International Advisor on Human-Wildlife Coexistence

Our planet’s survival depends on healthy ecosystems that provide a wide range of benefits for people and a home for wildlife. Wildlife populations thrive in healthy and connected habitats where they are free to roam. However, species and their movements are increasingly coming into contact with human activities. With increased competition for land, resource extraction is depleting and fragmenting natural areas. Agriculture and food production, infrastructure, and urban development are the main drivers behind the increased fragmentation of habitats, which is leading to greater tension between human activities and wildlife coexistence.  

WWF’s goal is to protect, manage, and restore vital conservation areas and wildlife populations by working closely with local communities. To ensure resilient landscapes, the connectivity between well-managed natural habitats must be secured or restored, while taking into account climate change, and we must support attractive socioeconomic opportunities that help people and wildlife coexist. This requires innovative ideas and visions for new forms of coexistence where local people benefit from a healthy wildlife population within a nature-based economy. Do you share our ambition to restore healthy, connected, and climate-resilient landscapes where people and wildlife live in harmony? Then this position may be just for you!

Roles and responsibilities  

The International Human-Wildlife Coexistence Advisor will: 

• Develop thought leadership within WWF-NL and the WWF global network on human-wildlife coexistence, with a focus on connectivity and wildlife corridors to accommodate species that are already on the move due to climate change.
• Position human-wildlife coexistence and landscape connectivity within a broader socio-economic development framework, highlighting clear benefits for local communities and their relevance to addressing larger societal challenges. 
• Develop incentives for people to coexist with wildlife, such as Wildlife Credits, and support their implementation in WWF-NL’s priority landscapes.
• Support the WWF-NL Landscapes Team in co-developing inclusive conservation strategies for landscapes, taking into account complex landscape dynamics (different land uses involving a range of stakeholders with diverging incentives) and focusing specifically on the implementation of our human-wildlife conflict management approach.
• Partner with NGOs, universities, companies, and other organizations on human-wildlife conflict management to raise awareness and foster engagement across sectors, with the aim of creating conditions that allow wildlife and people to live in harmony.  
• Lead the way in wildlife technology for WWF-NL by partnering with tech companies to promote the development of innovative technologies that support our on-the-ground needs, help us understand species migration, and make our wildlife conservation efforts more effective and efficient.
• Support local WWF offices in addressing wildlife-related issues and challenges, and in developing comprehensive conservation programs with a focus on climate-resilient landscapes and coexistence. 
• Serve as a spokesperson on wildlife-related issues, specifically human-wildlife coexistence. 

Required skills and competencies

You have a passion for wildlife, people, and nature conservation. You are highly self-motivated and able to turn challenges into opportunities. You are a strategist who can identify strategic and tactical approaches based on objectives and a constantly changing context. You are well-versed in the major global discussions on wildlife management. You want to continue building your networks of external stakeholders and seek to bring others together around a challenging, visionary agenda. Being diplomatic, a connector, but also results-oriented, tenacious, and adventurous are important qualities. 

• You have a master’s degree in a field relevant to the theme (e.g., biology, wildlife management, nature conservation, climate studies). 
• You have experience in wildlife conservation, human-wildlife conflict, connectivity, and climate adaptation—and, as a bonus, technology for conservation. 
• Ideally, you have experience in situating conservation within a broader economic context and are able to connect with the interests of the public and private sectors or the financial sector. 
• You have at least 5 years of relevant international work experience, particularly in the Global South. 
• You have experience serving as an external spokesperson and translating complex ideas into compelling arguments and plain language. 
• You have experience with project or program management. 
• You have a keen understanding of organizational dynamics and are able to anticipate internal and external developments. 
• You can drive innovation. 
• You are well organized and work effectively within a matrix and network-structured organization. 
• You have an excellent command of the English language (both spoken and written). 

Core Values

You identify with the core values of WWF-NL:  

• Courage 
• Integrity 
• Respect 
• Collaboration 

What do we offer?

• You will be able to work in a sustainable office surrounded by nature;
• Fun coworkers and the opportunity to build an international network;
• Vegetarian lunches in our cafeteria and free after-work drinks every other Thursday;
• An employment contract for 32–40 hours per week. Initially, a one-year fixed-term employment contract with a one-month probationary period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch nonprofit sector; The minimum gross monthly salary for this role is 3,564 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 4,862 EUR (based on a 40-hour workweek) – the amount depends on experience (Please note that, due to the maximum salary and depending on your personal situation, we may not be able to sponsor a work permit for people over the age of 30);
• Employees receive a personal budget consisting of an 8% vacation allowance and a 2.08% flexible budget, and are entitled to 6 weeks of vacation per year (based on a 40-hour workweek);
• We encourage flexible work arrangements, the use of public transportation, and biking for work-related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for second-class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid work model, so employees can alternate between working from home and from the office.

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization that is part of an international network. It has an informal work culture and is based in Zeist, the Netherlands. The working language is English.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please applyby the end of the day on Sunday, August 20, 2023, using the form on our website.

Please note that you must have a valid work permit to work for WWF-NL.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Leanne van Nuenen (HR Business Partner) atlnuenen@wwf.nl.Questions about this role can be directed to Bart Geenen (Thematic Team Head) atbgeenen@wwf.nl(Please note that due to the summer holidays, responses may be delayed).

We actively strive to ensure that our workforce reflects society and the international nature of our organization. We therefore especially encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

We take the safety and protection of our colleagues seriously. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag). We may also request references.