World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Sr. Director, International Financial Institutions.
The Sr. Director, International Financial Institutions will coordinate WWF’s global strategy for engaging international financial institutions (IFIs) worldwide in order to increase their investment in nature, as well as identify and facilitate specific partnership opportunities with IFIs based in Washington, DC. Additionally, this position will help design and implement a strategy for better engaging ministries of finance in order to advance WWF’s nature- and climate-related policy and finance objectives. The Sr. Director works in close coordination with WWF International’s Public Sector Partnership unit and its Global Finance Practice, as well as WWF US’ Nature Finance and Investment team, and other WWF teams.
Location: This role is ideally based in Washington, DC and follows a hybrid work model. While DC based candidates are strongly preferred, we welcome applicants from other locations.
Please note: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Responsibilities
Lead strategic relationships with Washington-based international financial institutions to support WWF’s strategic priorities:
Work closely with WWF’s Goal Teams, the Nature Finance and Investment team and other WWF offices to identify, facilitate and actively manage strategic partnership opportunities to drive MDB investments to align with WWF’s core strategies and priority geographies.
Lead WWF’s engagement in the IMF/WB Spring and Annual meetings.
Lead the implementation of WWF’s global policy engagement strategy for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs):
Convene WWF’s MDB strategy steering committee (consisting of the heads of Public Sector Partnerships (WWF-Int’l), Global Finance Practice (WWF-Int’), and Global Policy & Partnerships (WWF-US)) to guide strategy development and implementation.
Work closely with WWF’s relationship managers for each of the MDBs to support both individual MDB engagements and the WWF-wide global strategy implementation. This may include supervising remote staff.
Drive the implementation of WWF’s global policy strategy across MDBs, including World Bank, IDB, ADB, AfDB, EBRD, EIB and AIIB, with the goal of increasing MDB investment in nature. The initial focus will be on MDBs and their private sector arms, and is expected to expand to include major national development banks and the wider universe of public development banks.
Develop and lead the implementation of a WWF network-wide strategy to build capacity in WWF offices to engage with MDBs at the national level to drive increased investment in nature.
Support the development and implementation of WWF’s strategy to Elevate Nature with key decision-makers in international financial institutions and ministries of finance, in order to drive increased investment in nature and climate action; e.g. coordinate engagement with the Coalition of Finance Minister for Climate Action.
Identify emerging opportunities to further drive WWF’s engagement in global and regional policy processes on finance, nature, climate and development, and other duties as assigned.
Key Competencies
Strategic Relationship Management: Builds trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across international financial institutions, ministries of finance, and partner organizations while navigating complex bureaucracies.
Coalition Building & Public Engagement: Develops coalitions across governments, financial institutions, and civil society to advance shared policy and finance objectives.
Strategic Problem Solving & Positive Mindset: Identifies strategic solutions to complex challenges with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates strong self-awareness and interpersonal skills to build trust and navigate diverse perspectives.
Executive Communication & Influence: Clearly communicates complex policy and finance issues and represents the organization in high-level engagements.