Head, Policy, Wildlife - WWF International (LOCATION: Flexible in WWF International Hubs)

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the devastating impacts of climate change and nature loss. The situation today is worse than the darkest predictions of just ten years ago, pushing billions of people to the edge and threatening lives and livelihoods. At WWF, we are facing our biggest crisis – and our biggest ever opportunity – to create a better future for people and nature. With over 60 years of experience and an active presence in more than 100 countries, we work to achieve both on-the-ground and global policy action, from protecting and restoring species and their habitats, to transforming markets and policies toward sustainability.

What We Do

We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, we are part of a growing global movement calling for bolder action on climate and nature, demanding that world leaders set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. WWF works to address the most dominant drivers of nature loss through system-wide changes in how food and energy are produced and consumed, and in how financial systems are structured.

WWF International global recruitment team are exclusively managing this vacancy. We kindly ask that you do not contact the local office regarding this position. If you do not hear from us within one month after the vacancy post is closed, you are most likely not selected to move forward in the recruitment process.

1 MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

WWF Wildlife Thematic Programme is part of the Biodiversity Practice whose aim is to unite the WWF network and our partners to achieve the Thriving Biodiversity objective of WWF’s Roadmap 2030. The Biodiversity Practice includes 4 Thematic Programmes; Wildlife, Forests, Oceans, Freshwater.

The Wildlife Thematic Programme in particular strives to disrupt and halt the two major drivers of wildlife decline: habitat loss and fragmentation, and overexploitation.

2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS

As a results driven policy specialist, lead and coordinate the WWF network to achieve specific policy and advocacy ambitions, drive efforts to ensure effective policy implementation, conduct analysis and research on strategic policy issues, develop related and innovative policy solutions. Take responsibility for the positioning of the Wildlife Thematic Programme in the context of broader policy fora.

3 MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and facilitate WWF’s Wildlife policy agenda with focus on strategic thought leadership, advocacy, capacity building, planning and implementation.
• Lead and coordinate WWF’s engagement at key Multilateral Environmental Agreements, with a particular focus on CITES, CMS, IWC[1], and other fora, as deemedstrategic. Coordinate with other units to achieve wildlife policy outcomes at additional fora, including CBD[2]. Explore and accelerate opportunities for impact in regional policy fora, working closely with WWF regional policy specialists.
• Develop and implement a targeted roadmap to support offices with the implementation of global and regional policies, relevant to the delivery on the ground and in the water of the Thriving Biodiversity objective and the wildlife strategy.
• Promote regular interaction with policy leads in other Thematic Programmes and Practices to drive cross-practice policy coherence and deliver greater impact through integration.
• Facilitate the development of network policy positions and advocacy strategies related to the achievement of the Wildlife Thematic Programme’s objectives.
• Lead WWF’s external engagement at key policy intervention points, including relevant events and meetings.
• Coordinate the professional, coherent and effective network engagement of diverse WWF teams at appropriate policy dialogues relevant to Wildlife content
• Identify policy levers and enabling conditions which need to be addressed to achieve the wildlife elements of the Thriving Biodiversity objective of Roadmap 2030, in alignment with the Biodiversity Practice Playbook and in coordination with other Roadmap objectives, in particular ‘Elevating Nature’.
• Advocate with decision-makers on critical conservation issues relevant to Wildlife Thematic Programme content.
• Support capacity building of colleagues in the WWF network to develop skills and experience related to effective achievement of the Wildlife Thematic Programme’s policy objectives.
• Provide a research and radar capacity on external policy developments relevant to the Wildlife Thematic Programme content.

4 PROFILE

Required Qualifications;

• Ideally at least 7 years professional policy experience in conservation, environment and/or development.
• Experience with CITES strongly preferred. Experience with CMS, IWC and/or CBD also of value.
• Strong track record of delivering policy impact
• In-depth understanding of global and regional environmental, natural resource and geopolitical governance
• Experience working in complex organisations.

Required Skills and Competencies;

• Fluency in English - any other language/s an asset.
• Outstanding communication, policy analysis, coordination and advocacy skills.
• Results driven, tenaciously working to meet or exceed goals.
• A strong team player, with a measurable ability to coordinate and mobilise diverse teams without direct management responsibilities.
• Ability to strategically influence appropriate policy development and dialogues and

effect change in a constructive and solutions oriented manner.

• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.
• Obsessed with policy translating into impact on the ground and in the water.

5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Close working relationship with the other Practice Policy Managers, other members of the Biodiversity Practice Core Team (+), and the Global Policy and Impact Department.
• Liaison with Wildlife Focal Points and interested members of WWF Offices.

External

• Strong working relationships with governments, civil society, and NGOs.

[1] Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Convention on Migratory Species, International Whaling Commission.

[2] Convention on Biological Diversity

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Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.

Deadline for applications: 14 January 2026

Work permit restrictions may apply

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

At WWF, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing fair and unbiased consideration for all candidates regardless of their background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace