World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer – Environmental and Social Safeguards and Gender

Major Function

The SPO will manage gender mainstreaming and safeguards for a portfolio of projects working with the Lead Safeguards Specialist and the Director of Gender, Social Inclusion and Safeguards to oversee all safeguards related functions of the growing WWF Global Environment Facility (GEF) and WWF Green Climate Fund (GCF) portfolio in Washington, DC within the Integration and Performance team.

• Produces and evaluates information and analyses on environment and social safeguard aspects in developing WWF policies, strategies and programs.
• Takes responsibility for safeguards-related aspects of project preparation, as needed, and provides relevant inputs on environment and social safeguards, including preparation of terms of reference for consultants and oversight of their work on environment and social impact assessments and necessary environment and social safeguards planning documents.
• Oversees environment and social safeguard review and technical support to GEF and GCF project implementation teams to enhance project quality and compliance on WWF’s environment and social safeguards policies and procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring that project teams prepare appropriate frameworks, plans and actions to address these issues during project development and implementation.
• Leads project safeguard review portion of supervision missions to assess compliance on WWF’s environment and social safeguard policies and procedures, guidelines, recommendations in safeguard planning documents, and related grant agreements and address implementation issues identified during project implementation.
• Manages reviews on progress and monitoring reports on environment and social safeguards for ongoing projects.
• Liaises with government, civil society, other international/local organizations, and other project stakeholders.
• Takes responsibility for gender-related aspects of project preparation, as needed, and provides relevant inputs on gender, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and social inclusion including preparation of terms of reference for gender assessment and action plan consultants and oversight of their work.
• Oversees gender action plan mainstreaming and review and technical support for a sub-set of GEF and GCF project implementation teams to enhance project quality and compliance on WWF’s Gender, GBV and SEAH policies and procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring that project teams prepare appropriate frameworks, plans and actions to address gender, GBV and SEAH issues during project development and implementation.
• Leads project gender review portion of supervision missions to assess compliance on WWF’s gender, GBV and SEAH policies and procedures, guidelines, recommendations in planning documents, and related grant agreements and address issues identified during project implementation.
• Manages reviews on progress, monitoring reports on implementation of gender action plans for ongoing projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Position requires 6 to 8 years of experience in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management, as well as an understanding of international conservation issues. A graduate degree in a related field is preferred and with 3-5 years of professional experience.

• Understanding of the environment and social safeguards (particularly involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples) policies and procedures of multilateral development organizations
• Understanding of gender mainstreaming and social inclusion policies and international best practices in the context of conservation and/or development projects/programs.
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, local communities, civil societies and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work on complex projects with minimal supervision and operate with independence, under pressure, to meet deadlines and commitments.
• Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork, including ability to develop rapport in a multicultural environment.
• Attention to detail.
• Experience working in international development projects is desired.
• Fluency in Spanish or French languages is desired.
• Must be willing to travel at least 20% of the time.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & 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 #23137
• 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.