Senior Program Officer (Conservation Stewardship and Education)

MAIN FUNCTION

The Sr. Program Officer for the Conservation Stewardship and Education Program will be responsible for defining and designing a program that promotes environmental and conservation stewardship through education, advocacy, and partnerships. The program will encompass youth engagement, faith-based conservation initiatives, and partnerships with the private sector and other non-state actors.

The position will also be responsible for operationalizing the program through the development and implementation of projects and activities that contribute to the program’s goals and outcomes.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Implementation

• Develop and implement the Conservation Stewardship and Education Program and associated projects aligned with the WWF Bhutan Strategic Plan.
• Lead the design and delivery of stewardship initiatives through engagement with diverse groups, including youth, faith communities, and local communities:

             - Lead the design and delivery of youth engagement and environmental education programs.

             - Support the design and implementation of stewardship campaigns and community outreach initiatives.

             - Encourage volunteerism and citizen participation in conservation activities.

• Ensure effective program and project management by delivering appropriate technical, operational, financial, and administrative outputs, while tracking progress through monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. This includes developing annual work plans and budgets for the program.
• Facilitate innovation and learning within the program area.
• Explore opportunities and coordinate with other Practices to integrate conservation stewardship and education across programs and projects.
• Coordinate with Practice and Project Leads to develop and organize stewardship and education-related programs, including activities at the WWF Bhutan Education Centre.
• Convene cross-practice collaboration to strengthen collective action, learning, and knowledge management.
• Maintain records of program activities, participation, and outcomes.
• Document learning experiences, success stories, and program impacts.
• Contribute to program reports, communication materials, and knowledge sharing.
• Provide inputs at the outcome level, including budgets, forecasts, pipelines, and progress against outcomes to IPA in INSIGHT and other planning and reporting systems.
• Conduct program-level monitoring and reporting at the office and network level.
• Work closely with other Program and Practice Leads, including Finance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Safeguards, Gender, and Communications teams, to deliver program results aligned with the overall WWF Bhutan Strategic Plan.
• Contribute to implementing safeguards within the program, including conducting preliminary ES risk assessments in line with WWF's Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) to identify potential ES risks, evaluate their significance, and ensure their consideration during project planning and design phases. 
• Oversee management and implementation of assigned projects, including development and implementation of ES risk management measures to address the identified ES risks in consultation with the Safeguards Specialist.
• Ensure consistent tracking and timely reporting of impacts & results on respective domain/practice to the relevant network partners, donor, systems and internal processes ( e.g. Insights, Annual reports and others)

Resource Mobilization

• Conceptualize project ideas and lead proposal development in collaboration with other units/departments
• Convene cross-practice Integration for joint fundraising.
• Provide and facilitate technical expertise (within and outside the program).
• Contribute to the program's annual resourcing plan.
• Actively explore and access funding opportunities internally (WWF network) and externally (e.g. competitive grants) for the program
• Support the acquisition and retention of donors

Communication

• Provide technical support for the program-related communications. (Events, campaigns, annual reports, etc.)
• Ensure the timely dissemination of information and updates to partners, donors, and relevant communities across the global WWF network.
• Contribute to program reports, communication materials, and knowledge sharing

Partnership and Networking

• Provide thought leadership on program-related subjects and external relationships, e.g., related to youth, faith, behavioural change, environmental education, etc.
• Maintain regular coordination among project partners/donors to ensure coherence and complementarity of project activities.
• Coordinate with network partners, government agencies, schools, and environmental partners to implement the program.
• Support the planning and organization of events, campaigns, and public engagement activities.
• Maintain strong relationships with key partners supporting education and stewardship initiatives.
• Engage in all WWF network events and community calls as the focal point for WWF-Bhutan.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of the office strategic plan, implementation of the OD action plan and other office-level organizational processes.
• Undertake other tasks as requested and agreed with the Conservation Director

Working Relationships:

Internal: The Sr. Program  will have to work closely with WWF staff daily

External: Maintain close interaction with all staff and relevant colleagues across the WWF network, as well as with entities associated with WWF Bhutan’s work within and outside the Government, including conservation partners.