Ecotourism and Visitor Management Expert – Saudi Arabia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Ecotourism and Visitor Management Expert for a environment consultancy assignment financed by IUCN ROWA Jordan in Saudi Arabia.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a proposal for a prospective consultancy assignment supported by IUCN ROWA in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the environmental sector. The initiative aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation and support effective governance and management of marine and terrestrial protected areas in line with national priorities and international good practice.

To achieve these goals, we are seeking an expert Ecotourism and Visitor Management Expert to help design and pilot a comprehensive sustainable visitor use and ecotourism framework. This expert will play a pivotal role in ensuring that visitor activities are fully compatible with conservation purposes, key ecological values, and approved protected area zonings across the country.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Develop and pilot a national framework for determining whether, where, when, and under what conditions visitor use and ecotourism may be authorised.
• Ensure visitor use is compatible with conservation purposes, key values, and general management plans of each protected area.
• Identify minimum conditions required before visitor use is activated or expanded.
• Provide managers with practical plans, standards, procedures, decision-support tools, and monitoring systems.

Scope of work

• Review applicable national policies, legislation, regulations, institutional mandates, strategies, and standards.
• Review and synthesise relevant international and regional visitor-use and sustainable-tourism standards and good practices.
• Assess existing visitor use, ecological and cultural sensitivities, institutional capacity, infrastructure, risks, and management needs.
• Develop a national Sustainable Visitor Use and Ecotourism Framework with measurable principles, criteria, standards, indicators, and decision tools.
• Undertake formal visitor-use readiness assessments for selected pilot sites.
• Prepare site-specific Visitor Use Management Plans for designated pilot sites.
• Strengthen the capacity of institutional teams and relevant stakeholders through tailored training and standard operating procedures.

Your role as Ecotourism and Visitor Management Expert

• Lead the design and implementation of visitor-use planning and management activities within marine and terrestrial protected areas.
• Apply recognised frameworks such as Visitor Use Management Framework (VUMF) and Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) to assess carrying capacities and limits of acceptable change.
• Conduct baseline reviews of existing tourism activities, visitor safety, accessibility, permit systems, and commercial concessions.
• Develop practical standard operating procedures (SOPs), templates, and monitoring tools for sustainable ecotourism operations.
• Collaborate closely with local stakeholders, protected-area managers, and institutional partners during field assessments and consultations.
• Contribute to the formulation of site-specific Visitor Use Management Plans and national decision-support tools.
• Design and deliver capacity-building programmes for national authorities and site-level management teams.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced university degree in sustainable tourism, ecotourism, recreation or visitor-use management, protected-area management or a closely related field
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in visitor-use planning and management in protected areas, including application of recognised frameworks (VUMF, ROS, etc.), indicators, capacities, and SOPs
• Languages: Excellent written and spoken English; working knowledge of Arabic and experience in Saudi Arabia or the wider Middle East are desirable

Desirable

• Working knowledge of Arabic.
• Professional experience in Saudi Arabia or the wider Middle East region.

An experienced ecotourism and visitor-use professional with at least 10 years of protected-area management expertise, strong knowledge of recognised frameworks like VUMF and ROS, and a track record of implementing sustainable tourism solutions in sensitive marine and terrestrial environments.

Assignment details

• Location: Saudi Arabia
• Financed by: IUCN ROWA Jordan
• Sector: Environment
• Estimated duration: 9 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a IUCN ROWA Jordan-financed project in Saudi Arabia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.