World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Chief of Staff.

Major Function

Chief of Staff to the President and CEO serves in a critical and trusted leadership role working with, supporting and advising the President and CEO whose duties include articulating and advancing a strategic vision; communicating with and engaging staff, board, partners, governments, and donors; building and financing partnership initiatives; sustaining and creating momentum in delivering results around the world.

Reports to: President & CEO

Location: This role is based in Washington, D.C. Limited travel in United States and overseas as needed.

Salary: The expected compensation range for this position is $139,800 to $200,900

Key Responsibilities

• Manage team of professional staff in supporting and advising CEO.
• Advise CEO more generally and manage CEO priorities, performing triage on incoming demands, elevating issues that emerge across the organization and ensuring effective follow-up in all cases.
• Facilitate communication and engagement of the President and CEO with colleagues, board members, the broader WWF network, government and corporate leaders, partners, and donors.
• Oversee preparation, briefing materials, and CEO follow-up on internal and external meetings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across WWF and partner organizations in order to facilitate communication and organizational goals. Stay abreast of developments across the organization and environmental community. Provide an early warning system and ensure CEO’s agenda and activities are aligned with context and priorities.
• Coordinate and support weekly meetings of CEO’s Executive Team (Chief Operating Officer, Chief Conservation Officer, and General Counsel). Set agenda and ensure effective decision making and follow-up on key topics. Work with members of the Executive Team in advising CEO.
• As requested by the CEO, manage limited term projects and initiatives that have long-ranging impact on the organization. Move quickly on emerging opportunities, and track delivery of key initiatives and resolution of complex challenges.

Key Competencies

Past experience as Special Advisor or Chief of Staff to senior leader of a complex organization. High emotional intelligence and strong relationship skills. Able to move priorities with effective collaboration, empathy and positive energy. Knowledge and passion for conservation, sustainability and the mission of WWF. Experience in global conservation desired. Low drama, high impact. Superb skills in managing complex, high profile or sensitive initiatives. Effective problem solving. Ability to absorb and analyze large amounts of information and make recommendations to the CEO under the pressure of time.

Ability to organize and motivate staff and delegate work across a complex organization to achieve the goals of the institution. Superb antennae. Ability to read situations, stay abreast of developments within and outside WWF, anticipate emerging issues and problems before they become difficult to manage. Experience working in a complex organization and moving initiatives in a fast-paced world.

Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and 10 to 12+ years of experience in managing projects, teams, initiatives.
• Energetic and passionate about conservation. Possesses knowledge that crosses field programs, domestic and international policy, and markets.
• Experience and expertise in supporting and working with a Principal.
• Strong bias for action. Gets things done. Able to see the big picture and drive for results. Executes high quality work in a timely manner.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Able to convey complex concepts plainly and succinctly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Professional maturity; wise in responding to difficult and challenging circumstances and recommending the right course of action. Grace under pressure and ability to navigate ambiguity and shifting situations. Displays polish, diplomacy, and poise.
• Able to delegate to other parts of the organization and hold them accountable for delivery.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
  • Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
  • Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
  • Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
  • Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

This role is based in Washington, D.C. Limited travel in United States and overseas as needed.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #25036.
• Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone.

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.