Senior Program Officer, Corporate Climate Engagement

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer (SPO), US Corporate Climate Engagement, to join the team in our Washington, DC office. With support from the Deputy Director, Corporate Climate Engagement, the SPO supports key initiatives, including over two dozen corporate partnerships and the WWF Climate Business Network, through which we work with businesses and their supply chains to accelerate climate action. This includes helping companies set and implement science-based targets, navigate the complexities of greenhouse gas accounting and climate-related standards, and publicly support the transition to a low-carbon future.

The Senior Program Officer, Corporate Climate Engagement will manage engagements with Climate corporate partners and support programming for the Climate Business Network, as well as engage in the broader work of the WWF Corporate Climate Engagement team on the transition to a net-zero economy. The Senior Program Officer will bring and develop subject matter expertise in range of issues, such as carbon accounting and reporting; corporate climate mitigation strategies; renewable energy; corporate climate transition plans; voluntary carbon credit markets and other market-based solutions; beyond value chain mitigation; sustainability claims, and monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) frameworks, and existing and emerging domestic and European regulation related to reporting and disclosure (e.g. CSRD, CSDDD).

The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for project management, support in partner relationship management, support in implementation of technical methods and tools to support the WWF-US science-based targets work, and engagement in multistakeholder groups and coalitions.

This is a hybrid position that requries a minimum of two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) in the WWF Washington, DC headquarters office.

To be considered for further reveiw for the position, a cover letter is required.

Salary Range: $82,300 - $102,900

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired willbe required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Corporate Climate Target Setting and Implementation Support: Engages WWF corporate climate partners on accounting for value chain greenhouse gas emissions, setting science-based targets and net-zero commitments, strategies for emission reductions, and mobilizing suppliers. Be a subject matter expert on the landscape of corporate climate methodologies and commitment/implementation platforms, particularly in the area of carbon markets and environmental attribute certificates.

• Corporate Relationship Management: Works within the Corporate Climate Engagement team to manage corporate relationships; develop new partner proposals, annual workplans and routine partner communications; collaborate with Climate & Business colleagues in the WWF global network; and develop plans for Climate Business Network monthly calls, periodic webinars, and annual conference.

• Strategy Development and Implementation: Contributes to developing and implementing WWF-US's corporate climate engagement strategy.

• Subject Matter Expertise: Will bring and/or develop knowledge of issues including carbon accounting, corporate climate mitigation strategy, supply chain engagement, corporate climate transition plans, sustainable fuels, market-based approaches to GHG reductions, and regulations related to climate reporting and disclosure (e.g. CSRD, CSDDD).

• Technical Support: Leads technical tasks, literature reviews, and report writing with minimal support and guidance from senior staff.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborates with WWF Private Sector Engagement team, other program goal teams, and the WWF global network to advance corporate climate partnerships and ambition.

• Events: Represents WWF at external climate and business-relevant events and meetings.

• Staff Management: May recruit and manage interns and junior staff as required.

• Other duties as assigned by the manager.

Key Competencies

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Effectively conveys information to internal and external audiences through clear and concise oral, written, and interpersonal communication. Works cooperatively with others to achieve mutual understanding, demonstrating empathy, actively listening, and contributing to a collaborative work environment.
• Time Management, Organization & Attention to Detail: Manages time and resources efficiently, systematically organizes work, and pays meticulous attention to all aspects of a task to ensure quality outcomes. Effectively plans, prioritizes, and executes prospect and partner engagements, including annual workplans and routine partner communications, while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and thoroughness.
• Relationship Management and Collaboration: Establishes and maintains productive relationships with individuals both within and outside the organization, including corporate partners, NGOs and other stakeholders across the spectrum of corporate climate action. Understands and addresses the needs and concerns of others, fosters trust, and promotes collaboration to achieve shared goals.
• Analytical Thinking: Reviews large volumes of information from varied sources, including sustainability reports, climate transition plans, GHG disclosures, relevant white papers, and news articles, identifying themes and flagging information for the broader team.
• Initiative: Acts upon opportunities and challenges without needing external direction. Proactively contributes beyond their immediate responsibilities, identifies new opportunities for climate partnerships and projects, and makes well-supported recommendations to leadership to advance partnership workstreams.

The position requires thorough knowledge of corporate climate mitigation strategies, experience with accounting for and reporting corporate value chain emissions (i.e., Greenhouse Gas Protocol), and ideally, supplier sustainability programs, market-based solutions, and corporate climate transition planning. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in corporate climate target setting and working either in or with the business community.

• A bachelor's degree in Climate Science, Environmental Science/Management, Business, Engineering, Economics, Public Policy, Industrial Ecology, or other related field, with a minimum of 6 years of program or other professional experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 3 years' experience required.

• Strong knowledge and experience in corporate sustainability, corporate greenhouse gas accounting, and platforms relevant to corporate climate ambition and implementation (e.g., Science Based Targets initiative, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, CDP, RE100).

• Understanding of and experience with carbon and renewable energy markets, sustainable fuels, and chain of custody/certification approaches is strongly preferred.

• Excellent organizational and management skills, research and writing skills, analytical skills, and project management skills are required

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.

• Must be able to operate with independence, effectively plan and prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively as a team member with a wide range of individuals, across cultures and time zones.

• Travel may be required (2-3 times a year); however, majority of work will occur in the office (hybrid work model with Tuesdays and Thursdays in the office).

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.

• • Identifies and aligns with WWF's core values:
  • COURAGE - We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it's needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY - We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT - We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION - We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #25056

• Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.