Director, Education for Nature and Conservation Science Leadership

Company Description

Since our founding in 1961, WWF has been committed to protecting nature and its resources. We understand that nature is our planet’s greatest asset, intrinsically linked to human survival — and that it needs our help. Our work to reverse nature loss and conserve biodiversity has never been more urgent.

As the world’s leading conservation organization—with offices on six continents and in nearly 100 countries—our global reach includes the world’s most critical forests, river systems, wetlands, savannas, and ocean habitats. By conserving these places and supporting sustainable livelihoods within them, we can keep the Earth in balance for people, wildlife, and the planet.

Job Description

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Director to lead the Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) and Conservation Science Leadership program. As an integral part of the Global Science team, the Director sets and implements the strategy, operations, and resource model for a global portfolio of science fellowships, grants, and capacity development initiatives, and ensures the program invests in conservation science capacity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A central part of the role is cultivating the program's alumni and fellowship recipients within an active, self-sustaining network that delivers long-term mentorship, coaching, peer support, and professional connection within the countries and regions where alumni live and work. The Director serves as WWF's global representative on conservation science capacity and leadership development, fostering partnerships with leading universities, research institutions, and supporters to extend the program's reach and impact. The Director will adapt the program's strategic direction in step with internal and external stakeholders' needs, lead resource mobilization for program priorities, and contribute to the literature that shapes conservation capacity practice across the sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivers a strategic vision for conservation science leadership and capacity development in support of conservation goals.
• Implements the strategy and workplan for the Education for Nature and Conservation Science Leadership Program with a professional team. Plans and recommends strategic updates and activities so that program outcomes remain relevant and supported by a sustainable funding plan.
• Develops and implements a sustainable resource model for conservation science capacity and leadership development, partnering with development, private sector and public sector colleagues to design and execute fundraising plans.
• Manages, coaches and develops program staff and external collaborators, fostering an inclusive and high-performing team.
• Serves as WWF's organizational representative and thought leader on conservation science leadership and capacity development, communicating effectively with high-level audiences and sustaining relationships with strategic partners, donors, WWF Network colleagues, consultants, grantees and alumni.
• Designs and grows a durable network among alumni and current fellowship recipients, creating structures that sustain peer support, mentorship and collaboration within and across countries and regions over the long term.
• Positions alumni as mentors, reviewers, and ambassadors for the next generation of grantees, and tracks the reach and value of the network as a measure of program impact.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with universities, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations across Africa, Asia and Latin America to advance program objectives.
• Develops and manages the annual budget within a three-year plan, in collaboration with the direct supervisor and Program Operations staff. Oversees grant-making, donor compliance and expense management.
• Delivers a strategic communications plan for the program, in collaboration with Global Science and WWF communications colleagues, to raise the program's profile, promote grantees and alumni and deepen engagement among partners and priority audiences.
• Monitors, analyzes and evaluates program initiatives to confirm that program intent and outcomes are achieved and that adaptive learning takes place.
• Stays abreast of current science, issues and trends in conservation science leadership, capacity development, lifelong learning, upskilling and career development.
• Contributes to the academic and grey literature on conservation science capacity and leadership and convenes staff and partners to translate evidence and best practice into WWF's program design and interventions.
• Travels internationally, frequently to remote locations, to represent WWF at meetings, workshops and conferences and to conduct site visits.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Key Competencies:

• Strategic and adaptive leadership: Sets long-range direction for a complex global portfolio while reading changing conditions in the conservation sector and adjusting the program accordingly, so that outcomes stay relevant over a multi-year horizon.
• Resource mobilization: Approaches fundraising and relationship management as a core leadership function, building the case for investment in people and institutions and converting it into a diversified, durable funding base for the program.
• Relationship building, collaboration, and diplomacy: Works with a high degree of professionalism and integrity with WWF colleagues, university leaders, government agencies, supporters, grantees, and alumni across many cultures and contexts, exercising tact and good judgment with external and internal audiences through the power of collective action and innovation.
• Network building and stewardship: Understands how professional networks form, hold together, and become self-sustaining, and applies that to convert a roster of past grantees into an engaged community that mentors and supports its own members regionally.
• Coaching and talent development: Leads, mentors, and grows a team and a network, recognizing that the program's product is ultimately the capability and confidence of the people it supports.
• Evidence orientation and thought leadership: Grounds decisions in learning, monitoring data and the wider literature, and publishes and presents to advance the field.
• Execution and operational discipline: Manages budgets, grant cycles, compliance, and competing deadlines simultaneously and with minimal supervision, in a matrixed environment.
• Cross-cultural fluency and respect: Brings genuine enthusiasm for partnering with nationals of countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and centers their expertise and priorities in program design.

Skills and Abilities:

• Master's degree in a relevant field such as international education, environmental education, international development, natural resources management, or a conservation science discipline is required. Ph.D. is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in science capacity development or international education, working directly or in partnership with academic, research, and non-governmental partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is required. Experience living or working in Africa, Asia, or Latin America is highly desirable.
• Experience in biological conservation, natural resources management, systems change, or international development, with demonstrated success developing and managing complex portfolios and programs.
• Experience developing, leading and managing high-performing teams in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environments, with a demonstrated track record taking initiative, exercising independent judgment and working effectively in a matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage multi-year resource mobilization strategies and plans, including alignment with program strategic plans, annual budgets, and expense management.
• Expertise advising on capacity and leadership development strategies and interventions, preferably in a conservation context, including designing, implementing, and monitoring large-scale capacity initiatives and adaptively managing change over time.
• Demonstrated understanding of academic fellowship programs, including university and higher-education fellowship and grant requirements. Experience overseeing and managing large-scale, grant programs and monitoring donor compliance.
• Outstanding skills, expertise, and track record in building and sustaining alumni, fellowship, or professional networks, including designing structures that generate lasting mentorship, coaching and peer support across geographies.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to set priorities, manage many details at once, and deliver high-quality work under deadline with minimal supervision.
• A record of thought leadership in the academic, grey literature, or media. Excellent interpersonal skills, including knowing when to use courtesy, tact, and diplomacy with all constituents.
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Fluency in English and strong written, verbal, facilitation and presentation skills. French, Spanish, Portuguese and/or additional language working proficiency is highly desirable.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 40% of the time, often to remote locations and over weekends.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software suite including extensive experience using project management software effectively.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF's core values
  • COURAGE — We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it's needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY — We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT — We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION — We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Additional Information

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.

Relocation is not provided for this position.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.