BACKGROUND
Operating as the
institutional leader and public face of WWF-India across Assam and Arunachal
Pradesh, the Director will orchestrate cross-functional teams, cultivate
high-level technical, political and donor partnerships, and drive
transformative landscape-level conservation strategies.
This includes
conservation-related issues (freshwater and terrestrial species and habitats
restoration & monitoring, addressing human-wildlife conflict and
strengthening protection); social development (community empowerment,
sustainable livelihoods); as well as engaging with external drivers such as
nature-safeguards in infrastructure, land use change, and agricultural
production. Approaches include research & monitoring, capacity building
& institutional development, policy & advocacy, and engagement with
multiple partners, including local communities, industries, government
agencies, and CSOs.
As Director, the
person is expected to drive the implementation of the programme to deliver its
strategic outcomes in close coordination with the internal Programme Steering
Group (PSG). The Director – Brahmaputra Programme will have to manage a team of
30+ staff, comprising ecologists, agriculture specialists, and social
scientists, working across various districts of Assam.
VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP & STRATEGIC GROWTH
- Strategy Execution: Internalise, evolve, and
communicate a compelling multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across
WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners.
- Innovation &
Adaptation: Partner with the Programme Steering Group (PSG) to continually refine landscape
conservation models, integrating cutting-edge approaches to climate adaptation,
habitat restoration, and human-wildlife coexistence.
- Resource Mobilisation: Drive strategic
fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure
long-term financial sustainability for the landscape.
OPERATIONAL
EXCELLENCE & PROGRAMME GOVERNANCE
- Portfolio Management: Oversee the end-to-end
execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact
deliverables, and financial compliance.
- Team Leadership &
Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of
specialists, scientists, and consultants.
- Cross-functional
Integration: Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align
strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery.
- Institutional Safeguards: Embed WWF’s Environmental
and Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across all field operations, ensuring
ethical, inclusive, and equitable conservation delivery.
STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT & POLICY SUPPORT
- Government & Network
Alliances: Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests,
Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical
institutions, and industry leaders.
- Policy Engagement: Design and execute targeted
strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water
resources management and agricultural practices across the basin.
- Community Co-Design: Strengthen grassroots
partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale
sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models.
- Strategic Communications: Position the Brahmaputra
Programme as a global flagship model for river basin conservation through
high-impact storytelling and executive positioning.
Requirements
- Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in
Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or
Social Sciences.
- Executive Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of
progressive leadership experience managing complex, multidisciplinary
conservation or rural development programmes.
- Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of species
and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture,
land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics.
- Regional Context: Strong strategic grasp of
the ecological, socio-economic, and political landscape of Northeast India
(Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).
- Diplomacy & Influence: Proven track record in
high-level donor liaising, government negotiation, coalition-building, and
conflict resolution.
- Communication Mastery: Exceptional executive
writing and public speaking skills in English. Working proficiency or fluency
in Assamese is essential.
-
Skills Required
- Master's or PhD in Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or Social Sciences.
- Minimum 15+ years of progressive leadership managing complex, multidisciplinary conservation or rural development programmes.
- Deep knowledge of species and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics.
- Strong strategic grasp of the ecological, socio-economic, and political landscape of Northeast India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).
- Proven track record in high-level donor liaising, government negotiation, coalition-building, and conflict resolution.
- Exceptional executive writing and public speaking skills in English; working proficiency or fluency in Assamese.
- Experience in resource mobilisation, fundraising and donor diversification for long-term programme sustainability.
- Experience embedding Environmental and Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across field operations.
- Proven ability to lead, mentor and manage large multidisciplinary teams and coordinate cross-functional delivery.
What We Do
WWF-India is a conservation organization dedicated to building a healthy living planet for future generations, focusing on wildlife conservation and ecological balance.
