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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # GIS Specialist - **Company:** INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES - **Location:** Highlands County, FL, United States - **Contract:** Temporary to permanent - **Skills:** Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Geographic Information Systems, Computer Vision, Databases, Metadata, Presentation Programs - **Published:** November 5, 2026 - **Apply:** https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.offline.download&offline_vacancy_id=6904 ## About the Role Applicants must meet the following criteria: Ecologist/team leader * At least PhD in ecology, agroecology, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field. * At least 15-year relevant experience * Proven experience in agroecology, agricultural ecology, agro-forestry, forest management, or related fields. * Strong knowledge of the Central Highlands' ecological and socio-economic context. * Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. * Conducted at least five assignments, research studies, projects, or contracts in biodiversity conservation activities, of which at least two were consultancies directly related to OECMs. * Proven experience of working with local authorities, forest rangers, and other related stakeholders. * Experience working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. * Have experience in leading consultant groups. * Fluency in English. GIS specialist * At least Master's degree in geography, mapping, remote sensing, spatial analysis, or related fields. * Trained in GIS, remote sensing, or mapping., * At least 15 years of experience in mapping, remote sensing, image classification, or related cartographic activities. * Experience in applying mapping techniques to biodiversity survey and monitoring activities. * Conducted at least five assignments, research studies, projects, or contracts in applying mapping techniques to biodiversity survey and monitoring. * Having experience in OECMs is an advantage. * Successfully carried out at least one project involving the application of mapping techniques in natural resource survey and monitoring. * Proven experience in working with local authorities, forest rangers, and other related stakeholders in the Central Highlands. ## Description The Central Highlands is a region of critical ecological importance, supporting diverse ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and essential ecosystem services for local communities. While the government has established protected areas in the Central Highlands, large areas of high biodiversity remain legally unprotected. These could be designated as OECMs and contribute to Vietnam's 30x30 target. IUCN wishes to hire a team to map these areas. This activity will identify and assess areas with high biodiversity conservation value, providing essential inputs for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development strategies in the region. The assessment will focus on mapping areas that demonstrate significant biodiversity values (such as the presence of threatened or endemic species and high species richness), essential ecosystem services (including clean water provision and, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection), and effective management structures (such as governance frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and long-term conservation sustainability), along with other relevant factors. 3. Scope of work and key activities The consultants will be responsible for the following tasks: Ecologist - Team leader: * In coordination with the geographer, he/she will create a detailed workplan * Lead the team to review policies, guidelines, and documentation on OECMs, and of data on biodiversity, land use, and conservation efforts in the Central Highlands * Review and propose criteria for identifying OECMs in the Central Highlands region (specifically Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum * Support the GIS specialist to create GIS-based maps of potential OECMs; create a directory of potential OECMs within the Central Highlands region (For each site, provide the following details: name, location, boundaries, area, and existing management and operational mechanisms) and provide spatial analyses highlighting the ecological and socio-economic significance of these areas * Lead the team to hold four provincial consultation meetings and undertake a field visit to research and validate potential OECMs * Lead the team to prepare a report with findings, including an inventory of OECMs, their conservation values, challenges, and management recommendations * Lead the team to support a consultation workshop organized by IUCN, prepare presentations and materials for the workshop * In cooperation with the GIS specialist, he/she will present the results and support IUCN to facilitate the workshop * In cooperation with the GIS specialist, he/she will revise the report based on workshop feedback, * In coordination with the ecologist, he/she will create a detailed workplan * He/she will support the ecologist to review policies, guidelines, and documentation on OECMs, and of data on biodiversity, land use, and conservation efforts in the Central Highlands * Support the team leader to hold four consultation meetings and undertake a field visit * He/she will lead the team to create GIS-based maps of potential OECMs and provide spatial analyses highlighting the ecological and socio-economic significance of these areas * He/she will support the ecologist to prepare a report with findings, including an inventory of OECMs, their conservation values, challenges, and management recommendations * He/she will cooperate with the ecologist to support a consultation workshop organized by IUCN, prepare presentations and materials for the workshop * In cooperation with the ecologist, he/she will present the results and support IUCN to facilitate the workshop * In cooperation with the ecologist, he/she will revise the report based on workshop feedback Coordination of Consultant Inputs The ecologist/Team Leader will lead the technical assessment of potential OECMs, including biodiversity values, governance arrangements, conservation effectiveness, and stakeholder consultations. The GIS Specialist will generate spatial datasets, conduct mapping and spatial analyses, and identify areas with potential OECM characteristics. The spatial outputs generated by the GIS Specialist will provide the basis for the ecologist's assessment of conservation significance and management effectiveness. Both consultants will jointly develop the inventory of potential OECMs and integrate their findings into the final report. The team will prepare a technical report finding, including an inventory of OECMs and an assessment of their conservation values, challenges, and management recommendations and GIS data (including TIF and SHP files, workflows, and other raw materials under this consultancy) of potential OECMs and provide spatial analyses highlighting the ecological and socio-economic significance of these areas in the Central Highlands. 4. Deliverables and Timeframe All final deliverables must be available in both English and Vietnamese. The assignment will be completed within 3 months (25 November 2026 to 24 February 2027), with an estimated level of effort of 72 days, allocated as follows, 2 Conduct a desk review of policies, 7 3 10 guidelines, and documentation on OECMs and data on biodiversity, land use, and conservtion efforts in the Central Highlands. Criteria for Identifying OECMs in the Central Highlands (Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum) 3 Consultation meeting and field 10 10 20 verification with Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Lam Dong provinces. Develop an inventory of potential OECMs across the Central Highlands, detailing their names, locations, boundaries, total area, and current governance and management mechanisms. 4 Develop GIS-based maps of potential 3 10 13 OECMs and provide spatial analyses highlighting the ecological and socioeconomic significance of these areas in the Central Highlands 5 Prepare a report 12 3 15 6 Prepare technical documents and 3 3 6 presentations for a consultation workshop 7 Present the results and help facilitate the 1 1 2 workshop 8 Revise the report based on workshop 3 1 4 feedback Total 40 32 72 Deliverables and timeline Deliverables Task Time Form I Detailed work plan 1 No later than 1 Via email in week after Vietnamese signing the contract, II GIS OECM database that 2, 3, 4 No later than 8 Via email in incorporate the results of task # weeks after Vietnamese 2, 3, 4 (geodatabase; SHP files; signing the and English TIF files; metadata; analytical contract workflow; maps showing potential OECMs and conservation values) III Draft report with major 5, 6 No later than 9 Via email in findings and recommendations weeks after Vietnamese (inventory of potential OECMs; signing the and English biodiversity and ecosystem contract service assessment; management recommendations); Presentations for the workshop Final report that incorporates 8 No later than Via email in workshop feedback 12 weeks after Vietnamese signing the and English contract, Travel to project field sites within the Central Highlands is required. All travel costs will be reimbursed according to IUCN's travel policy. Application Process Applicants must: * Be free of any conflict of interest. * Be a citizen of Vietnam * Be compliant with all applicable tax obligations. * Not have been found guilty of environmental, financial, or ethical misconduct. * Not be involved in any pending bankruptcy or legal proceedings. Required Documents: Applicants must submit the following documents: * Letter of Expression of Interest (EOI), including proposed daily rate (inclusive of all applicable taxes) (in Word or PDF format). * Description of technical approach and methodology(in Word or PDF format). * CVs (in Word or PDF format). * Summary of relevant work already completed * Budgets(Excel)