The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) is hiring a Coordinator to support Biodiversa+, particulary its biodiversity monitoring activities, for a 2-year position. This role offers a unique insight into the rapidly evolving European biodiversity monitoring landscape and the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of international networks at the science-policy interface.

As a Coordinator, you will work in the Biodiversa+ Operational Team as a biodiversity monitoring officer in Work Package 2 (WP2). You will monitor how the biodiversity monitoring schemes are organised across Europe by the ministries of the environment and environmental protection agencies, and help synthesize this information to provide a comprehensive overview of the current biodiversity monitoring schemes, as well as the gaps. The ultimate aim of Biodiversa+ WP2 is to establish a harmonized, trans-national European network of national biodiversity monitoring schemes. Your day-to-day duties will include working closely with the other WP2 Operational Team members (the lead biodiversity monitoring officer and the other officers), and supporting the WP2 leader and other relevant parties in implementing activities related to biodiversity monitoring (WP2).

Your main duties will be to:

- support the management of the Biodiversa+ WP2 network (encourage the inclusion of Biodiversa+ partners in WP2 activities and schedule meetings);

- contribute substantially to the administrative and financial management of WP2 (e.g., monitoring budgets and expenditure, supporting financial planning and reporting, and ensuring that activities are implemented in accordance with EU funding requirements, as well as tracking the use of EU funding for ongoing or new biodiversity monitoring schemes across Europe);

- support task and WP leaders in implementing their activities (e.g., taking minutes, preparing slides, supporting the planning of the activities, support the organisation of events such as BioMonWeek2028 in Turku, attending events,and connecting with other initiatives);

- promote Biodiversa+ WP2 activities and results in close collaboration with the Biodiversa+ communication operational team officers by sharing texts for website updates and other communication tools, and by supporting WP7 of Biodiversa+ in involving stakeholders in WP2

The position will be based in Syke´s the Nature Solutions Unit in Helsinki. We work in an open-plan, activity-based office, but flexible remote working is standard practice for us today.

To be successful in this position you will need an MSc degree preferably in fields such as biodiversity/environmental science, ecology, or a related discipline, such as environmental policy. The expected competencies include strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and online project management and collaboration platforms like Trello, as well as excellent organisational skills. Excellent project management skills and a high level of motivation towards international cooperation are also expected. 

Excellent communication skills and a collaborative work style are essential. The successful candidate should enjoy working as part of a team and feel comfortable collaborating closely with colleagues and international partners, both online and offline. The ability to work independently and take the initiative when needed are also valued. This position requires traveling abroad approximately six times per year for up to 5 days each time.

Experience of working with EU-funded projects (e.g. Horizon Europe), and of project budgeting and financial management is highly valued. Experience in biodiversity monitoring would be an asset.

The position requires excellent spoken and written English. Knowledge of Finnish and/or French would be an advantage.

Syke has a culture that supports learning and offers the opportunity for versatile competence development. We have flexible working hours and flexible remote working practices. We offer sports and culture benefits, subsidised lunch in contract canteens and comprehensive occupational health care.

Petteri Vihervaara, Research Professor
+358 295 251740
petteri.vihervaara@syke.fi

Päivi Sirkiä, Group manager
+358 295 251091
paivi.sirkia@syke.fi

Finnish Environment Institute registry

Latokartanonkaari 11
00790 Helsinki, Finland

The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) is a national research institute dedicated to building a sustainable society through science, knowledge, and services. Our research and development work is solution-driven, and we pursue high-impact results with ambition. We operate multidisciplinarily and collaborate extensively with partners in Finland and around the world.

We work to halt biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change, and improve environmental quality. Our research develops innovative solutions to sustainability challenges across energy systems, food systems, production systems, land use, and the built environment. We place strong emphasis on the fairness, acceptability, and economic sustainability of the green transition, as well as societal security and resilience. We recognize that meaningful sustainability transitions require coherent and long-term policy action.

Syke encourages creativity and experimentation, especially when developing new research-based solutions. We value constructive collaboration, diversity, and inclusive working practices. Approximately 650 researchers and experts work at Syke’s offices in Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, and Oulu. A significant share of our work is enabled through competitive project funding.

• More information: Applicants are asked to include a CV (based on the template of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae).
  
  Interviews are held in English and are planned to be held during the weeks 48, 50-51.
  
  Biodiversa+ is the European biodiversity partnership, co-developed by BiodivERsA (Biodiversa+ predecessor since 2005) and the European Commission. It officially began in October 2021 and will run for at least 7 years. It brings together over 40 European and associated countries and over 80 partners from these countries, including research funders and ministries and environmental ministries and agencies. Biodiversa+ supports research that has an impact on society and policy and contributes to setting up a framework for transnational biodiversity monitoring schemes. The Finnish Ministry of the Environment is a Biodiversa+ Partner and supports the establishment of transnational biodiversity monitoring at a pan-European level through Syke. Syke is in charge of coordinating the Biodiversa+ Work Package 2 on promoting and supporting transnational biodiversity monitoring, on behalf of Ministry of the Environment.
  
  To further reinforce this work, Syke is hiring a full-time Operational Team Officer to support the activities of the Biodiversa+ partners involved in this Work Package. The operational team officer (coordinator) will be a full member of the Biodiversa+ operational team, which comprises around 25 team members from various organisations, including the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity, the French National Research Agency, the Belgian Science-Policy Office and others. All the operational team members are supervised by the three Operational Managers of Biodiversa+ with regards to the implementation of the Project. More specifically, within the operational team, the coordinator will be mainly supervised by the lead biodiversity monitoring officer and the coordinating operational manager. At Syke, the coordinator will work under the supervision of the WP2 leader.
  
  Fairness, responsibility, community, independence, and reliability are our core values. We actively promote diversity and equal opportunities and welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds.
  
  Additional information:
  Web pages: www.syke.fi
  Instagram: @sykeresearch
  Linkedin: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
• Level of position: Specialists
• Remote work: Full-time or part-time remote work
• Description of the remote work: We work in a hybrid work model with remote work in Finland, and perform on-site work at Syke’s premises at least eight days a month according to Syke’s guidelines.
• Reason for fixed-term employment: Nature of work
• Working time format: Office working hours
• Working time format explanation: flexible working hours
• Trial period: A six-month probationary period may be applied to the position.
• Remuneration information: The total salary for a person starting in the role is typically €3806–€4481 per month, depending on competence. The position is placed at demand level 10 in Syke’s salary system, where the job-specific salary component is €3460 per month. In addition, a personal performance-based salary component is paid, amounting to a maximum of 50% of the job-specific salary component.