Head Biomes & Biodiversity

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Head Biomes & Biodiversity

Do you want to work together with inspired colleagues to create a world in which nature and people thrive? And help build ‘nature positive’ impact in landscapes around the world? That is what you will do when you work for WWF, the largest nature organization in the world.

WWF-Netherlands (WWF-NL) is one of the key offices within our worldwide WWF network, providing thought leadership and funding opportunities for innovation, emerging trends & topics and leverage. WWF-NL has an ambitious mission: to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. To achieve this mission, we work to regenerate and conserve nature, the web that supports all life on Earth, reduce humanity’s ecological footprint and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources to support current and future generations.

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization with an international working culture based in Zeist, the Netherlands. Our working language is English. WWF-NL consists of the departments: Conservation, Engagement, Organization & Talent Development and Finance & Operations. The Conservation department leads the development and implementation of solutions to realize a nature-positive and climate-resilient future. Together with our WWF network and stakeholders, we co-create conservation strategies in our 10 priority areas and address global drivers impacting these areas such as food and finance.

WWF-NL is looking for an inspirational and courageous leader for the position of Head Biomes & Biodiversity.

The Biomes & Biodiversity team sets WWF-NL’s impact and outcome targets for our ten priority landscapes - covering forests, grasslands and savannas, rivers, and oceans. We base these targets on what is needed to effectively protect and manage these ecosystems, the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, and the strengths of the wider WWF network.

We work closely with the Conservation and Engagement teams to ensure our efforts are integrated, scalable, and high-impact. This collaboration leads to a multi-year investment plan that guides our long-term work.

The team also manages WWF-NL’s partnerships and contracts with WWF offices in each priority area and oversees a portfolio of projects that directly contribute to conservation on the ground.

As Head Biomes & Biodiversity, you are part of the Conservation Leadership Team and report to the Chief Conservation Officer (CCO) of WWF-NL.

Roles and responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Manage a team of around 20 staff via two subteam leads, setting clear direction and fostering strong collaboration to deliver the WWF-NL 2030 ambitions. You align and drive the development and implementation of ambitious Biome Strategies and funding plans across Conservation, Engagement, and Operations, in close collaboration with the CCO.
• Act as an inspiring and coaching leader for your direct reports, especially for the leads of the sub-teams, in line with the culture and Care to Dare leadership.
• Support the CCO (and fellow CLT members) in strategic and operational issues that need attention from MT or leadership teams in other departments.
• In close collaboration with the HR Business Partner, agree on career pathways for team members and implement the Care to Dare way-of-working principles.
• Manage a Long-Term Planning budget, ensure the proper use of funds, enable financial leverage, secure project sustainability and collaborate with business development teams to mobilize additional resources.
• Maintain high-level relations within the WWF network and with relevant external partners in the field of conservation.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with NL-based (public and private) stakeholders to scale up impact.
• Actively foster a learning culture within and across teams and work closely with the Impact Academy to embed continuous learning and adaptive management based on impact insights.

Who are you?

• Strategic thinker with the ability to coach your team in developing appealing and innovative solutions to complex challenges, with a strong understanding of global trends in conservation and sustainable development and focused on advancing WWF-NL’s mission and long-term goals.
• A relevant academic background in conservation, development, environmental or social sciences.
• A track record in managing professional teams. Proven ability to work across teams and functions in a matrix organization, building alignment, shared ownership and effective collaboration.
• Conceptual understanding of and vision for how WWF-NL can best drive impact, considering political realities, stakeholder interests and WWF’s position.
• Experience in international network organizations operating in a complex field and in fast-changing realities.
• A track record of successfully delivering large (international) projects for nature conservation and/or with addressing global drivers of biodiversity decline, the climate crisis and social injustice.
• Experience with advocacy and/or complex influencing strategies is an asset.
• Able to translate complex realities in clear and easy to understand propositions and messages. Experience as a media spokesperson is an asset. Ability to align internal stakeholders around shared goals and to actively monitor and steer progress towards agreed outcomes.
• Excellent command of spoken and written Dutch and English.

Competencies

• A coaching manager and inspiring leader who embraces Care to Dare leadership, leads cultural shifts by example, is results-oriented and provides direction with a clear vision.
• Strategic, with a clear vision on nature conservation and the organization’s societal position.
• Open-minded with an eye for collaboration and progressive learning within the team and the organization as a whole.
• Able to work well with others and culturally sensitive, understanding and managing one’s own emotions and those of others to foster a positive work environment.

Core values

You recognize yourself in the core values of WWF-NL: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

What do we offer?

• An office surrounded by nature;
• Fun colleagues and the chance to build up an international network;
• Vegetarian lunches in our canteen and free after work drinks every other Thursday;
• A fixed-term employment contract of 32 - 40 hours a week. Initially, a fixed-term employment contract of one year with a one-month probation period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch not for profit sector; The minimum gross monthly salary is € 5.445,20 and the maximum is € 8.043,11 depending on relevant experience (based on a 40-hour contract);
• Staff receive a personal budget that is made up of 8% holiday allowance and 2,08% flexible budget, and receive 6 weeks of holiday per year (based on a 40-hour contract);
• We stimulate flexible working arrangements, the use of public transport and bike for work related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for 2nd class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid working model, so staff can alternate working from home and from the office.

Please note that in order to work for WWF-NL, you need a valid work permit.

We consider the safety and protection of our colleagues as important. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and supply a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag).