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

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a manager to provide technical and strategic leadership around transformational financial strategies that leverage private capital to support actionable, science-based conservation programs and additionally help solve societal challenges.

The manager oversees a portfolio of conservation finance projects in multiple countries and regions of the world at any one time. They develop and manage strategic relationships with private sector firms, financial institutions, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, and other public and private institutions, particularly in key economic sectors related to WWF conservation priorities: climate finance, forestry, fisheries, energy, and tourism. They also help to disseminate knowledge about climate financing mechanisms to help facilitate government participation and attract the support of private sector and development banks for debt-based transactions that further WWF’s conservation agenda.

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

Key Competencies

1. Analytical Thinking: The ability to analyze complex financial and environmental data to develop financial mechanisms for nature and climate.
2. Interpersonal Collaboration: Strong teamwork and coordination skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and partners.
3. Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results within tight deadlines.
4. Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills to clearly convey financial insights and conservation goals.

Required Skills and Experience

• Identifies and develops conservation finance ventures that provide sustainable financial support for WWF conservation priorities and promote economic opportunities for communities and sustainable natural resource management. 
• Responsible for executing multi-million-dollar transactions for WWF under risky, complex, and often-changing circumstances.
• Negotiates and helps structure funding (grants and investments) of conservation finance mechanisms and entities such as conservation trust funds and provides longer term support for these mechanisms and entities as needed.
• Oversees country-level and multi-country sustainable financing feasibility assessments and strategies, providing a wide range of technical assistance and professional services to countries, NGOs, financial institutions and other partners engaged in sustainable conservation finance.
• Develops and communicates WWF policies related to conservation finance.
• May manage Program Officers, AA/PA, short-term employees, senior fellows, consultants, and other partners
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Relationships

• Internal:  Frequent contact with all levels in WWF, WWF-International, NIs, NOs, and field offices, up to and including senior management of WWF NOs and Network.
• External:  Represents WWF with senior officials within international businesses and financial institutions, US and other governments, multilateral development banks and bi-lateral aid agencies to negotiate financial mechanisms and enterprise relationships that can be successfully utilized by WWF.  Represents WWF with central banks, finance ministries, and other government officials in the countries in which we work to negotiate terms and conditions of debt-for-nature swaps, bonds, and other conservation finance initiatives.

• A bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience in finance, consulting, international economics, or related field, including at least two years in sustainability finance.  International experience working on complex financial transactions.  Work experience or training in financial or capital markets and experience working in or with developing countries.
• Master’s degree required in economic, international affairs, finance, or similar field.
• Think both creatively and independently about structuring financial and conservation enterprise initiatives such as debt swaps or carbon finance.
• Capable of negotiating complex financing arrangements that represent new ground for WWF and require excellent judgment.
• Capability to oversee and/or guide personnel of varied professions and nationalities. 
• Versatile and able to work equally effectively at all levels of business or government.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; comfortable articulating complex topics to high-level stakeholders.
• High degree of creativity, flexibility, and the ability to work against deadlines, under frequently changing circumstances, and under limited supervision.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams. 
• 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 #25041
• 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.