Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but the application period will likely close on Monday, August 26th. Ideally, interviews will be conducted in early September. This page will be updated once the position has been filled.

Context:

The Iris Project is a youth-led initiative guided by a paid and inclusive Advisory Panel. Our panel consists of climate activists from around the world, including Nepal, Indonesia, Brazil, and Costa Rica. We are seeking to add ONE new Advisor under the age of 30 to our Advisory Panel to help further our mission of protecting and restoring nature, as well as improving the lives of those dedicated to its conservation. This role offers a unique chance to work alongside a diverse team committed to safeguarding global ecosystems. Through the annual Iris Prize, you will play a key role in identifying and supporting future environmental leaders.

By joining The Iris Project Advisory Panel, you will connect with a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing the goals of The Iris Project. This role will provide you with leadership and mentoring opportunities, as well as the chance to develop skills in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, communications, and capacity building.

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking one exceptional individual to join our existing Advisory Panel, with applicants welcome from the following regions: Southern Africa, West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Please apply only if you are based in these regions. This position is to replace one of our three longstanding Advisors, as we have already filled the other two roles through internal recruitment.

We are looking for someone with a broad range of environmental experience, including nature stewardship (e.g., marine, terrestrial, rainforest), active land management (e.g., agriculture, human/wildlife conflict), and climate and environmental activism.

We seek a proactive, young leader who is a self-starter and eager to contribute to shaping The Iris Project, ensuring it remains a youth-driven initiative.

Please note that the Advisory Panel communicates in English, so proficiency in both written and spoken English is essential for this role. Additional languages such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Arabic would be highly beneficial.

Our Advisory Board Will:

- Increase awareness of The Iris Project and recruit applicants for the annual Iris Prize through both physical and digital outreach.
- Evaluate and review Iris Prize applications based on established scoring criteria, interview shortlisted candidates, and assist in creating the final shortlist from which the Judging Panel selects the winners.
- Mentor Prize Winners by helping them manage their prize grants, develop their projects, and allocate funds appropriately.
- Collaborate closely with Prize Winners to identify and address their capacity-building needs.
- Support Prize Winners in assessing the impact of their projects on nature conservation and restoration, the effective use of funds, and the benefits of capacity building and mentorship. The Iris Project’s core team, along with our capacity-building partners, will assist in this process.
- Work alongside The Iris Project core team to manage the project’s community by fostering connections, organizing events (such as conferences), sharing insights across the community, and highlighting the importance of youth-focused environmental philanthropy.
- Adhere to The Iris Project’s safeguarding standards by completing a safeguarding training session and following the project’s data protection and safeguarding policies.

Time Commitments:

- The selected candidate will serve on The Iris Project panel for a minimum term of two years and will receive a stipend for their participation.
- Participants must dedicate two days per month to their role, which includes attending a 1-hour all-panel meeting every six weeks, contributing to The Iris Project’s overall strategy, and promoting the project and prize through youth networks and at events, both physical and digital.
- The busiest period for Iris Project advisors is during the prize review process in May, and availability during this time is crucial.
- Selected candidates may need to participate in calls outside regular working hours. Due to the diversity of time zones, calls may occasionally be scheduled as late as midnight or as early as 5 am, depending on your location.

Application Process:

- Apply to join The Iris Project’s Advisory Panel here.
- The application deadline is 0:00 BST on August 26, 2024.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the process will close once the right candidate is found. Due to the high volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted.