Background

WWF (The World Wide Fund for Nature) is an International Non-Governmental Organization. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF is working with companies, governments, communities and other partners in watershed protection under an approach called “Water Stewardship”. Water Stewardship is the commitment to the sustainable management of shared water resources in the public interest through collective action with other businesses, governments, NGOs and communities at basin level. WWF has worked on freshwater conservation for decades and is a strong advocate for responsible private sector engagement on water issues.  WWF Zambia seeks to hire a Senior Manager: Corporate Water Stewardship for its Freshwater Programme.

If you are passionate about sustainable development and have several years of relevant experience from working with fresh water governance and impact reduction in the public, private or NGO sector, then this position is yours.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities

1. Provide overall strategic management oversight for the Freshwater Programmes’ Water Stewardship Projects and initiatives in key Zambezi River basin landscapes.

• Develop new and nurture existing priority sector and company relationships, and ensure alignment of WWF conservation priorities with corporates’ water stewardship needs.
• Facilitate the development of an understanding among WWF Zambia staff and key corporate partners of the landscape approach and landscape finance applications; including facilitating training on landscape approaches, carbon and other finance and water stewardship tools and approaches based on training and materials provided by the WWF Network.
• In liaison with the Freshwater Program Manager, work in close association with project personnel, corporate partners, grantees, donors, and consultants, and others to facilitate coordination, communication, and regular reporting of WWF Zambia’s Water Stewardship initiatives. Administer and monitors the budgets of assigned contracts and cooperative agreements, ensuring that reporting is accurate and timely. Review the status of projects in key landscapes, identifying problems and formulate recommendations for corrective action as appropriate. Follows up on deliverables and other requirements.

2. Develop water stewardship project proposals with corporate partners

• Lead in the development of project concept(s) in order to assess potential funding sources for identified conservation areas.
• Mobilize and liaise with local and international corporate partners and investors active or interested in transforming national business practices and investing in green development in key Zambezi River basin landscapes, in collaboration with the relevant WWF Practices.
• Prepare and/or finalize scopes of work, budgets, and administrative information for contracts and ensure compliance with corporate partners and/or donor requirements.

2. Analyze, research and create solutions

• Contribute to research and analysis related to the private sector, corporate fora and associations, pertinent institutions, non-governmental organizations, and governments in support of corporate collective action and water stewardship change in priority business sectors.
• Track international and corporate policies and decisions that may affect WWF-Zambia’s freshwater conservation goals.
• In close collaboration with the WWF network Practices, keep up to date with existing and emerging water and supply chain analyses for use with priority sectors and bi-lateral partnerships.

3. Strategic Communications

• Communicate the nature and results of water stewardship work to interested institutions, donors, partner organizations, and the general public.
• Represent the Freshwater program’s Water Stewardship work and WWF with internal and external audiences.
• Develop program-specific communication materials and works closely with the Freshwater Communications Officer and the Water Stewardship team to push out to strategic audiences via appropriate channels, and support the development of policies in liaison with the WWF Zambia Communications Manager.
• Facilitate conservation links to key water stewardship issues including standards, WASH, SDGs, other human development issues, CSR and policy.

4. Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education/Experience: A Master’s degree or MBA is preferred, ideally with an emphasis in corporate environmental management, sustainability or environmental science and management; Position requires 5-7 years of experience in any or some combination of the following: water resources management (corporate preferred), agriculture, business sustainability, supply chain standards and reporting, as well as an understanding of international freshwater conservation and conservation finance issues.

Line Management

The incumbent will report to the Freshwater Program Manager. As well as being an integral part of WWF-Zambia Freshwater Team, the post-holder will be expected to work closely with other colleagues in the WWF Zambia office, including the (thematic) project leaders and those leading on interventions in the Lower Kafue sub-basin, across programs.  He/she will also work in close partnership with colleagues across the WWF Network, especially the water stewardship and Africa freshwater officers in WWF Germany, WWF Netherlands and other relevant offices as such SA, US and UK and the Head of the Water Stewardship programme in WWF International.

Skills and Abilities

• A collaborative and adaptive way of working, good strategic sense, quick learner.

• Passion for sustainable development, partnership-driven change, and the future of the planet.
• Knowledge of water stewardship tools and frameworks is preferred.
• Experience in cross-sectoral collaboration, effectively animating working groups, and providing technical assistance and trainings. Facilitation of partnerships or coalitions is a plus.
• Strong project management skills, including a proven track record in establishing contacts and maintaining relationships with corporate partners and donors;
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills, diplomacy and lobbying skills, including the ability to successfully challenge senior partners whilst building strong relationships.
• Must be able to travel internationally and within Zambia.
• Strong capacities in writing concepts and proposals: proven experience in raising and mobilizing funding for water stewardship projects from the corporate sector;
• Adherence to WWF’s values: knowledgeable, Optimistic, determined and Engaging.
• Exemplification of WWF’s key behaviors: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly, and Innovate Fearlessly.

How to apply?

Applications must include a cover letter and CV with full contact details of three referees sent as one file with subject line “Senior Manager: Corporate Water Stewardship”, to The People, Culture & Operations Manager – Zambia through wwfcareers@wwfzam.org to be received not later than 31st of May 2019. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.