About Us

Founded in 1961, WWF is a network of non-governmental environment organizations, with 6,500 staff operating in more than 100 countries, some six million members, and 22 million Facebook and 14 million Twitter followers worldwide. WWF’s efforts are grounded in its work with local communities, businesses and governments and other actors to conserve and restore nature and secure sustainable development for people in priority places around the world. We also work extensively with major private and public institutions to reduce the impacts of climate change, infrastructure projects, unsustainable food production, and consumption on nature and people. In 2016, WWF launched a new global strategy to help the nations, states, and cities of the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Climate Agreement, and Convention on Biological Diversity. WWF works through strong country programs, linked through global practices, to drive local innovation and large-scale solutions that seek to safeguard nature and nature’s contribution to people.

WWF-US, the largest organization within the WWF global network, works with partners across the United States and other countries to advance the WWF mission. WWF-US plays a pivotal role driving conservation and development action in the broader WWF network, collaborating closely with WWF offices around the world.   President and CEO Carter Roberts leads the Senior Management Team out of the WWF-US Washington, DC headquarters.

We conceptualize our work and achievements in two pillars: area-based conservation and whole-planet solutions. These pillars represent our commitment to secure some of the most critical places in the world while bolstering the services they provide to local communities—and at the same time addressing the systemic global threats to these landscapes and seascapes. 

Area-based conservation is our approach to working in places. It puts people and nature as co-equal and ensures our programs balance conservation with economic growth, now and in the future.  We strive for conservation that is locally led, with WWF providing support as needed.

We take the long view, designing interventions to be financially sustainable, sufficiently managed, and climate smart. As a science- based organization, our approaches are rooted in discipline while also seeking to contribute to new scholarship.

Whole planet solutions are important because our work in specific places can’t be successful if we don't address some of the bigger challenges that threaten the planet as a whole. This pillar includes our approaches to drive solutions within global systems. 

 

 

WWF-US Arctic Program

WWF-US Arctic implements conservation programs in marine and coastal ecosystems in the Bering, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, while also promoting smart governance at the national and international levels to bolster our conservation goals.  Now is a great time to join the WWF-US Arctic team.  We are growing and developing our next five-year strategy. 

WWF has been active in Alaska and the broader Arctic region for more than 30 years.  In 1999, WWF-US opened an office in Anchorage.  Our team partners closely with indigenous communities, tribal and state governments, businesses, fishermen, scientists, universities and other conservation groups, and non-governmental, non-profit organizations.  Together WWF and its partners have accomplished a lot, including:

• Supported and replicated a community-led polar bear “patrol” program that protects polar bears and residents in coastal villages.  Now dozens of such patrols are working across the Russian and Alaskan Arctic.  
• WWF partnered with Alaskan fishermen and University of Washington to take their innovative approach to reducing by-catch of seabirds and replicated this effort in Russia (reduced seabird bycatch +80%).  
• Served as a key member of a coalition of NGOs, fishermen, community organizations, commercial fishing businesses and that succeeded in permanently withdrawing Bristol Bay from future offshore oil development.
• Fostered US-Russia bi-lateral cooperation to support designation by the International Maritime Organization of a new shipping route and areas to be avoided by maritime vessels in the Bering Sea. 

From the Anchorage, Alaska office, the US-Arctic team also cooperates with the entire WWF global Arctic team working especially closely with WWF Russia and WWF Canada.  The global Arctic priority species for WWF are polar bear, walrus, bowhead whale, beluga whale, narwhal.

 

About the Role

WWF-US is seeking a passionate and experienced person to lead its US-Arctic conservation programs.  Reporting to the SVP, Oceans, the Managing Director leads the WWF-US Arctic team and partners with the WWF Global Arctic Program by contributing to the oceans conservation agenda of the Global Arctic Program.  The Managing Director is also a member of the WWF-US Oceans management team.

