Senior Program Officer, Wildlife Conservation Projects - 23071

Overview

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer, Wildlife Conservation Projects.

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks an experienced and qualified candidate to help develop, oversee and manage US government funded projects (USG), with a focus on Asia. The WWF Wildlife Team is passionately committed to conserving biodiversity and threatened wildlife and wild places across our planet. The team works very closely with conservation and wildlife experts in the US and WWF offices worldwide to deliver lasting solutions that are grounded in best available science and inclusive conservation approaches. The Senior Program Officer (SPO) should be skilled at collaborating with grantees, donors, and other partners to drive for results and positive impacts in the field. S/he should also have deep respect of our DEI policies and a high degree of understanding a wide range of cultural and political settings. For the position, the team seeks an individual who is excited to take on challenging and complex projects and willing to travel to the field for project monitoring and participating in workshops, meetings and forums. The overall function of this role will also entail following various processes and guidelines for effective project management and oversight. As a key member of the Wildlife Team, the SPO will need to be adaptable and comfortable in a work environment that requires extensive collaboration and networking both within the beyond our network.

Responsibilities

• Designing, developing, implementing, and interpreting grants/assistance management, policies procedures, and practices for Wildlife conservation projects in Asia.
• Managing and administering grants, cooperative agreements, or other related instruments of the US Government, particularly USAID, US Fish and Wildlife Service/Department of Interior, and US State Department/Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL),
• Working with the WWF USG team, WWF country offices and other partners on all aspects of grantmaking process, from inviting, writing, and refining proposals, and assisting with submission processes and follow ups.
• Keeping abreast of recent developments in the USG environment, and grant opportunities and engaging with the WWF network at all levels to enhance synergies, integration and leverage for scaling WWF US and WWF network initiatives in consonance with WWF conservation strategies and priorities.
• Monitoring approved grants through careful review of narrative and financial reports, personal communication and site visits; reviewing grant modifications and adaptively managing the projects with the implementing partners.
• Reviewing and evaluating compliance of USG grants as per policies and procedures of the USG and WWF. Closely monitoring terms and conditions of grants/assistance awards to include costs, schedules, and instituting effective and systematic oversight roles and responsibilities
• Conducting internal risk and Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework - ESSF review and assessment for ongoing and new USG Grants.
• Conducting project evaluation, including monitoring and assessing sub grantee and partner capacity and performance, and establishing performance measures and metrics.
• Conducting post-award reviews and analyses to identify management, financial, and administrative issues and enhancing lessons learned for new projects.
• Reviews publications, reports and public-facing material of projects, communications and media purposes.
• Develops and manages complex partnerships and relationships at the WWF network and field levels. Represents WWF and partners in important forums.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in natural resources, wildlife management or equivalent subject matter is preferred. A minimum of 6 years of experience in the fields of USG grants management – USAID, INL, USFWS. Strong and demonstrated  experience in USG and related grants management and administration with familiarity in applying USAID CLA (Collaborating, Learning, Adapting) , AMELP (Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, learning plan), APR (Annual Pause and Reflect), PEA (Policial Economy Analysis)  tools and approaches

• Good understanding of international conservation/wildlife issues, regional and multilateral environmental processes, particularly in Asia, is preferred.

• Strong writing, communications, time management and organizational skills. Ability to work on initiatives with multiple and competing priorities and meet deadlines.

• Good interpersonal skills, including experience working with cross cultural teams as well as navigating multiple teams with competing priorities.

• Works well independently with limited supervision.

• Fluent English; additional regional (Asia) language skills a plus.

• 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.

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.

Location

The position is based in WWF's Washington DC head office. Hybrid working arrangement with the expectation of at least 2 days a week in office is currently in place.

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 #23071**
• 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.