Country Director - WWF Laos

The Organisation

WWF, an independent conservation organisation active in nearly 100 countries, works to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. WWF has had a presence in Laos since the late 1980s, contributing to some of the first biodiversity surveys that established Laos’ protected area system.
  
WWF-Laos was officially established in 2001 with the main office based in Vientiane and with field offices in Savannakhet, Champassak, Salavan, and Xayabouly provinces. WWF-Laos works with government, civil society, and private sector partners to address the threats to biodiversity and to move towards a greener nature-based future.
  
Key partners are the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Dept. of Forestry, Dept. of Forest Inspection, Dept. of Livestock and Fisheries), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Dept. of Water Resource Management, Dept. of Environment), the Provincial Agriculture & Forestry Offices; other conservation-focused organisations; communities; Lao civil society organisations; and other stakeholders. Find out more at https://www.wwf.org.la/


The Role

As Country Director you will provide and lead and operationalise the vision, strategic planning, and institutional development of WWF-Laos as the leading conservation INGO nationally, regionally, and globally. You will ensure the Country Office team of 70+ staff is managed effectively and efficiently in all key programme areas – conservation, impact and innovation, finance and administration, risk and compliance, environmental and social safeguard, people & culture, partnership development, and communications and advocacy – achieving and continuously improving WWF-Laos’s vision and goals. Your work will include close collaboration with the regional leadership team and other countries and governments. Other aspects of the role include;

• Line management for senior management and leadership teams
• Thought leadership on key conservation issues at national level
• Managing key partnerships including with the national government and funders
• Promoting the vision and objectives of the WWF-Laos strategic plan to key stakeholders
• Playing a pro-active role in building a strong South East Asia programme
• Actively affirming and modelling WWF’s behaviours, values, and culture

Skills Required

With an advanced degree, you’re an exceptional and sensitive leader and influential communicator, with over ten years professional experience in leadership roles mobilising teams and partners, including in Southeast Asian countries, preferably in Laos. You are a proven leader with the capability of inspiring and growing an organisation’s impact and building future leadership and talent in the organisation.
  
You have managed large programme teams in conservation, natural resources, international development, or in related fields, ideally in the Mekong region. You bring experience developing multimillion dollar fundraising opportunities and proposal designs, which have secured restricted and unrestricted funds including from major donors, foundations, governments and multilaterals. You’re skilled in business and budget planning and monitoring, and the development of funding and monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure financial sustainability for large-scale programmes. Experience in, or knowledge of, wildlife security would be an asset.
  
You have highly developed negotiation, collaboration, influencing and diplomacy skills with networks at senior levels within government, businesses, non-profit, scientific, and political communities. You have a history of leading and empowering staff in cross-functional, cross-cultural, and developing country contexts, plus a demonstrated commitment to promoting leadership development among local staff.


If you have a passion for conservation and meet all, or some, of the requirements and you want to play a role in leading the conservation agenda, please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the skills required above quoting #1331995 or call NGO Recruitment in Melbourne, Australia on +61 (0) 3 8080 8978 to have a candidate information pack emailed to you.

WWF recognises lived experience and is committed to diversity and inclusion and candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalised groups are encouraged to apply.
  
Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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