WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

WWF’s mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth - to build a future in which people and nature thrive.

Established in 1961, WWF works to help local communities conserve the natural resources they depend upon; transform markets and policies toward sustainability; and protect and restore species and their habitats. Our efforts ensure that the value of nature is reflected in decision-making from a local to a global scale.

WWF connects cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our work in the world’s most biodiverse places, with more than 1.3 million supporters in the United States and 5 million globally, and partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.

Program Associate, Oceans Team

Location: Washington, D.C.
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid (2 days, in-person)
Supervisor: Seascape Director Southwest Indian Ocean, Managing Director US Arctic


JOB DESCRIPTION

WWF seeks a Program Associate with excellent research, writing, and communication skills to contribute to WWF's Ocean Team strategy to design and implement Other Effective Conservation Areas (OECMs) in the Ocean Team's priority places (US Arctic, Southwest Indian Ocean, Southwest Pacific Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean). This position provides opportunity to engage with multiple WWF offices in priority places around the world to understand the unique needs, challenges, and solutions to establish marine OECMs that benefit nature and the people and communities that rely on the marine environment. This work will require the Program Associate to explore the legal landscape and assess opportunities to advance OECMs around the world and produce written work products that will advance our OECM strategy. The Program Associate will work closely with Priority Places leadership, and team members, and may involve communicating directly with community members in priority places.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Review legal mechanisms and pathways for OECM (Other Effective Conservation Measures) recognition in select countries in priority places.
  • Research and analyze opportunities for establishment, recognition, and enforcement of OECMs, including Marine Cultural Heritage Zones (MCHZs), in WWF’s priority places (Arctic, Southwest Indian Ocean, Southwest Pacific Ocean and Indonesia, Eastern Pacific Ocean).
  • Conduct research and analysis to develop recommendations for modifications to or expansions of existing laws and regulations or development of new laws and regulations to allow establishment of MCHZs.
  • Support project management, stakeholder engagement, and coordination for effective marine conservation area strategies that benefit nature and people.
  • Develop written materials and presentations for multiple audiences.
  • Assist in planning and executing multi-stakeholder events, including coordination with external partners, agencies, and WWF network offices.

 

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Excellent research and writing skills.
  • Collaborative and self-motivated.
  • Effective communications skills with audiences of multiple backgrounds and experience.
  • Experience with Indigenous communities and diverse cultures is helpful though not required.

Program Associate, Nature Finance and Investment Team

Location: Washington, D.C.
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid (2 days, in-person)
Supervisor: Managing Director of Public Finance and Nature Markets, Nature Finance and Investment


JOB DESCRIPTION

The Program Associate will play a critical role in honing and advancing WWF’s new Nature Finance and Investment (NFI) strategy to mobilize innovative large-scale financing for nature, climate, and community. The Program Associate will work closely with the Executive Managing Director and Director within the NFI team on key strategic initiatives that accelerate the team’s capabilities to identify, access, combine, and sequence financial instruments, across asset classes and public and private finance, to drive solutions to conservation priorities. This work will enable NFI to mobilize the critical resources needed to fund nature at the right scale, right mix, and right time to achieve WWF’s charitable mission.

The Program Associate will take on a crucial role in assessing market opportunities to drive nature finance transactions across debt, impact investment, nature markets, and public finance instruments. The Program Associate will be a key member of the NFI team and contribute to NFI’s strategy by conducting landscape analysis and identifying and prioritizing partners across corporate entities, institutional investors, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, asset managers, and other relevant stakeholders in the nature finance space. The Program Associate will work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to drive preparation and implementation of financial solutions and strategic partnerships to help accelerate conservation objectives, address complex environmental challenges, and transform commitments into actionable, investable solutions.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Strong analytical and writing skills.
  • Excellent organizational and communications skills, both verbal and written.
  • Highly collaborative and creative, capable of engaging with diverse stakeholders.
  • A background in environmental science, economics, finance, public policy, or a related field.
  • Passion for conservation and sustainable development, with a drive to create measurable impact at scale.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

 

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Market research background.
  • Interest and familiarity with nature finance landscape and sustainability concepts.

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