World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Social Scientist.

Location: This is a Hybrid position with a minimum of 2 days in the Washington DC HQ office.

Major Function

The Senior Social Scientist leads scientific research to advance knowledge on the processes, conditions, and actions needed to strengthen inclusive and effective area-based conservation, focusing on the progress and challenges associated with identifying, recognizing, and reporting other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Leads work to compile and analyze tools and approaches to inclusive conservation to highlight lessons learned, identify strengths and gaps, and uptake opportunities in the broader conservation community. Responsible for disseminating and promoting the uptake of a WWF tool to monitor community-based management and governance in work to support community-led conservation.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Global Forest Lead Scientist.

Position Length: This position will end in December 2025.

Work Authorization: This position is not eligible for employment visa or work authorization sponsorship.

Salary:  The expected compensation range for this position is $88,300-$110,300.

• Leads comparative research for distilling lessons from implementing the OECM framework to advance inclusive and effective conservation in Latin America.
• Coordinates and oversees case studies to understand OECM implementation and the actions needed to support Indigenous peoples and local communities-led OECMs.
• Contributes to building a research agenda and building a network of researchers engaged in understanding the benefits and challenges for inclusive conservation linked to OECMs.
• Conducts a review of tools and approaches for inclusive conservation, supporting dialogue on this topic with experts and practitioners in conservation organizations, and engaging with established platforms for knowledge sharing to facilitate cross-learning.
• Disseminates and promotes the uptake of a WWF tool to monitor community-based management and governance in work to support community-led conservation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies

1. Analytical Thinking: Ability to examine a problem by connecting the different dimensions, processes and conditions shaping it, the outcomes and implications on the social and ecological systems, and their interactions and trade-offs. Ability to propose solutions that are adapted to specific contexts.
2. Collaboration and Relationship Builder skills: Ability to conduct collaborative processes and stimulate constructive dialogues among different teams with diverse perspectives and disciplinary backgrounds, and to foster common understanding on the issues. Ability to connect and interact with external partners.
3. Strategic and Cross- cultural Communication: Communicates and translates complex ideas into simpler messages that engage different audiences in ways that resonate with their specific backgrounds. Understands plurality of views, respects diversity and engages sensitively with different cultural contexts and environments.
4. Independence and Innovative Problem-Solving: Thinks proactively on how to advance the conceptualization of problems, comparison of situations across places, and review and dissemination of inclusive conservation tools. Offer timely solutions to problems faced in the research process and dissemination. Adapt to situations where making progress demands both independent and team-based work.
5. Time management and Accountability: Establishes and adapts work plans across different workstreams proactively ensuring that commitments are accomplished. Implements measures to consistently track and manage progress and compliance of deadlines ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality outputs.

• An advanced degree in social science (economics, sociology, political science, geography, etc.) with research work related to conservation; or equivalent experience.
• Strong technical understanding of qualitative and quantitative social science methods.
• Experience in conducting comparative research and systematic literature reviews.
• Familiarity with community-based and area-based conservation literature.
• Experience facilitating scientific and technical discussions with diverse actors preferred.
• Knowledge of Spanish is a plus, given the focus of the research in Latin America.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.
• 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.

**This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 2 days a week in the HQ office in Washington, D.C.**

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page,  Requisition #25008.
• 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.