Director, Nature-Based Solutions Design & Development

Title: Director, Nature-Based Solutions Design and Development

Job Family / Level: Program / Director

Reports to: VP and Deputy Lead, Forests

Employee Type: Regular

FLSA Status: Exempt

Revised Date: March 2024

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund, United States (WWF-US) seeks a Nature-Based Solutions Design and Development Director to join as a core member of a new initiative, the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Origination platform. WWF has established the NbS Origination Platform to originate, structure, resource and implement NbS interventions for both private and public actors in a cohort of pre-identified priority forest landscapes (for the pilot phase) that will demonstrate and set the bar for high-integrity climate and nature impacts and benefit-sharing.

The NbS Design and Development Director’s overarching role is to strategically advise and guide place-based technical teams in WWF country offices in the design, development, and implementation of high-quality NbS interventions that are strategically linked to landscape and jurisdictional strategies in WWF priority forest geographies. The Director manages a team of technical and geographically focused landscape focal points who team with country programs in ideation, design, planning and implementation of all NbS-OP funded interventions, maximizing synergies with other major NbS activities in the landscape. This position also works closely with the Impact and Monitoring Director to support the evaluation and monitoring of the interventions for impacts on climate, biodiversity and people.

The Director’s portfolio of priorities includes engaging partners across the WWF network to develop the NbS-OP global landscape pipeline globally. The Director is also responsible for working with WWF country programs to test and improve replicable operational models for north-south partnerships, and to ensure that the NbS-OP team works effectively as the technical implementation arm of the country teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and guide the design and implementation of the NbS-OP landscape pipeline and NbS interventions.
  • Manage a team of landscape focal points to ensure high quality design, development, implementation, and monitoring of interventions, as well as project portfolio achievements and desired outcomes in line with NbS-OP guidance and each landscape’s theory of change.
    • Provide programmatic oversight and approval for all NbS-OP landscape initiatives and work.
      • Collaborate with the Forest Climate Solutions Impact and Monitoring Director to facilitate the evaluation and monitoring of all NbS-OP interventions and track performance.
        • Collaborate with the “Deal Origination” (demand-side) team of the Platform for inputs to detailed costing / budgeting, project implementation plans, and risk assessments and to ensure coordination for developing on-the-ground landscape financing mechanisms.
        • Identify new landscape candidates to include in the Platform’s pipeline based on screening criteria, in collaboration with senior leadership and WWF country offices.
        • Work closely with WWF-US Program Operations and grant managers to comply with financial and operational policies and procedures (including Environmental and Social Safeguards) and track burn rates.
        • Solidify and improve the NbS landscape selection and scoping process through lessons learned.
          • Guide adaptive management to ensure project success.
          • Provide oversight and management of consultants as appropriate.
          • Contribute to ongoing strategic development and approach of the Platform.
            • Develop efficiencies in landscape development and review, e.g., templates, review modalities, replicable partnership models, etc.
            • Develop and incorporate lessons learned and best practices into NbS-OP guidance, broader WWF Network guidance, and provide input and insights to network and external partners on NbS implementation as appropriate.
            • Perform other duties and take on other responsibilities as required according to organizational needs.

              Skills and Abilities

              • Advanced degree in environmental science, natural resource management or related field.
              • Minimum ten years of experience working in conservation, natural resource management, and sustainability issues internationally.
              • Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating natural resources conservation and management projects in developing countries, including but not limited to protection, restoration, and sustainable forest management initiatives.
              • Demonstrated experience developing log frames, theory of change diagrams and results-based management tools.
              • Creative, analytical thinker and problem-solver. Ability to oversee and troubleshoot on multiple significant initiatives simultaneously.
              • Forward looking. Can spot risks and can design/manage work to avoid them or address them.
              • Project management experience required.
              • Demonstrated management ability in supervising at least 3 direct reports.
              • Demonstrated capacity for consultation, negotiation, and diplomacy.
              • Demonstrated integrity in human and financial resources management.
              • Experience in cross-cultural consultation, training, and collaboration.
              • Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
              • Strong ability to work independently while maintaining productivity.
              • Previous experience in Latin America, Africa and/or Asia.
              • Ability to travel frequently, both nationally and internationally.
              • Strong technical/professional English-language proficiency required; fluency in Spanish, and/or French greatly preferred.
              • 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.

                  Responsibilities

                  • Lead the development and implementation of the NbS-OP landscape pipeline and NbS interventions.
                  • Identify new landscape candidates to include in the Platform’s pipeline based on screening criteria, in collaboration with senior leadership and WWF country offices.
                  • Manage a team of landscape focal points to ensure high quality design, development, implementation, and monitoring of interventions, as well as project portfolio achievements and desired outcomes in line with NbS-OP guidance and each landscape’s theory of change.
                  • Provide programmatic oversight and approval for all NbS-OP landscape initiatives and work.
                  • Collaborate with the Forest Climate Solutions Impact and Monitoring Director to facilitate the evaluation and monitoring of all NbS-OP interventions and track performance.
                  • Collaborate with the “Deal Origination” (demand-side) team of the Platform for inputs to detailed costing / budgeting, project implementation plans, and risk assessments and to ensure coordination for developing on-the-ground landscape financing mechanisms.
                  • Work closely with WWF-US Program Operations and grant managers to comply with financial and operational policies and procedures (including Environmental and Social Safeguards) and track burn rates.
                  • Solidify and improve the NbS landscape selection and scoping process through lessons learned.
                  • Guide adaptive management to ensure project success.
                  • Provide oversight and management of consultants as appropriate.
                  • Contribute to ongoing strategic development and approach of the Platform.
                  • Develop efficiencies in landscape development and review, e.g., templates, review modalities, replicable partnership models, etc.
                  • Develop and incorporate lessons learned and best practices into NbS-OP guidance, broader WWF Network guidance, and provide input and insights to network and external partners on NbS implementation as appropriate.
                  • Other responsibilities as appropriate.

                    Qualifications

                    • Advanced degree in environmental science, natural resource management or related field.
                    • Minimum ten years of experience working in conservation, natural resource management, and sustainability issues internationally.
                    • Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating natural resources conservation and management projects in developing countries, including but not limited to protection, restoration, and sustainable forest management initiatives.
                    • Project management experience required.
                    • Demonstrated management ability in supervising at least 3 direct reports.
                    • Demonstrated ability to think critically and systematically across fields and topics, synthesizing knowledge for project management and strategic guidance.
                    • Demonstrated capacity for consultation, negotiation, and diplomacy.
                    • Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across diverse stakeholders.
                    • Strong ability to work independently while maintaining productivity.
                    • Previous experience in Latin America, Africa and/or Asia.
                    • Ability to travel frequently, both nationally and internationally.
                    • Strong technical/professional English-language proficiency required; fluency in Spanish, and/or French greatly preferred.
                    • Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
                    • 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 #23096
                      • 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.