VCA Program Manager

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization with an informal work culture based in Zeist, the Netherlands. The working language is English.

The organization consists of four departments: Conservation, Engagement, Organization & Talent Development, and Finance & Operations. With this in mind, WWF-NL is seeking a Program Manager:

VCA Program Manager

Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) is an alliance of global and local voices. It brings together a diverse range of civil society organizations representing women, youth, indigenous peoples, the urban poor, digital activists, and others to ensure the implementation of just climate actions.

The VCA recognizes that climate change, ecosystem degradation, and social inequality threaten significant progress toward human well-being. A just transition will require acknowledging society’s dependence on ecological systems and renegotiating unequal rights. The alliance aims to shape a world where civil society is heard and respected in shaping the climate change agenda. A world where civil society co-creates locally relevant, inclusive, and fundable nature-based climate solutions. A world where local civil society is an agent of change and influences policies and practices to advance these solutions.

The Alliance has connected and collaborated with more than 200 CSOs in seven countries: Zambia, Tunisia, Kenya, Indonesia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The Alliance is led by four strong Southern CSOs—Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), Fundación Avina, Slum Dwellers International (SDI), and South South North (SSN)—and two Netherlands-based CSOs—Hivos and WWF-NL. It is funded by the Dutch government and runs from 2021 until December 31, 2025.

At WWF-NL, you will work closely with the Inclusive Conservation Advisor in the Thematic Team (TT), the Landscape Coordinators in the International Landscape Team (ILT), and key staff members in our partner offices. Within the VCA Alliance, you will work closely with the Alliance Manager and representatives of the other partners in the Joint Programme Team (JPT). You will report to the Head of the Thematic Team at WWF-NL.

Roles and responsibilities:

The manager’s key responsibilities in fulfilling this role include:

1- Program management of VCA teams at both the WWF and Alliance levels.

• At WWF-NL, you will work with the Inclusive Conservation (IC) team to ensure thematic quality. Together with the ILT team, you will work to achieve landscape-level impact in the implementing countries.
• You lead the VCA WWF-NL coordination team and ensure that the ILT provides timely support and maintains a steady pace of delivery for VCA, as agreed with the coordination team.
• You will coordinate monthly learning meetings with WWF regional teams, update the WWF-VCA Monitoring & Evaluation plan on a quarterly basis, and compile the WWF-VCA Nature-based Solutions pipeline.
• You will work with the Engagement department (Communications, Public-Private Sector Partnerships, and Public Affairs) to support lobbying, advocacy, and fundraising, as well as with the Science & Impact team (S&I) to coordinate VCA Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) support.

2- Demonstrate WWF’s added value and leadership as a member of the GloPro and JPT.

• You coordinate lobbying and advocacy efforts in the Netherlands in alignment with the WWF Global Network.
• At the global alliance level, you will work with the VCA Alliance to influence decisions made by its decision-making body, the Joint Programme Team (JPT), focusing on strategic and thematic issues and ensuring that nature is at the heart of the climate solutions the alliance provides.

3- Advocacy to strategically position VCA in the Netherlands and globally, in order to secure external funding for the actual implementation of climate solutions

• Internally: contribute to the role of mainstreaming Inclusive Conservation (IC) at WWF-NL and its regional offices.
• Work with Hivos to strategically position VCA through advocacy and communication efforts.
• Effectively link the VCA program to strategic opportunities in the Netherlands and within the WWF-NL office.

Who are you?

You have a passion for wildlife, people, and nature conservation. We are looking for someone who wants to bring people and nature together by promoting inclusive conservation. We expect you to be a connector, but also results-oriented, tenacious, and skilled in project management.

• You have the general knowledge and confidence to oversee the program and ensure that there is tangible evidence of its implementation and added value to WWF.
• You have a solid understanding of issues related to inclusive conservation, governance, social justice, and the social sciences in general.
• You are strategic and able to incorporate the program’s results into inclusive conservation strategies.
• You have extensive experience in program management involving multiple partners and more sophisticated external funding sources and donors.
• You are eager to achieve tangible results on the ground and contribute to lasting outcomes and impact for nature and people, and you have proven experience in conservation or development programs.
• You are a networker and a people person with strong coaching and leadership skills.

Core values:

You identify with the core values of WWF-NL:

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration

What do we offer?

• An office surrounded by nature;
• Fun coworkers and the opportunity to build an international network;
• After-work drinks on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays and vegetarian lunches in our cafeteria;
• 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 monthly salary for this role is 4,644 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 6,672 EUR (based on a 40-hour workweek);
• 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.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please apply by 11:59 p.m. on September 1, 2024, using the application 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 Babette Vanlancker (Recruitment Coordinator) at bvanlancker@wwf.nl. Questions about this role can be directed to Bart Geenen (Chief Conservation Officer and Acting Head of the Thematic Team) at bgeenen@wwf.nl. For more information about WWF-NL, please visit our website: www.wnf.nl

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.