World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Manager, Strategic Planning and Finance

Major Function

The Manager of Strategic Planning and Finance on the Earth for Life team leads cross-organizational teams through development of conservation plans, financial models, and sustainable financing components of Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) and other WWF-US priority initiatives. This position plays a critical role in ensuring appropriate interaction and understanding between technical experts and senior leadership through working on concurrent projects based in different countries, developing and managing working relationships with WWF staff, partner organizations and consultants, and providing strategic technical guidance to international counterparts. As part of WWF’s broader Conservation Finance Community of Practice, the Manager will collaborate with finance professionals from across the organization on the development, design, and implementation of priority initiatives.

Salary: The expected compensation range for this position is $98,000 to $140,900

Key Compentencies:

• Analytical Thinking. Think creatively and proactively to identify, prioritize, design and implement sustainable financing mechanisms.
• Problem Solving. Identifies and investigates problems and proposes solutions in a timely, efficient manner, incorporating lessons learned to address both immediate and longer-term challenges.
• Communication.Conveys ideas clearly, listens actively, and tailor messages to different audiences to foster appropriate interaction and understanding between technical experts and senior leadership.
• Collaboration.Works with donors, governments, conservation NGOs, and WWF colleagues to understand challenges, opportunities, and build consensus on scope, goals, activities, and financing needs for priority initiatives.
• Adaptability. Works against deadlines related to funding proposals and other assignments, and under frequently changing circumstances such as changes to government administrations, policies, and funding opportunities.

• Leads stakeholder collaboration, working closely with other WWF departments/offices and conservation NGOs, governments, and donors using sound rationale to clarify and build consensus on scope, conservation and community goals, activities, and financing needs for PFPs and other priority initiatives.
• Leads efforts to identify, prioritize, design and implement sustainable financing mechanisms (e.g. taxes, fees, royalties, etc.) for priority initiatives.
• Leads development of key technical components for bilateral, multilateral, and private donor funding proposals and communications – systematically evaluating opportunities and targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive results.
• Trains counterparts based abroad to manage processes related to conservation planning, financial planning, and development of sustainable financing mechanisms.
• Incorporates lessons learned and best practices into WWF guidance and training materials.
• As appropriate, supervises WWF-US technical staff working on sustainable financing initiatives, mechanisms and vehicles, and provides oversight and management of consultants and interns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in a management, finance or conservation-related field preferred
• At least eight years of experience in management consulting, business, finance, or conservation; project management and financial modeling experience required; some experience with developing countries preferred. A master’s degree can substitute for two years of work experience.
• Strong project management skills and ability to lead teams to produce high-quality results.
• Able to lead group discussions with individuals working in different roles and countries; capable of training and guiding team members with a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
• Practical for-profit or NGO consulting experience, and/or advanced organization management, problem solving and/or strategy development skills.
• Excellent communication skills including workshop facilitation and training skills and experience required. Solid writing and editing skills.
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, verbal and written communication skills; detail-oriented.

• Must be client-focused, and enjoy problem solving and working with teams.
• High degree of flexibility, and ability to work against deadlines and under frequently-changing circumstances.
• Tactful, organized, persistent, comfortable with occasional ambiguity, sense of humor.
• 15-25% travel to developing countries (and Washington DC if not located there).
• Fluent in English; fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Internet research.
• 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.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #25016
• 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.