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• Responsible for leading and managing agreed and supported programmes, creating and supporting effective implementation and delivery systems.
• Develop and lead the execution and oversight of implementation, governance, reporting and a review framework to provide a holistic view of all activity progress against deliverables and performance indicators to ensure stakeholders are fully informed, and to inform decision making.
• Manage interdependencies and coordination across project teams to ensure that information relating to program deliverables, risks and issues are effectively communicated between stakeholders and that key performance indicators are monitored and evaluated.
• Identify and define the major strategic issues for the organisation and integrate diverse stakeholder interests with the EN-WWF’s broader agenda to inform the development and prioritisation of deliverables and to proactively understand and mitigate risks.
• Responsibility for implementing internal performance metrics to demonstrate effectiveness, influencing programme management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure all project milestones, contractual and reporting requirements are met to the agreed standard.
• Foster collaborative and mutually supportive relationships with project leaders and senior stakeholders, assess cross-functional project team capability, provide coaching, training and support to enhance the Agency's project/program management capability, and improve collaborative development and results.
• Lead the effective management of performance and resources in a manner that meets requirements and optimises outcomes (includes managing budget, staff/contract performance, development, asset management, internal and external reporting).
• Empower and equip programme team members, allocating resource to effectively deliver agreed and supported projects and their goals/KPIs.
• Proactively identify potential risks to program delivery and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring alignment with Emirates Nature-WWF’s mission and conservation goals.
• Establish a risk management framework that includes regular risk assessments, contingency planning, and crisis management protocols to protect the organization’s reputation and resource sustainability.
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to relevant environmental regulations and NGO standards, minimizing operational and reputational risks.
• Engage stakeholders to communicate potential risks and develop shared solutions to enhance resilience and long-term program impact.
• Follow WWF’s PPMS, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of conservation projects.
• Ensure that M&E processes are aligned with Emirates Nature-WWF’s wider impact vision and provide insights for continuous improvement in program delivery.
• Align program objectives and outputs with the organization’s long-term conservation strategy and impact narrative, ensuring that all initiatives contribute to Emirates Nature-WWF’s overall mission.
• Support the development of a cohesive storyline for Emirates Nature-WWF’s conservation impact, using data and insights to illustrate the organization’s achievements and societal contributions.
• Collaborate with the communications team to highlight the outcomes of key projects and initiatives, reinforcing the organization’s credibility and value in the environmental sector.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Conservation, Project Management, Sustainable Development, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) are highly desirable.
• Additional certifications in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), or Data Analytics related to program delivery can be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience in programme/project management roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership position within an NGO, preferably in environmental or conservation sectors.
• Proven experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams and delivering complex, high-impact programs in the environmental sector.
• Experience working with government agencies, donors, and community stakeholders on environmental conservation projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage program budgets, donor reporting, and financial oversight of large-scale projects.
• Prior experience in the UAE or GCC region with a good understanding of local environmental regulations and cultural contexts is a plus.
• Experience in grant writing, donor relations, and securing funding for large-scale environmental projects is an asset.

Project Management & Implementation

• Expertise in planning, implementing, and monitoring complex conservation programs.
• Strong knowledge of project governance, reporting frameworks, and performance metrics.
• Ability to oversee interdependencies across project teams for cohesive program delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Skilled at managing relationships with internal teams, government bodies, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Proficiency in balancing diverse stakeholder interests while aligning with strategic goals.

Strategic & Analytical Thinking

• Ability to identify and address strategic issues, set priorities, and proactively mitigate risks.
• Strong analytical skills to monitor KPIs and performance indicators for continuous program improvement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Proven ability to lead, coach, and support cross-functional teams, including remote and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience in performance management, budget oversight, and optimizing team resources.

Financial Management

• Experience managing program budgets, donor reporting, and financial oversight of large-scale projects.

Technical Knowledge

• Familiarity with tools and methodologies for program delivery, such as PMP or PRINCE2 certifications.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation practices, data analytics, and emerging environmental technologies.

Emirates Nature-WWF Focus: Acts as a member of Emirates Nature-WWF, placing higher priority on Emirates Nature-WWF goals than own goals and anticipating the effects of own area’s actions on others to ensure holistic Emirates Nature-WWF outcomes.

External Orientation: Looks outwards ensuring WWF stays relevant, continues to anticipate and adapt to external environmental and global trends.

Delivering Quality Outcomes: Establishes stretch goals, plans, using best judgment and takes responsibility for planning to and delivering on outcomes.

Building Working Relationships: Builds collaborative relationships through the understanding and development of other’s and own ideas.

Communicating Effectively: Uses appropriate means of communication to convey messages, seeks input from others and ensures understanding.

Leading Teams: Develops direction and shared purpose, builds a team through coaching to ensure the accomplishment of goals and high level team performance.

Leading Change: Encourages and seeks out innovative solutions and brings people on a journey constructively and empathetically.

Managing Resources: Makes the right judgments based on financial and resource availability.

Establishing Strategic Direction: Generates options to achieve long-range goals, selects the best strategies for success and delivers on strategic goals.

Internal: All Units

External: Local government agencies, regulators, private and public sector partners, international conservation bodies, media, suppliers and contractors