Chief Conservation Officer

WWF’s global strategy harnesses the strengths of the WWF network in a shared vision, focusing 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. Our vision is to protect and restore nature for the benefit of people and the planet in support of the sustainable development goals.

In support of this strategy WWF International is designed to unite WWF offices and its near 6,400 staff around the world. This enables WWF to build strong partnerships across the world with government, business, civil society and individuals. Together, we will deliver on WWF’s ambitious goals.

WWF-Viet Nam is part of WWF Greater Mekong, which operates in five countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos and works through the WWF Asia Pacific Regional Office which oversees the Country Offices managed by WWF International in the region, also including Pacific; (Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands); and Mongolia).

WWF-Viet Nam was one of the first International non-government organizations working in Vietnam. In 1985, WWF began working on a national conservation strategy and since then has worked closely with the Vietnamese Government on a diverse range of environmental issues and implemented field activities across the country. Find out more at http://vietnam.panda.org/.  WWF recognizes that its employees are its most important asset. A competent workforce, thoroughly trained, properly motivated, and bound together by mutual trust and common objectives is crucial to the success of WWF-Viet Nam.

Mission of the Division:

To develop and lead the country conservation strategy and agenda of WWF-Viet Nam so that it is highly influential in national civil society and able to shape the sustainability agenda domestically. To contribute at global level, towards delivery of WWF’s global conservation goals; and play a focal point role to achieve greater conservation impact across the WWF network.

Major Functions: 

The CCO is a member of the Country Management team and will oversee the development, design and implementation of a country conservation strategy that delivers the greatest impact. The role ensures the fulfilment of WWF’s mission of ‘people living in harmony with nature’ by ensuring relevance of our conservation work to people and development in WWF-Viet Nam and provides thought leadership on key issues at the highest organisational level, in order to lead the strategic planning, conservation strategy and future institutional development of WWF-Viet Nam and enables WWF-Viet Nam not only to be recognized as a leading conservation INGO in Vietnam but also to play a significant  role in the WWF Network.

Besides, s/he will ensure that WWF-Vietnam develops and maintains relationships with Government Aid Agencies (GAA), Foundations, Trusts, strategic corporate partners and the WWF Network; s/he will be responsible to oversee the Fundraising function to ensure the effective fundraising capacity in order to deliver conservation goals of the Country Office Strategic Plan, aligned with Regional strategy and Practice goals at the global level.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Develop a common understanding of national priorities, regional trends and opportunities for delivering impact aligned with country conservation objectives and Practice Outcomes/Global goals;
• Responsible for development, monitoring, reporting, and evaluating the country’s overall Strategic Plan, and specifically practice conservation strategies.
• Accountable for the delivery of high level conservation successes through the implementation of WWF-Vietnam’s conservation programs as prescribed in the WWF-Vietnam Strategic Plan, and in support of Asia Pacific Regional Conservation outcomes.
• Accountable for resource management of the Conservation Department and seeking funding opportunities, including through public sector partners, corporations, foundations and trusts, through Shareholders in WWF Network Offices and in cooperation with WWF Asia Pacific Technical Leads, and the regional Resource Mobilisation Team.
• Provides timely advice to CEO, on emerging opportunities and challenges for conservation delivery at country level.
• Identify and prioritize the most promising opportunities for external partnerships to support delivering impact at country level.
• Ensures that WWFs conservation work on the ground is aligned to its social policies, clearly upholding the human rights of people and communities. 
• Actively establishes and monitors progress against social policy indicators across conservation programmes 
• Accelerate the development, design and implementation of the high-quality country programmes and projects, fully compliant with quality assurance and ESSF frameworks.
• Together with  CEO to identify  and pursue crucial opportunities for joint action with other conservation groups locally and regionally, to co- lead and promote  unified conservation agendas such as the global deal for nature
• Facilitate  collaboration frameworks, guide and provide oversight and support for seamless  delivery of transboundary conservation initiatives
• Support the WWF Practices in uncovering innovations within the country geographies and advise on how these can be best supported, incubated, prototyped and accelerated;
• Identify and address capacity and operational constraints to the effective implementation of programme strategies and Practice initiatives (if applicable) at country level.
• Identifies policy opportunities in line with both country conservation and Practice Strategies and represents WWF- Viet Nam in these fora as requested;
• Represents WWF- Viet Nam with local partners and helps to manage these relationships.
• Provide inputs to communications products/campaigns to ensure accurate information is published to promote the image of WWF- Viet Nam and its conservation activities;
• Acts as spokesperson for conservation issues in the country to the media, WWF Network, partners and the outside world when required and in coordination with the CEO and communications team; 
• Ensures that WWF- Viet Nam has established solid baselines and SMART indicators for its biodiversity targets and footprint objectives at programme and project levels.
• Ensures effective performance monitoring of the implementation of conservation plans, by promoting timely and effective reporting against agreed Dashboard and KPIs, based on annual and strategic plans; 
• Effectively leads, coordinates, manages and develops a high performance conservation team through effective performance management, coaching, mentoring and identifying and managing talent and resources in line with the strategic initiatives and country strategy
• Participates and takes up policy and partnership level engagement as necessary to influence change at all levels;
• Networks, in collaboration with other country offices, key government and private sector institutions to grow key stakeholders/partners toward influencing conservation impact at scale;
• Support learning and ensure development of global communities of practice on best practices & partnerships for delivering conservation outcomes, practice initiatives and operational excellence.
• Provide overall supervision to Resource Mobilization function to ensure the development and implementation of Fundraising strategy that effectively support to deliver conservation goals of the Country Office Strategic Plan, aligned with Regional strategy and Practice goals at the global level. 
• Undertakes other tasks as requested and agreed with the CEO.

• Master’s degree in business management, conservation, development studies, relevant fields or equivalent experience;
• At least 10 years’ experience in development and/ or environment, including, ideally, at least 3 years in the WWF network;
• Familiar with conservation and natural resource management issues in Vietnam and/ or Greater Mekong Region;

• Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Collaboration, Respect & Integrity
• Demonstrates WWF behaviors in ways of working: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly, Innovate Fearlessly

Detailed terms of references can be found here: https://vietnam.panda.org/en/get_involved/jobs/?uNewsID=368316

WWF-Viet Nam can offer you:

Contract duration: 2 year fixed term contract with possible extension

Please note the compensation package will be aligned with local salary and benefits conditions, in line with our reward policy.

For more information on our work in WWF Viet Nam please visit: https://vietnam.panda.org/

How to apply:

If you have the skills and experience and are interested in leading our our conservation efforts in WWF-Vietnam, please email your cover letter and CV in English to [email protected] citing in the subject line ‘COO VN [YOUR FIRST NAME][YOUR LAST NAME]’

Deadline for applications: 04 July 2021

Thank you in advance for your interest in this position.

Due to the urgent nature of this appointment, applications will be reviewed on a daily basis and interviews happen prior to the deadline.

Please also note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within six weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful for this role.

Female and Asian national applicants are encouraged to apply for this position.

Work permit restrictions may apply.

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