WWF, one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Assistant for a new conservation leadership fellowship that will develop the next generation of leaders to protect the world’s most vital ecosystems. The fellowship will provide long-term mentorship, camaraderie, and experiential learning to a diverse set of early-to-mid-career conservationists. The long-term goal of the fellowship is to build a vibrant community of leaders who are committed to protecting nature worldwide.

The Senior Assistant will play a critical role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning and long-term success of this program. Key responsibilities will include coordinating invoice payments and expense reviews, arranging for extensive international programming and travel, supporting the program’s communications, and providing general administrative and program support.

• Support communications and schedule coordination. Answers and routes phone calls and emails and handles a variety of internal and external requests. Arranges meetings and makes appointments for supervisor and staff. Manages own Outlook inbox and calendar as well as supervisor’s calendars, as needed. Answers complex inquiries requiring detailed knowledge of the program. Regularly drafts correspondence for self and others. Contributes complex documents for others, such as presentations, reports, and curriculum, often including creating tables, charts, slides, and other infographics as directed.

• Coordinate payments and manage programmatic accounting and budgeting. The Sr. Assistant will manage a wide-ranging portfolio of payments, travel-related expenses (flights, hotels, venues), and payments to outfitters and vendors around the world.

• Arrange logistics related to flights, visas, accommodation, and event space. The Sr. Assistant will handle reservations and bookings for programming, including flights and accommodation around the world. Will also assist participants in the program in navigating necessary processes related to visas as needed.

• Assist in research and data management of curriculum and programming. May be asked to perform research on course locations, locate and organize relevant scholarship on complex topics, and organize program calendars. The Sr. Assistant will also play an important administrative role during the application process for participants in the program, tracking applications and compiling a database of applicants.

• Contributes to planning and running program related meetings. The Sr. Assistant will attend and contribute to regular staff and Advisory Board meetings, both virtual and in-person. Responsibilities will include taking detailed and accurate notes. May also coordinate other meetings and special events as needed.

• Collaborates with staff from across the organization. The Sr. Assistant will cultivate relationships with staff across the larger organization to drive success and will actively participate in organizational events and meetings.

• Other duties assigned by manager.

Key Competencies

• Attention to detail and organization. The Senior Assistant will need to work with attentiveness to detail on financial and administrative tasks that are essential to the program’s success.
• Comfort in dynamic and entrepreneurial environments. The fellowship is a new program that will be “under construction” for several years. It will operate with an entrepreneurial approach of boldness and creativity. The Senior Assistant should enjoy being part of a growing program and thrive in dynamic environments that involve moments of uncertainty, ambiguity, and change.
• A proactive problem-solving approach. The Senior Assistant must be able to proactively solve problems in situations where managers are traveling in remote areas and may not be available for consultation. The ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly to changing situations will be important.
• Superb cross-cultural skills. The fellowship will involve participants from around the world. The Senior Assistant must be adept at navigating cultural differences and nuances with sensitivity and should thrive in multi-cultural and multi-lingual environments.
• Comfort in Spanish and/or Portuguese. While not a requirement for the role, the Senior Assistant will greatly benefit from comfortably communicating in Spanish and/or Portuguese, as the fellowship will include extensive work in Latin America.

 Other Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and least five years of demonstrated and progressively responsible experience in relevant positions; additional work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience managing complex international travel and event logistics is a plus.
• Proficiency with Zoom and/or other video- and audio-conferencing technologies as required.
• Exceptional skills with MS Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• 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.
    

Location

This position will be located in Washington DC, and requires adherence to the organization’s hybrid work policy, currently set at two days per week.

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 #23128
• 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.