Senior Director, Community Bioeconomy Finance Strategy

Job Posting Organization:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was founded in 1961 and is a leading global conservation organization dedicated to helping people and nature thrive. With a mission to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions, WWF operates in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization partners with communities, companies, and governments to address pressing environmental challenges. WWF is grounded in science and driven by collaboration, working to conserve biodiversity, support resilient communities, and tackle climate change. The organization boasts nearly 1 million members in the United States and over 5 million globally, reflecting its extensive reach and commitment to conservation efforts.

Job Overview:
The director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Senior Director, Community Bioeconomy Finance Strategy, is tasked with designing and advancing sustainable financial solutions that support Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in and around protected and conserved areas. This role is pivotal in leading WWF’s strategy to mobilize, structure, and advise stakeholders on finance that bolsters community-led bioeconomy enterprises and the local financial institutions that sustain them. The position encompasses a blend of strategic planning, financial innovation, institutional development, community engagement, and partnership leadership. The Senior Director will work across WWF’s Project Finance for Permanence (PfP) portfolio and other priority landscapes, particularly focusing on Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), while also developing new models that can be scaled through PfPs and other conservation platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Director will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Leading the co-design of inclusive and equitable community bioeconomy finance strategies and financing architectures across priority landscapes and seascapes.
• Identifying opportunities for Project Finance for Permanence (PfP) initiatives to incorporate community finance mechanisms and determining where complementary financial approaches are necessary for achieving durable conservation outcomes.
• Advancing institutional capacity-building strategies that empower Indigenous Peoples and community organizations to govern, access, and deploy finance in alignment with their economic and conservation priorities.
• Piloting, evaluating, and refining innovative community finance models, including locally governed financial institutions and blended finance approaches, and translating lessons learned into scalable frameworks for integration within PfPs and other WWF initiatives.
• Supporting the development and scaling of locally governed financial institutions that serve IPLCs, including models that strengthen IP-/LC-led grant funds, VSLAs, SACCOs, credit unions, and community banks.
• Designing structures that enable local institutions to access concessional, blended, or catalytic capital while ensuring that financial architecture enhances long-term institutional durability, inclusion, and local governance.
• Establishing and leading a partnership-based Community Bioeconomy Finance Learning Lab to design, test, and scale innovative financial models that strengthen Indigenous and community conservation economies.
• Building and maintaining relationships with Indigenous leaders, community organizations, governments, DFIs, investors, banks, NGOs, and philanthropic partners to mobilize catalytic capital and philanthropic support for community finance models.
• Representing WWF in global finance and conservation forums related to community bioeconomy and equitable conservation finance. 1
• Leading feasibility assessments, enabling conditions analyses, and financial opportunity mapping, as well as structuring blended finance vehicles and public-private partnerships aligned with country conservation strategies. 1
• Providing senior advisory support to WWF country teams and partners on financial structuring and transaction design, and ensuring that enterprise development is directly linked to conservation incentives and outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 12 years of experience in development finance, impact investment, project finance, or related fields that intersect conservation and community economic development. They should have demonstrated experience in strengthening or working with local financial institutions, such as SACCOs, community funds, and credit unions. Additionally, experience in designing blended finance structures and/or catalytic capital mechanisms is essential. Practical experience with terrestrial or ocean-based bioeconomy enterprises in developing country contexts is also required. Candidates should have a strong ability to work inclusively with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as experience in building multi-stakeholder partnerships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Strong financial modeling and analytical skills are necessary, along with the ability to operate effectively in entrepreneurial and evolving institutional contexts. Program management capabilities are also important.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in economics, finance, economic development, management, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding complex financial systems and developing innovative financial solutions that align with conservation goals.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically a minimum of 12 years in relevant fields such as development finance, impact investment, or project finance. Candidates should have a proven track record of working at the intersection of conservation and community economic development, demonstrating their ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and implement effective strategies.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is essential for communication and collaboration within the organization and with external partners. Additionally, the ability to work in Spanish is strongly preferred, as it would enhance the candidate's ability to engage with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S., and this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all hired individuals will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the necessary employment eligibility verification form upon hire. It is important to note that relocation is not provided for this position. WWF promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals, regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.