Executive Director, Network Development

Last year, WWF launched a new strategy that harnesses the strengths of the WWF network in a shared vision, focussing on six major goals - water, wildlife, the ocean, climate and energy, forests, and food – and three key drivers of environmental problems – markets, finance and governance.

In support of this strategy WWF undertook a redesign of its international secretariat that will further unite WWF offices and its near 6,400 staff around the world. This will help WWF to build stronger partnerships across the world with government, business, civil society and individuals. Together, we will deliver on WWF’s ambitious goals.

We are recruiting the key leadership role of Executive Director, Network Development for our International Secretariat to help us achieve our new ambitious goals, and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.

The Role:

• Coordinates the development of a global network development strategy and new programme office development and management system;
• Sets the standards and processes for the operation of Integrated Performance Management;
• Uses the insights from IPM to recommend  approaches for improving Network effectiveness and impact, and for tackling areas of underperformance;
• Responsible for management of the Regional Directors  and  for the effective supervision of the POs;
• Based on the NET priorities and agenda, responsible for developing, leading and coordinating the global network development strategy;
• Responsible for setting goals and KPIs and for monitoring and measuring progress (performance) against strategy.

 Main responsibilities:

• Network Vision & Strategy - Develops and drives the vision and strategy for the Network, gaining consensus and creating the conditions that will bring the WWF vision to life for each office so as to increase conservation impact by taking a global and long-term view to Network development while ensuring regional relevance – by actively participating in every office to help it get to where it needs to be, identifying opportunities for synergies in the Network to maximize conservation impact.
• Performance Standards & Analysis - Sets the standards and implements the processes that enable the monitoring and assessment of performance across the whole organization.  Identifies the systemic issues that reduce efficiency/ conservation impact by drawing on key metrics from across the organization to analyze the performance of the whole, and identifies the areas of good performance and under performance. Makes recommendations for improvement and works with others on the solutions and implementation of them.   Is the owner of the Integrated Performance Management and ensures the learnings gleaned from IPM are shared and acted on.
• Office Management - Oversight of programme offices including legal and fiscal responsibility, and provides support in the development and execution of their growth plans working closely with other divisions of the Secretariat.  Sets the roadmap to transition the POs to NOs over time, according to identified opportunities.   Identifies opportunities and puts forward recommendations to strengthen WWF presence and impact, and takes the lead on trans-boundary growth initiatives.  Leads the establishment of new offices and entry into new geographies.
• Crisis & Risk Management - Takes action to channel resources to resolve emerging issues in the Network, identifying underlying causes and learnings, and proactively taking action to mitigate a repetition.  Ensures the communities of practice are working effectively and enabling the sharing of knowledge among offices and across the Network driving innovation. Takes the lead on cross-community initiatives.
• Acts as a member of the Senior Management Team of WWF International and performs other duties as requested by the Director General.

 Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• Advanced University degree in Business Management, Finance, Business Administration or related fields, or equivalent work experience;
• At least 10 years’ experience in a similar role in international organizations/companies, with demonstrated success in managing multi-disciplinary teams;
• Experience in designing, implementing and monitoring the compliance of policies and procedures, preferably in the context of an international organization;
• Personnel/people management, coaching, and monitoring skills;
• In-depth knowledge of conservation and sustainability issues;
• Perfect command of English language and any other language/s an asset.
• Creates communities of practice: Works with practitioners in area to achieve common goals that benefit the organization.
• Nurtures innovation: Creates a work environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation.
• External orientation: Looks outwards ensuring WWF stays relevant, brings partners along, and continues to anticipate and adapt to external environmental and global trends.
• Enabling Leadership: Achieving goals through bringing together capabilities, capacity and co-creating thinking.
• Collaboration & Influencing: Creates constructive relationships with all levels of the global community and engages others to develop and pursue a common goal.
• Thought Leadership and Strategic orientation: Combines deep thematic knowledge with strong strategic understanding as well as analytical conceptual thinking abilities, which result in identifying and leveraging opportunities to pursue the aspired outcomes for 2025. Possesses sharp eye and judgement for opportunities and leverage points.
• Values sound approaches: Consistently remains open to ideas offered by others; recommends and uses good ideas from sources outside the immediate environment to solve problems and encourages individuals to think laterally and seek alternative and innovation solutions.
• Addresses change resistance: Helps individuals overcome resistance to change (even when the future is unclear); shows empathy with those who feel loss or fear as a result of change.
• Manages complexity, contradictions, and paradoxes:  Implements sound approaches that minimize or reduce non-value-added complexities; manages personal pressures associated with change; works to achieve effective systems; readily makes adjustments when implemented approaches do not work.
• Drives for improvement: Strives for continuous improvement in process and business results; sets and encourages others to set continually higher goals; demonstrates tolerance for associated risk; strives to achieve a best practice approach. 
• Adhere to WWF’s values: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

 How to apply?

Upload your covering letter and CV on Linkedin.  We will only accept applications with a Covering Letter and CV saved together as one file. Please read the instructions carefully before applying.
 

Deadline for applications: 22 May 2016

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.