VCA Program Manager

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 is looking for a Programme Manager:

VCA Program Manager

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

The VCA recognizes that climate change, ecosystem degradation, and social inequality threaten significant progress on human well-being. A just transition will require recognition of society’s reliance on ecological systems and renegotiation of unequal rights. The alliance aims to influence 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 and nature-based climate solutions. A world where local civil society is an agent of change and influences policies and practices to the benefit of these solutions.

The Alliance has connected and collaborated with +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), Fundacion Avina, Slum Dwellers International (SDI), and South South North (SSN) – and two Netherlands-based CSOs – Hivos and WWF-NL. It is funded by the Netherlands government and runs from 2021 until 31 December 2025.

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

Roles and responsibilities:

The most important responsibilities for the manager to deliver on the role includes:

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

• At WWF-NL, you work with Inclusive Conservation (IC) team to ensure thematic quality. With the ILT team you work to deliver to deliver landscape-level impact in the implementing countries.
• You lead the VCA WWF-NL coordination team and ensure the ILT’s support is on time and at a good pace of delivery on VCA, as agreed with the coordination team.
• You coordinate monthly learning meetings with WWF regional teams, update on a quarterly basis the WWF-VCA Monitoring & Evaluation plan and compile the WWF-VCA Nature-based solutions pipeline.
• You work with the Engagement department (Communications, Public-Private Sector Partnerships, and Public Affairs) to support lobby, advocacy and fundraising, as well with the Science & Impact team (S&I) to coordinate VCA Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) support.

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

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

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

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

Who are you?

You have a passion for wildlife, people & nature conservation. We are looking for someone who wants to bring people and nature together by promoting inclusive conservation. We expect that you are a connector, but also result-oriented, tenacious and keen on project management.

• You have general knowledge and confidence to oversee the program and ensure there is tangible evidence of its application and added value to WWF.
• You have solid knowledge of matters related to Inclusive Conservation, governance, social justice, social sciences in general.
• You are strategic and able to integrate the program’s results into Inclusive Conservation strategies.
• You have extensive experience in Program Management with multiple partners and more advanced external funding sources and donors.
• You are eager to achieve actual results on the ground and contribute to lasting outcomes and impact for nature and people and have proven experience in conservation or development programs.
• You are a networker and people’s person with strong coaching leadership qualities.

Core values:

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

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration

What do we 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 this role is 4.644 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 6.672 EUR (based on a 40-hour contract);
• 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.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please apply by 1 September 2024, 23:59, 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 (Recruitment Coordinator) via bvanlancker@wwf.nl. Questions about this role can be directed to Bart Geenen (Chief Conservation Officer and Head of Thematic Team a.i.) 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.