Sr. Director, Herencia Colombia Project Finance for Permanence Lead 26043

The Senior Director leads WWF-US engagement in implementing the Herencia Colombia (HECO) Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) Initiative. The PFP Initiative secures $245 million USD of public and private finance to permanently protect 30 million hectares of iconic Colombian landscapes and seascapes.

This role coordinates with the program management unit executing partners and WWF Colombia to monitor and mobilize support for effective Implementation.   The role oversees technical and operational planning including annual workplans budgets and financial model updates while ensuring compliance with donor requirements. Manages WWF-US (non-GCF) grants and reporting supports strategic decision-making through the steering committee and provides updates to senior leadership. The position ensures high-level communication and coordination among Partners and WWF-US and will be based in Colombia.

The Senior Director provides critical support to the HECO Steering Committee by ensuring timely preparation of agendas briefing materials and progress updates. This role facilitates informed decision-making by synthesizing technical financial and operational data for committee review and serves as a key liaison between WWF-US leadership the Steering Committee representative and implementing partners.

The HECO PFP Senior Director reports to the Sr. Vice President Durable Conservation and Finance who provides strategic oversight of the PFP Initiative and has a Dotted-line reporting to the Sr. Director of Operations WWF-US to work on day-to-day oversight operational coordination and alignment with WWF-US fiduciary responsibilities under delegated authority from the Sr. Vice President Durable Conservation and Finance. There is a second dotted line reporting to the WWF-US Representative to the Steering Committee as this position works in close coordination with the WWF-US Steering Committee Representative to align on agendas and ensures timely and effective information flow.

In addition this role maintains a strong working relationship with the WWF-Colombia team to for technical guidance and understanding of local context ensuring that decisions and actions reflect on-the-ground realities.

Location: This position is based in Bogotá Colombia. Relocation expenses will not be covered for this position.

Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Colombia. This position is not eligible for current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities 

• Establish and lead internal governance and communication protocols for the HECO PFP initiative. Serve as the primary connector communicator and facilitator among all stakeholdersWWF-US teams WWF Colombia implementing partners donors and governance bodiesto ensure timely information flow decision alignment and proactive issue resolution.

• Support WWF-US assistance to the HECO program by working closely with the HECO program leader the program management unit (PMU) of the HECO GCF project the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) manager and executing partners in Colombiaincluding the Ministry of Environment Natural National Parks Colombia Patrimonio Natural Conservation Trust Fund and WWF Colombiato facilitate effective management and implementation of the HECO program

• Collaborate with key internal partners including the Senior Counsel Development WWF-US Steering Committee representative and technical teams to oversee WWF US engagement in HECO PFP implementation.

• Coordinate WWF-US Execution Support team for program implementation and capacity building of implementing partners and PMU staff in close collaboration with the Accredited Entity team.

• Support the HECO program leader PMU and CTF manager in preparing technical reports and work closely with Program Operations to develop annual workplans and budgets for approval by the HECO Steering Committee.

• Validate coherence of annual workplans with the HECO conservation plan and financial model; collaborate with PMU on annual financial model updates.

• Advise the HECO program leader PMU CTF manager and Steering Committee to ensure that donor fund disbursement conditionsincluding co-financing commitmentsare met and to identify and implement mitigation measures as needed.

• Brief WWF-US Steering Committee member on progress and issues prior to board meetings and serve as alternate board member.

• Serve on technical committees related to operations financing or other areas as needed.

• Manage grants (non GCF) signed by WWF-US with WWF Colombia and Patrimonio Natural including oversight review approval of technical deliverables and coordination of financial deliverables. Serves as Technical Director for all signed grants.

• Prepare technical reports for WWF-US private donors in coordination with the Development team and annual HECO reports for private donors in collaboration with WWF-US Donor Communications.

• Provide project updates and progress details to WWF US senior leadership and other internal teams as required.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

Key Competencies:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to convene align and build consensus among diverse stakeholders. Proven capacity to foster shared understanding negotiate differences and move multi-party processes toward coordinated decisions and actions.

• Communication and Collaboration: Ability to serve as a central connector and facilitator ensuring consistent communication flow clarity of expectations and coordination across multiple bodies.

• Relationship & Partnership Management: Track record of building strong trust-based relationships with government counterparts civil society donors local institutions and global teams.

• Innovative Problem Solving and Strategic Leadership: proactive resolution-focused mindset with experience identifying issues early facilitating dialogue and guiding partners toward practical mutually agreeable solutions.

• Diplomacy & Sound Judgment: ability to manage sensitive situations with diplomacy fairness and discretion.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree and at least 12 years of work experience including at least 6 years of experience in large complex conservation program/project management and conservation finance within nonprofit public or private sector organizations. Equivalent experience may substitute for a graduate degree.

• Proven ability to lead the execution of large publicly financed conservation programs in Central or South America.

• Strong skills in project and program management operational planning monitoring and reporting with the ability to plan schedule and budget programs of varying size and complexity.

• Demonstrated experience in multi-party strategic planning and financial management.

• Expertise in designing complex conservation programs including conservation finance solutions.

• Deep understanding of Latin American institutional governmental and socio-political contextsparticularly in Colombiawith the ability to navigate local dynamics respectfully and effectively.

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across diverse teams organizations and interests.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to travel nationally and internationally. About 30-50% travel may be required.

• High written and oral proficiency in English and Spanish required.

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.

• Identifies and aligns with WWFs core values:

  • COURAGE  We demonstrate courage through our actions we work for change where its needed and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet which is our home. 

  • INTEGRITY  We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity accountability and transparency and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve. 

  • RESPECT  We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future. 

  • COLLABORATION  We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation. 

Additional Information :

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time