmental mainstreaming.
- Possesses the ability to assess complex situations, identify critical issues & formulate effective strategies to achieve project goals.
- Has a deep understanding of climate change issues, including policy, ecosystem restoration & sustainable land management.
- Good knowledge of the objectives of the Rio conventions & latest development in their synergetic national implementation.
- Shows the ability to communicate effectively & articulately in a range of forums, both written & verbal.
- Has the ability to negotiate & build consensus among different stakeholders.
- Demonstrates integrity & fairness by modeling UN values & ethical standards.
- Shows professional competence, is conscientious & efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines & achieving results.
- Experience working with governmental entities in Saudi Arabia is highly desired.
- Displays an aptitude for building strategic alliances with local, regional & international stakeholders, including government officials & non profit sector representatives.
- Proficiency in English is mandatory & knowledge of Arabic would be a plus.
- Prioritizes team workflow, mobilizes resources, drives scalable results & strategic impact.
- Easily navigates complexity, encourages & enables radical innovation & has foresight.
- Creates systems & processes that enable learning & development for all.
- Proactively initiates & leads organizational change, champion new systems & processes.
- Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations & inspires confidence.
- Constructs strategic multi partner alliances in high stake situations & fosters co creation.
- Creates ethical culture, identify & address barriers to inclusion.
- Knowledge of intergovernmental bodies (General Assembly, ECOSOC, UNDESA etc.), including respective mandates, ways of working & negotiation processes.
- Ability to take decisions in a timely & efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise & resources.
- Good understanding on conservation & sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forests & oceans.
- Good understanding on reduced emissions from deforestation & forest degradation.
- Good understanding on green economy & green growth.
- Good understanding on economic transformation, policy & planning.
- Good understanding on effective & efficient delivery & implementation of programs & projects.
Team management
- This role has no team management responsibility.
Further information
- The expected duration of the work is 12 months.
- The post is anticipated to start on the 1st of June 2025 & end on the 31st of May 2026.
- 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 & the NCVC, considering the project’s progress & requirements.
- This assignment will be based in NCVC Riyadh.
- Our client will cover the around ticket 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.
- Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.
How to Apply:
