Director, Waterscapes – 23066

Overview

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Director, Waterscapes.

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Director to serve as a technical expert and thought leader on freshwater climate adaptation and resilience and to support area-based conservation and fundraising across WWF-US priority Waterscapes (i.e., river and lake basins). The Director, Waterscapes will be responsible for supporting a portfolio of freshwater projects across multiple geographies with an emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience and area-based conservation. The Director will lead proposal development and manage complex donor-funded projects which support freshwater climate adaptation, resilience, and area-based conservation, contribute to learning and collaboration across WWF Goal teams, and commission and lead innovations in mechanisms for freshwater ecosystem conservation and restoration. The Director will also help build and advise on strategic partnerships with other key institutions and identify and strengthen linkages across WWF-US teams and the wider WWF network.

Responsibilities

• Develops and supports implementation of climate adaptation and resilience projects ensuring that projects are grounded in and informed by robust evidence and best available science.
• Identifies opportunities for climate adaptation and nature-based solutions for freshwater conservation project development within Freshwater initiatives, as well as across WWF-US goal teams and the wider WWF network.
• Oversees the technical support for groundwater/surface water assessments, analyses of land use change and impacts on hydrologic cycle at landscape scale, and interventions that ensure restoration or improvements to waterscapes, accounting for climate change
• Identifies and develops funding opportunities from private foundations, individuals, and/or government aid agencies.
• Manages projects and programs in specific Waterscapes on climate adaptation and resilience, area-based conservation, and nature-based solutions.
• Represents the Freshwater team and WWF in communicating to internal and external audiences.
• Builds NGO and academic partnerships/collaborations to generate meaningful advances in freshwater-related climate adaptation and resilience conservation practice that informs both policy and practice from local to international arenas.
• Plays a key role in representing Freshwater in the initiative
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent experience and minimum 10 years' experience in freshwater, hydrology, or related science fields with experience in climate adaptation and resilience program design, management and implementation.
• Hydrological modeling and climate scenario planning modeling experience. Ability to understand and technically assess a variety of hydrological models for use from local to global scales with different type of methods, data sources, and assumptions.
• Ability to translate technical science and model results to conservation and policy applications.
• Extensive experience with and commitment to working on freshwater climate change adaptation, resilience, and/or nature-based solutions internationally and in partnership with communities.
• Familiarity and experience with donor-funded mechanisms including, but not limited to, USAID, GEF, and GCF.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results working in a matrix environment.
• Knowledge and experience with conservation finance models, climate adaptation and nature-based solutions in the context of freshwater systems management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated skills in grant writing, technical writing and public speaking.
• Demonstrated ability in fundraising, budgeting, and monitoring donor compliance.
• Demonstrated ability and understanding about how to forge partnerships with a wide variety of players – local communities, government, and NGOs.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel as necessary. Travel is both within the US and internationally.
• Preference given to candidates who are multilingual for business purposes in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, or southeast Asia.
• GIS and spatial mapping experience a plus.
• 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.

WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

To Apply

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #23066
• Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.

Apply Here

PI199165248