International Wildlife Credit Advisor

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

The organisation consists of four departments: Conservation, Engagement, Organization & Talent Development and Finance & Operations. In this light WWF-NL’s Conservation department is looking for a medior International Wildlife Credit Advisor (32-40 hours). 

This role reports to the Thematic Team Head, Bart Geenen. You work closely with colleagues in the WWF network and partners across the world. 

Our planet’s survival depends on healthy ecosystems which provide a wide range of benefits for people, while providing a home for wildlife. Wildlife populations thrive in healthy and connected habitats where they are free to move. However, species and their movements are increasingly coming into contact with human activities. There is more and more competition over land and resource extraction is increasingly exhausting natural areas. Food production, infrastructure and urban development, and economic growth are the main drivers behind the degradation and fragmentation of habitats, leading to increased tension between human activities and wildlife coexisting.

WWF’s aim is to protect, manage and restore vital conservation areas and wildlife populations by working in very close collaboration with local communities. We need to connect well managed natural habitats to ensure resilient landscapes, while taking into account the changing climate and support an attractive socio-economic narrative for a world where people and wildlife can coexist in the same landscape. This asks for innovative ideas around visions for new forms of coexistence where local people benefit from a healthy wildlife population in a nature-based economy. Do you share our ambition to restore healthy and connected, climate resilient landscapes where people and wildlife live in harmony? If you are ready for this challenge, please contact us.

Roles and responsibilities

The International Wildlife Credit Advisor will:

• Drive innovation on Wildlife Credits (also known as Biodiversity Credits) in the WWF Network and connect to external developments and experts on this topic.
• Investigate financial mechanisms to engage private sector in performance based payment models with respect to Wildlife Credits.
• Position Wildlife coexistence and landscape connectivity in a wider socio-economic development narrative where there are clear local community benefits like Wildlife Credits and a clear relevance to solving larger societal challenges.
• Pilot Wildlife Credits in WWF-NL priority landscapes in collaboration with national offices, while integrating important approaches like Inclusive Conservation.
• Support local WWF offices with wildlife related issues or challenges and development of comprehensive conservation programs with a vision on climate resilient landscapes.
• Be spokesperson on wildlife related matters, specifically Wildlife Credits.

Required skills and competencies:

We are looking for someone who is able, and willing, to go against the grain and turn resistance into opportunities in a positive way. We are looking for a strategist who can determine a strategic and tactic route based on objectives and current activities. We expect that you are well acquainted with the main global discussions on wildlife management, and that you especially want to go out to enhance contacts and get others in on a challenging visionary agenda. Being diplomatic, a connector, result-oriented, and tenacious are important qualities.

• You have an educational background in a field relevant to the theme (e.g. biology, wildlife management, forest, nature conservation, climate studies).
• You have experience in wildlife conservation, human wildlife conflict, connectivity, climate adaptation.
• You preferable have experience with sustainable finance.
• You have at least 5 years of relevant international work experience, particularly in the global south.
• You have experience with being an external spokesperson and translating points of view into compelling arguments and laymen language.
• You have experience with project or program management.
• You have organizational sensitivity and you are able to anticipate internal and external developments.
• You are well organized and work well within a matrix and network structured organization.
• You have an excellent command of the English language (oral and written). French and Spanish is an advantage.

Core Values

You recognize yourself in the core values of WWF-NL:

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration

Our Offer

• An office surrounded by nature;
• Fun colleagues and the chance to build up an international network;
• After work drinks alternating on Tuesday and Thursday and vegetarian lunches in our canteen;
• An employment contract of 32-40 hours. Initially, a fixed-term employment contract of one year with a one-month probation period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch not for profit sector; The minimum monthly salary for the International Wildlife Credit Advisor is 3.477 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 4.743 EUR (based on a 40-hour contract) (Please note, due to the maximum salary, we are not able to sponsor a knowledge migrant permit for people above the age of 30);
• Staff receive a personal budget that is made up of 8% holiday allowance and 2,08% flexible budget, and receive 6 weeks of holiday per year (based on a 40-hour contract);
• We stimulate flexible working arrangements, the use of public transport and bike for work related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for 2nd class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid working model, so staff can alternate working from home and from the office.

How to apply?

If you are interested in this position, please apply by 5 March 2023 via the application form on our website.

Please note that in order to work for WWF-NL, you need a valid work permit.

If you have any questions about the application process, you can contact Babette Vanlancker (Recruiter) at bvanlancker@wwf.nl. Questions about this role can be directed to Bart Geenen (Thematic Team Head) via bgeenen@wwf.nl. For more information about WWF-NL, you can visit our website: www.wnf.nl

We actively strive for our employees to reflect society and the international character of our organization. We therefore especially encourage candidates with backgrounds that are normally underrepresented to apply.

We consider the safety and protection of our colleagues as important. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and supply a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag). We may also ask for references.