Senior Programme Officer

India's rapid economic growth is leading to new and increased developmental opportunities and challenges at multiple levels. As one of the largest conservation organizations in the country, WWF-India seeks to leverage these opportunities and address these challenges both through enhancing biodiversity conservation, and reducing humanity's environmental footprint.

WWF-India's sustainable business programme is aimed at working with business and industry in improving environmental and social outcomes. These engagements help corporates (1) understand the impact of their business/financing and supply chains on critical natural habitats, such as deforestation, extractives, fossil fuel emissions, and (2) find solutions that mitigate business risks and enhance business opportunities that promote positive conservation outcomes, such as sustainable finance, water stewardship, climate innovation, renewable energy, plastics management.

Deforestation and land use change for production of soft commodities are the main driver of global biodiversity loss. We are losing habitats such as forests and grasslands at an alarming rate, as they are plowed into cropland land for food production. This deforestation and conversion of habitats harms both people and nature—driving biodiversity loss, disrupting freshwater cycles, eroding soils, driving climate change, and marginalizing the communities that depend on them.

WWF India has long been working on promoting transparency in the supply chain to enable conditions needed to weed out the risk of deforestation from the supply chain to not only protect investments but also largely the ecosystem. WWF India has been engaging with companies, financial institutions, and governments to achieve tangible results at the pace and scale required to curb the current global destruction of ecosystems.

WWF-India is looking for a dynamic and self-motivated individual with inherent sensitivity towards conservation of nature, to work on promoting sustainable practices with the Business and Industry sector by promoting sustainable supply chains and sustainable consumption & production. The incumbent will also contribute to policy and action research of the Sustainable Business team's work on circular economy, business action on climate, GHG emission reduction through promoting DCF commodities.

The incumbent will report to Sr. Expert – Commodities and Sustainable Supply Chains and Sr. Expert – Corporate Stewardship in the management and execution of priority projects within the sustainable business programme, including technical inputs, corporate & government engagement, network coordination, knowledge management, and fundraising.

Location: New Delhi

Job Profile:

Research & knowledge management

• Undertake research to advance WWF-India's work on deforestation, conversion free (DCF) & sustainable supply chains across forest & agricultural commodities including palm, soy, timber, pulp & paper through interventions within and beyond supply chains;
  
• Contribute to research on circularity, business action on climate, and its linkage to the sustainable supply chain
  
• Responsible for research and development of technical reports/publications, case studies, policy briefs for diverse stakeholders—businesses and government
  
• Support project communication work by developing, editing and proofreading content for external communication through the website, social media, and other print & online channels. Also, coordinate with Programme Communication team for seamless and continued external and internal communication.
  

Policy and partnerships

• Undertake regular horizon scans and analysis of emerging policies, regulations and legislations and support policy engagement on forest-risk soft commodities (like palm, soy, natural rubber, timber, pulp & paper, and cocoa), circular economy and other priority areas of the Sustainable Business team
  
• Support initiatives to raise awareness and capacity at various levels
  
• Support stakeholders' engagement through convening meetings, roundtables and bilateral engagements with government, business, technical institutions and other stakeholders
  
• Establishing/maintaining relationships & partnerships with key organisations working in this space to synergize efforts and achieve impact at scale
  
• Support the Director Sustainable Business for WWF-India's engagement with the Government, regulators, business leaders and trade/industry associations as mutually agreed
  

• Support fundraising efforts by contributing to conceptualisation and development of proposals for forest-risk priority soft commodities and other priority areas for the Sustainable Business team, coordinating with the WWF network to ensure alignment and impact
  
• Coordinate work around the supply chain of commodities, manage existing projects and provide overall support across the portfolio of soft commodity projects
  

Desired Qualifications, Experience and competencies:

• An advanced degree in Environmental Studies/ Natural Sciences/ Business/ Sustainability
  
• 3-5 years of work experience in a related field;
  
• Eagerness to acquire understanding of sustainable supply chains linked to forest and food commodities;
  
• Exceptional research and analytical skills;
  
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills;
  
• Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to work under pressure, and manage multiple tasks;
  
• Willingness to travel as per the requirements of work;
  
• The ability to work with and influence key stakeholders on the sustainability agenda, especially as it relates to the business world, is desirable.
  
• Strong technical background and knowledge of the Indian forestry sector.
  
• Proactivity and the ability to act independently.
  
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skill (both verbal & written).
  

Travel:

National and international travel may be required

Management:

Position reports to Sr Expert – Commodities & Sustainable Supply Chain, and Sr. Expert- Corporate Stewardship

WWF-India is an equal opportunity employer. Applications from qualified women are encouraged.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian NGO pay scales and will depend upon the candidate's experience levels and the overall WWF-India salary structure. WWF-India does not provide housing, telephone, or vehicle facilities.