 

Duties & Responsibilities

Area-based Conservation Management

Develops & accountable for the conservation priorities and includes:

• Provide overall leadership and management for the Arctic Program staff in Alaska
• Ensure support for teamwork, as well as individual accountability and team cohesion
• Manage and oversee budget and fundraising strategy
• Design and implement WWF-Arctic conservation programs
• Integrate climate science and monitor emerging science into conservation strategies
• Identify science and traditional ecological knowledge that can inform and strengthen conservation implementation
• Partner with colleagues to evaluate conservation finance opportunities
• Support team members in preparing responses, background material to respond to major threats to Arctic biodiversity (including climate change, maritime shipping, oil development)
• Manage project oversight to ensure the timely completion of projects and the availability of resources (human and financial) to facilitate a smooth and efficient implementation
• Maintain close ties to and communication with WWF Global Arctic Program and ensure alignment between global Arctic and WWF US Arctic priorities.
• Ensure strong integration among quality improvement, monitoring & evaluation and program learning efforts
• Ensure the effective implementation of WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards
• Develop program budgets and ensure compliance with WWF policies and procedures

 

Leadership and Management

The Managing Director will lead a growing and dispersed team of 3-6 staff, set transparent goals and priorities.  They will foster staff engagement through frequent communication in a manner that’s consistent with WWF’s values of courage, respect, integrity and collaboration.   The Managing Director will uphold and support WWF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the planning, implementation and monitoring of conservation efforts. WWF is committed to strong management and seeks an inspiring, inclusive and supportive manager who ensures their team not only performs but thrives. 

Major duties include:

• Identify, develop & support new and current staff, provide coaching to improve individual and team performance 
• Engage with staff to identify clear goals and objectives, group strengths and needs to achieve goals and ensure success
• Encourage and facilitate a collaborative work environment that builds acceptance and commitment through engagement and open dialogue
• Communicate and solicit input when managing and promoting change and sharing in efforts that involve staff embracing change

 

Partnership Development

The Managing Director develops a strategy to build partnerships with stakeholders and Alaska Natives in our priority landscapes and coaches staff to implement. Partners include other NGOs, Alaska Native organizations, local, state and federal agencies, universities, businesses, elected officials and tribes. 

Major duties include:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Alaska Natives and key stakeholders, partners and donors
• Represent WWF-US Arctic externally to strengthen existing relationships and generate new partnership opportunities

 

Fundraising

The Managing Director persuasively conveys the mission of WWF to solicit program support from diverse groups. In coordination with WWF Development staff and MD, major duties include:

• Raise funds to support the US-Arctic work
• Oversee development and conceptual framework for multi-year proposals
• Edit staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals
• Communicate with individual donors, attending events or field site visits as needed

 

About You

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience and ten years work experience, a minimum three years in wildlife conservation, conservation biology, related science fields with program design, management and implementation. Experience in marine science preferred.
• Three+ years of management experience, including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage the performance of an experienced multi-disciplinary team, in accord with best practices for diversity, equity and inclusion
• Extensive experience with and commitment to working in Alaska and in partnership with community leaders and tribal representatives 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results through the development, management and delivery of large-scale programs
• Knowledge and experience with conservation finance models
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively, assess and develop emerging opportunities, and set staff on a course that delivers results
• Demonstrated success packaging big ideas for individual donors, government grants and foundations    
• Excellent critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated skills in grant writing, technical writing and public speaking
• Demonstrated ability and understanding about how to forge partnerships with a wide variety of players – local communities, government, NGO, tribal communities
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Must be able to travel for about 7-10 trips/year with a duration of 3-4 days or more as needed (when it is safe to do so)

 

Compensation and Location

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. This position will be based in Anchorage, Alaska. Post COVID-19 restrictions, some domestic and international travel will be required for the role.

 

To Apply

CEA Recruiting is assisting WWF with this search. To be considered for this position, interested candidates should click the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements through CEA’s job portal.

https://job.ceaconsulting.com/jobs/managing-director-us-arctic-program-anchorage-ak-106062

 

Please direct all inquiries to Tamara Evans, Senior Search Lead | tamara@ceaconsulting.com.

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.

CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies.