World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a senior director, oceans futures, to lead the development and execution of strategies on innovative oceans conservation programming to address new and emerging systemic issues leading to declines in ocean health.
This role designs and implements programming, manages staff and projects, build budgets and fundraising approaches, and contributes to collaborative resource mobilization for WWF’s oceans priorities. The senior director is also a member of the Oceans Leadership Team.
Responsibilities
- Works with leadership, and colleagues, to build and manage a portfolio of programming at the nexus of marine resources, climate, and conflict, including developing solutions. Identifies effective, scalable interventions that meet the needs of people and nature and deliver impact for investment. Manages projects. Develops, analyzes and manages operating plans and grant budgets. Partner with colleagues to evaluate conservation finance opportunities.
- Leads research activities to advance programmatic understanding and stay current on marine conservation and development approaches. Integrate climate science and monitor emerging science into conservation strategies. Identify science and traditional ecological knowledge that can inform and strengthen conservation implementation.
- Work with cross-functional teams. Manages staff as well as external collaborators and contractors. Identifies, develops & supports new and current staff, provides coaching to improve individual and team performance. Encourages and facilitates a collaborative work environment that builds acceptance and commitment through engagement and open dialogue.
- Leads and supports Oceans Team fundraising efforts in collaboration with the program leadership team and resource mobilization teams and practice staff. Represent WWF with donors, during events or field visits. Oversee development and conceptual framework for multi-year proposals, edit staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals.
- Builds and maintains an extensive network of relationships with key stakeholders, including local communities, governments, NGOs, the private sector, and other ocean-community leaders and academics.
- Travels internationally to represent WWF at meetings, workshops, conferences, and for the purposes of site visits and/or field-based research. Represents WWF and promotes our conservation goals, activities and outcomes through external engagements and thought leadership.
- Maintains strong relationships across WWF teams, offices, and other network staff to advance shared priorities and leverage economies of scale to meet program objectives.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- 12+ years professional experience building, growing, and managing programs.
- Advanced degree (biology, ecology, sociology, economics, international relations/ policy) preferred.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form
- Ability to effectively prioritize and produce high-quality work under time constraints
- Excellent organizational and project leadership skills
- Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a matrixed team environment
- Strong research and analytical skills
- Strong project management skills
- Background in community-based engagement is essential and experience in the conservation sector is a plus
- Familiarity with Microsoft office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
- Ability to set priorities, manage a multitude of details simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, and work effectively solo and in a team environment
- Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising, budgeting, and monitoring donor compliance
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Application deadline: April 29, 2022
