Chief, Country Office Division - 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.
Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from conservation science and advocacy to HR and finance. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us tackle this enormous global challenge and drive the urgent conservation impact needed to restore our planet.
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. By implementing change in every country, we aim to drive visible and positive impacts on the ground, helping to restore nature in the most critical places around the world, from the Amazon to the Coral Triangle.
Engaging everyone means addressing the barriers to participation faced by some groups in society, including local communities. Conservation will only be sustainable if it is owned by, and benefits, local people. That’s why Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be at the centre of action on climate and nature. WWF is committed to using its resources and global network to support these communities in creating together the most effective solutions where they live.
Humanity is still in time, we have a clear pathway to solve this crisis. At WWF, we call on everyone to join the global movement, change how we live, and take action now.

• Provides strategic and visionary leadership to Regional Directors, ensuring their regional and country office strategies are in place and clearly aligned to WWF’s Conservation Roadmap 2030 and WWF International’s Strategic Plan, well-supported and implemented effectively, and that adjustments, issues and achievements are reported on a regular basis; 

• Prioritizes and supports strong leadership and ongoing leadership development by ensuring the recruitment, development and retention of high caliber leaders in all COs and Regional Office Senior Management Positions; 

• Ensures that all Country Offices adhere to WWF’s values, policies, standards and best practices from design to implementation of activities; 

• Ensures swift and decisive response to issues of non-compliance with WWF’s values, policies and standards; 

• Oversees the necessary strategic planning and change management processes in office when needed and appropriate; 

• Ensures that all country offices are implementing WWF’s Environmental Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across their landscapes, deliver on its programmes and projects goals and objectives - abiding by the quality assurance framework; 

• In coordination with the Chief Operating Officer, is accountable for financial sustainability of offices, management of effective program development, pipeline management, cash flow and management of the country offices’ reserves; 

• Champions a culture aligned with the WWF’s values (courage, collaboration, integrity and respect) and ways of working (strive for impact, collaborate openly, innovate fearlessly, listen deeply) to drive performance, accountability and high ethics in the offices, resulting in effective and sustained conservation impact and high operational performance; 

• In coordination with Chief Operating Officer, ensures that risk management is embedded in strategic planning to execution, and all offices have risk mitigation plans in place which are monitored regularly; 

• Ensures that offices have the capacity and most efficient functions and structures to effectively implement their strategic plans; 

• Member of the Executive Team;  

• Performs other duties as requested by the Director General.  

REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

Internal:

Interacts regularly with the Director General, members of WWF International Executive Team and Senior Leadership Team, relevant committees of the International Board (IB), Network Executive Team (NET), Network leaders and key stakeholders within the WWF Network. 

External: 

National governments, INGOs, key partners and donors, intergovernmental agencies, and any other key stakeholders. 

HOW TO APPLY:

Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.
 
Deadline for applications: 3 August 2025

Contract: Open ended, full time

Location: Flexible in WWF International Hubs
 
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.