Manager, Strategic Planning and Finance - 23104

Overview

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

Major Function

The Manager of Strategic Planning and Finance on the Earth for Life team leads cross-organizational teams through development of conservation plans, financial models, and sustainable financing components of Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) and other WWF-US priority initiatives. This position plays a critical role in ensuring appropriate interaction and understanding between technical experts and senior leadership through working on concurrent projects based in different countries, developing and managing working relationships with WWF staff, partner organizations and consultants, and providing strategic technical guidance to international counterparts. As part of WWF’s broader Conservation Finance Community of Practice, the Manager will collaborate with finance professionals from across the organization on the development, design, and implementation of priority initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leads stakeholder collaboration, working closely with other WWF departments/offices and conservation NGOs, governments, and donors using sound rationale to clarify and build consensus on scope, conservation and community goals, activities, and financing needs for PFPs and other priority initiatives.
• Leads efforts to identify, prioritize, design and implement sustainable financing mechanisms (e.g. taxes, fees, royalties, etc.) for priority initiatives.
• Leads development of key technical components for bilateral, multilateral, and private donor funding proposals and communications – systematically evaluating opportunities and targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive results.
• Trains counterparts based abroad to manage processes related to conservation planning, financial planning, and development of sustainable financing mechanisms.
• Incorporates lessons learned and best practices into WWF guidance and training materials.
• As appropriate, supervises WWF-US technical staff working on sustainable financing initiatives, mechanisms and vehicles, and provides oversight and management of consultants and interns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in a management, finance or conservation-related field preferred
• At least eight years of experience in management consulting, business, finance, or conservation; project management and financial modeling experience required; some experience with developing countries preferred. A master’s degree can substitute for two years of work experience.
• Strong project management skills and ability to lead teams to produce high-quality results.
• Able to lead group discussions with individuals working in different roles and countries; capable of training and guiding team members with a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
• Practical for-profit or NGO consulting experience, and/or advanced organization management, problem solving and/or strategy development skills.
• Excellent communication skills including workshop facilitation and training skills and experience required. Solid writing and editing skills.
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, verbal and written communication skills; detail-oriented.
• Must be client-focused, and enjoy problem solving and working with teams.
• High degree of flexibility, and ability to work against deadlines and under frequently-changing circumstances.
• Tactful, organized, persistent, comfortable with occasional ambiguity, sense of humor.
• 15-25% travel to developing countries (and Washington DC if not located there).
• Fluent in English; fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Internet research.
• 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.

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 #23104**
• 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.