Requirements: English
Company: World Wildlife Fund
Region: Walbrzych , Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Overview
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the worlds leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer, Strategic Planning and Finance.
Major Function
This role involves developing detailed conservation plans and financial models for Project Finance for Permanence and other initiatives that provide long-term financial support to area-based conservation programs. The Senior Program Officer will work on concurrent projects based in different countries; develop and manage working relationships with WWF staff, partner organizations and consultants; and guide and train counterparts based abroad on conservation planning and related processes. As part of WWFs broader Conservation Finance Community of Practice, the Senior Program Officer will collaborate with finance professionals from across the organization on the development, design, and implementation of priority initiatives. The Senior Program Officer will report to a Manager of Strategic Planning and Finance in the Earth for Life Initiative.
Reporting Structure: Reports to Manager, Strategic Planning and Finance.
Position Length: This position is funded through December 2025, with the possibility of extension.
Location: Washington, D.C. Candidates outside of the D.C. area will be considered.
Salary Range: The expected compensation range for this position is $82,300 - $102,900.
Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- With partner organizations, design and build agreement on aspects of conservation plans for large-scale, area-based conservation initiatives, including initiative scope (geographic and thematic), conservation goals, activities and indicators.
- Support the design of funding proposals for multilateral organizations aligned to Project Finance for Permanence initiatives.
- Under the guidance of the positions manager, develop detailed long-term financial models (projections of costs and funding needs and mapping costs to funding sources) for Project Finance for Permanence and other large-scale, area-based conservation initiatives and communicate to various audiences.
- Make recommendations on sustainable financing mechanism prioritization, design and implementation.
- Build capacity among in-country partner organizations on conservation planning, cost modeling and related processes.
- Clearly document conservation scope, financial needs, and related assumptions. Other responsibilities assigned by positions manager.
Key Competencies:
- Project Management: Experienced in planning and executing collaborative projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timely delivery of outcomes.
- Collaborative leadership and interpersonal communication: Skilled in facilitating consensus among diverse stakeholders, building strong, culturally sensitive partnerships across organizations and geographies, and ability to convey technical concepts to varied audiences.
- Analytical and solutions-oriented thinking: Ability to approach complex conservation challenges with logical reasoning and attention to detail that leads to sound decision-making.
- Adaptability and persistence: Demonstrates flexibility and an ability to learn skills and to find a path forward under changing circumstances and ambiguity.
- Time management and accountability: Proven ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and ensure accountability in delivering high-quality results.
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree required; Masters degree in a conservation, management or finance-related field preferred.
- At least six years experience in conservation, management consulting or finance (or equivalent) required. A Masters degree can substitute for two years of work experience.
- Experience with developing countries required.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel required.
- Experience managing complex projects with stakeholders required.
- Experience with protected areas strongly preferred.
- Financial modeling and/or costing experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with conservation planning (e.g. with the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation) strongly preferred.
- Must be detail-oriented with excellent quantitative, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
- Mus