World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer, Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative. 

Major Function

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) manages work as a key member of WWF’s Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative team.  This initiative is focused on the goal of driving the world’s future infrastructure to serve the needs of both people and our planet. The position involves researching, developing, communicating, raising funds for, scaling up, and managing conservation projects, policy and finance sector engagement and advocacy work, and partnerships that will accelerate a global shift in infrastructure development norms.  The SPO will work in collaboration with WWF US teams, other WWF offices, external partner organizations, and focal country government counterparts, to manage critical components of the Infrastructure Initiative portfolio.

• Organizes, tracks, and contributes to the infrastructure program’s strategic and operational planning and participates in WWF US and network-wide planning processes.
• Leads on technical development of key aspects of the Infrastructure Initiative according to skills and experience.  Monitors, analyzes, and tracks new technical and policy trends to identify windows of opportunity, spark new ideas, and highlight important risks. 
• Develops, plans, and manages projects, grants, and components of large projects.  Prepares and/or finalizes scopes of work, budgets, and administrative information for contracts and grants and ensures compliance with donor requirements.
• Organizes and oversees the team’s project deliverable tracking system, ensuring that projects make expected progress towards objectives and are implemented effectively.
• Supports WWF US outposted staff managing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other US donor-funded projects, following WWF's field operations policies.  
• Travels to project field locations to provide project management and technical support. 
• Co-manages fundraising processes with the vice president (VP), writing concepts and proposals in collaboration with the infrastructure team and the development department. 
• Advances fundraising and communications objectives in collaboration with the Forest communications leads and infrastructure team program associate and by drafting speeches and PowerPoint narratives, preparing and/or editing promotional materials (blogs, web content, briefs, flyers, etc.), and coordinating public events.
• Facilitates technical networking and knowledge, information, and data sharing in the global WWF infrastructure community and with partner organizations.
• Interacts daily with other program staff and departments and regularly with representatives of other WWF offices, grantees, consultants, and partner organizations. Communicates with representatives of conservation organizations, universities, NGOs, corporations, and government agencies to coordinate project activities or obtain and disseminate information.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of 6 - 8 years’ professional experience in natural resource management, conservation, engineering, sustainable finance, climate change resilience, landscape or regional planning, environmental management, international development, or a relevant field (or 3 - 5 years’ experience with an advanced degree).
• Must possess excellent writing skills for both advocacy/public outreach and reports/proposals.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.  
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a matrixed team environment and while under pressure to prioritize and produce high-quality work while meeting deadlines.  
• Strong verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form.   
• Excellent interpersonal skills - knowing when to use courtesy, tact and/or diplomacy to effectively communicate with all constituents.  
• 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.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising, budgeting, and monitoring donor compliance.  
• Strong research and analytical skills.  
• Familiarity with Microsoft office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).  
• Work experience abroad is preferred.
• Preference given to candidates who are multilingual: Spanish, Portuguese, and/or French.
• Experience in the conservation sector is a plus.  

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 #22172
• 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.