World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Program Director to lead the implementation of a complex, multi-partner, large program focused on food waste, consumer behavior change, environmental education, and food system sustainability.
Major Function
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) seeks a Program Director to lead the implementation of a complex, multi-partner, large program focused on food waste, consumer behavior change, environmental education, and food system sustainability. The program comprises distinct but interconnected projects that collectively aim to engage consumers, communities, and institutions in reducing food waste and its associated environmental impact. WWF serves as the lead organization for a coalition, responsible for coordinating all programmatic, financial, and compliance activities across the program.
The Program Director will provide strategic and operational leadership of this new multi-stakeholder WWF led initiative aimed at reducing community food waste, directly overseeing project management responsibilities. This includes ensuring strong workflows, systems, and tools are in place for tracking deliverables, budgets, contracts, and reporting across multiple partners. The Director will oversee day-to-day implementation across multiple projects, manage subgrant processes in compliance with donor regulations, and foster strong collaboration among diverse coalition partners.
Salary Range: $124,000 - $178,300
Reporting Structure: Reports to Vice President, Food
FLSA status: Exempt
Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid work structure with minimum of 2 days a week in office)
Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Program Leadership and Oversight
Lead co-development of workplans, deliverables, timelines, and success metrics across program components, and oversee project management systems for tracking milestones, budgets, contracts, and donor reporting.
Monitor progress and adapt plans as needed to address challenges or shifting priorities.
Manage multiple distinct projects within the program, overseeing the budget, grants administration, communications, M&E, and technical expertise.
Ensure seamless coordination among internal WWF teams and external partners, maintaining program coherence and responsiveness to the donor.
Oversee staff and partner workstreams across areas such as communications, behavior change, monitoring and evaluation, and community engagement.
Proactively identify and manage risks that could impact successful implementation, elevating issues as needed.
Manage an executive steering committee comprised of coalition leaders, consulting them and gaining approvals as needed.
Grants and Financial Management
Lead the collaborative design, launch, and management of competitive subgrant solicitations, including drafting scopes of work, establishing evaluation criteria, and overseeing the full lifecycle of the application and review process in coordination with the Coalition.
Manage a subaward review committee process to ensure consistent, fair, and transparent decision-making aligned with program objectives.
Oversee subaward negotiations, onboarding, and performance monitoring, including deliverables tracking, milestone verification, and review of partner reporting.
Work closely with a Finance and Administration Manager and Program Home Office to monitor budgets, track expenditure, support financial reporting, and prepare for audits or donor reviews.
Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as the primary point of contact between WWF and other coalition members.
Lead coalition meetings and workshops to ensure each of the projects aligns with the overall program.
Serve in a coordination role between sub-projects to prioritize collaboration and avoid duplication.
Facilitate the recruitment and onboarding of collaborators, including non-profits, research institutions, private sector partners, and other organizations.
Support broad stakeholder engagement to reflect a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and geographic regions.
Strengthen relationships with key donors by representing the program in external forums and donor briefings.
Develop and implement partner engagement strategies that ensure transparency, accountability, and shared learning.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Sharing
Ensure compliance with all donor grant requirements.
Track and report on program metrics and learning objectives, working with project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experts.
Support the development of public-facing materials and host learning sessions such as webinars and workshops to share progress and best practices with a broader audience.
Ensure timely submission of high-quality donor reports that reflect program achievements and lessons learned.
Promote continuous improvement by integrating monitoring data and feedback into adaptive management practices.
Maintain project management dashboards and documentation for internal use, ensuring clear visibility across workstreams.
Other Responsibilities
Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership, contributing to strategic planning and vision-setting for related initiatives.
Key Competencies
Strategic Collaboration and Leadership. Able to lead and influence large working groups and coalitions, dealing with conflict management and risk mitigation.
Adaptability. Ability to work independently and in ambiguous environments where immediate direction from senior management may not be possible.
Proactive Problem Solving and Judgment. Anticipates challenges, thinks critically through solutions, and takes initiative while appropriately seeking guidance when needed.
Results-Oriented Project Management. Leverages organization and time management skills to ensure timely completion of deliverables in large, complex projects.
Skills and Abilities
Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, public policy, education, communications, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
At least 10 years of professional experience, with a strong track record managing multi-million dollar public and private grant funded programs.
Deep experience in building, managing and coordinating effective multi-stakeholder coalitions and aligning complex workstreams toward shared goals.
Understanding of US food waste reduction programs and policies, recycling, environmental education, and consumer behavior change strategies.
Knowledge of public sector grant regulations and compliance.
Supervisory experience managing staff, contractors, or partner organizations.
Familiar with project management software and tools, including building dashboards and maintaining collaborative workflows.
Proven ability to communicate complex subjects effectively both verbally and in writing.
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.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
Experience managing competitive subgrant processes and serving in an oversight or review committee capacity.
Experience working with government-funded programs
Familiarity with social marketing, behavior change, or environmental education approaches.
Background in food systems, recycling, sustainability, and/or public awareness campaigns.
Experience developing and leveraging partnerships across public, nonprofit, academic, and private sector institutions.
Demonstrated ability to design and maintain project management systems, track deliverables, and ensure accountability across multiple partners.
To Apply:
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.
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