Project Manager - Marine Conservation

• Contribute to the development of project funding proposals.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables and conservation benefits in line with Emirates Nature-WWF’s conservation and strategic goals.
• Develop detailed project plans, timelines, resource needs, and budgets; ensure their alignment with project objectives.
• Identify stakeholders and establish governance structures.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and manage stakeholder engagement plans, collaborating with partners, communities, the private sector, government agencies, and other stakeholders to enable project implementation and incorporate their insights.
• Provide regular updates to leadership, sponsors, donors, and other key stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Facilitate meetings, site visits, workshops, events and presentations, and prepare reports accordingly.
• Ensure effective communication and foster collaboration among project teams, operational units, and external stakeholders to support conservation goals and long-term sustainable development.

• Effectively manage the deliverables of project team members and consultants—both field and office-based—and provide coaching and mentorship to junior staff as needed
• Manage third-party vendors, consultants, and service providers; collaborate with Emirates Nature–WWF’s Legal team on contract preparation and related legal matters as needed.
• Promote knowledge sharing and the dissemination of lessons learned across the project and wider organization.
• Stay informed on international best practices and regional developments to ensure that Emirates Nature–WWF’s solutions align with both global priorities (including WWF’s focus areas) and local contexts

• Prepare and monitor project budgets, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and internal financial policies.
• Prepare project forecasts and track actual spending while ensuring that scope and schedule are within budget parameters.
• Liaise with Finance team on a regular basis to monitor project expenditures, activities costs, and financial decision-making.
• Assess resourcing requirements and manage the planning and deployment of resources for selected projects.
• Proactively identify potential risks related to scope, schedule, budget, and quality; escalate and communicate key risk factors to leadership, sponsors, and senior stakeholders as needed.
• Maintain a risk register throughout the project lifecycle to help facilitate risk discussions during project governance meetings.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies with clearly defined resolution pathways.

• Oversee project execution to ensure alignment with contractual obligations and donor expectations.
• Effectively manage assigned project(s), monitor and report on progress and achievements using relevant KPIs and program management frameworks.
• Conduct project evaluations at close-out and document key lessons learned.
• Prepare donor reports, internal updates, and presentations that effectively communicate project progress, achievements, and outcomes.
• Ensure all projects adhere to Programme Delivery standards as set by the organization.
• Oversee the operational requirements of the project and address any issues promptly to minimize delays.
• Proactively identify dependencies between project teams and reinforce clear communication to align on project delivery outcomes.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date maintenance of all project documentation, including work plans, progress reports, risk registers, presentations, and meeting minutes.

• Support the development of reports, policy briefs, and discussion papers to facilitate stakeholder engagement and contribute to fundraising efforts
• Support the technical team in facilitating fieldwork activities—including site access, stakeholder approvals, logistics, and vendor engagement—ensuring timely execution within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Ensure all internal and external deliverables meet quality standards, align with stakeholder expectations, and are submitted within agreed timelines.
• Represent the organization during external meetings and workshops.
• Coordinate activities with local partners, field officers, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the Communications and Outreach team to design and implement an effective communication and outreach plan, ensuring alignment with the agreed scope, timeline, and budget.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and implement project-related campaigns, awareness initiatives, publications, and other marketing activities.

• Proven project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.
• Experience managing teams, consultants, and third-party vendors.
• Familiarity with environmental conservation, ideally marine/coastal ecosystems.
• Strategic thinking with strong problem-solving and risk management skills.

• 5+ years of experience in Project Management, Consulting, or a related field.
• Proven experience in all facets of project management, including planning, funding proposal development, monitoring, and reporting.
• Understanding of, or exposure to, marine and coastal ecosystems, including their protection and restoration.
• Experience in leading teams toward a shared vision and achieving project objectives.
• Working experience in the MENA region is desirable.

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in Business, Administration, Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minor in Environmental Science, Biology, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Project Management certification is desirable.
• Fluency in English (essential).
• Fluency in Arabic (highly desirable).

Emirates Nature-WWF Focus: Acts as a member of Emirates Nature-WWF, placing higher priority on Emirates Nature-WWF goals than own goals and anticipating the effects of own area’s actions on others to ensure holistic Emirates Nature-WWF outcomes. External Orientation: Looks outwards ensuring WWF stays relevant, continues to anticipate and adapt to external environmental and global trends.

Delivering Quality Outcomes: Establishes stretch goals, plans, using best judgment and takes responsibility for planning to and delivering on outcomes.

Building Working Relationships: Builds collaborative relationships through the understanding and development of other’s and own ideas.

Communicating Effectively: Uses appropriate means of communication to convey messages, seeks input from others and ensures understanding.

Leading Change: Encourages and seeks out innovative solutions and brings people on a journey constructively and empathetically.

Managing Resources: Makes the right judgments based on financial and resource availability.

Analytical mindset: Champions data-driven marketing. Understands the significance of key digital marketing metrics and has the ability to translate data into actionable insights to optimize digital marketing practices and identify trends.

• Internal: Works with all Units of Emirates Nature-WWF, Senior Management and Leadership.
• External: Works with Donors, Partners, Government and Local Authorities, Community Stakeholders, Private Sector and Academic Institutions, Third-party Consultants and Service Providers.

Emirates Nature-WWF is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and offer a flexible and diverse place of employment.