Senior Program Officer, Area Based Conservation Planning and Finance - 23002

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer, Area Based Conservation Planning and Finance.

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world's leading conservation organization, seeks a Senior Program Officer for area based conservation and financial planning on the Earth for Life team, preferably located at our Washington, DC office. This role involves developing detailed conservation plans and financial models for Project Finance for Permanence and other initiatives that provide long-term financial support to area based conservation programs. The Senior Program Officer will work on concurrent projects based in different countries; develop and manage working relationships with WWF staff, partner organizations and consultants; and guide and train counterparts based abroad on financial modeling and related processes. As part of WWF's broader Conservation Finance Community of Practice, the Senior Program Officer will collaborate with finance professionals from across the organization on the development, design, and implementation of priority initiatives. The Senior Program Officer will report to the Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Finance in the Earth for Life Initiative.

• Develop detailed long-term financial models (projections of costs and funding needs, mapping costs to funding sources, financial analysis) for Project Finance for Permanence and other large-scale area based conservation initiatives
• With partner organizations, design and build agreement on initiative scope (geographic and thematic), conservation goals, activities and indicators
• Communicate financial analysis scope, approach, assumptions to various audiences; based on analysis, make recommendations on sustainable financing mechanism prioritization, design and implementation
• Train in-country partner organizations on financial modeling and related processes
• Clearly document conservation scope, financial needs, and related assumptions
• Contribute to funding proposals by providing technical content
• Other responsibilities assigned by position's manager

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in a management, finance or conservation-related field preferred
• At least six years' experience in management consulting, business, finance or conservation (or equivalent) required. A Master's degree can substitute for two years of work experience
• Financial modeling experience required
• Experience with developing countries required
• Detail-oriented with excellent quantitative, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Must be client-focused, and enjoy problem solving and working with teams spread across different time zones
• High degree of flexibility, and ability to work against deadlines (including some nights and weekends), and under frequently-changing circumstances
• 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
• Tactful, organized, persistent, comfortable with occasional ambiguity, sense of humor
• Must be willing to travel 15-25% of the time to developing countries, on short notice (and to Washington DC if not located there)
• Must be fluent in English; fluency in Spanish, Portuguese or French a plus
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Internet research
• Committed to WWF's mission
• 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 #23002
• 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.

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