Head/Director – National Conservation Programme

ROLE

• – Provide strategic vision and leadership for the raptor conservation programme to establish WWF-India as a leader in raptor conservation.
• – Manage and build the raptor conservation team in the Secretariat and landscapes.
• – Support implementation of innovative and scientific approaches for raptor conservation.
• – Ensure timely data analysis, report publication, and coordinate outreach activities.
• – Coordinate with stakeholders, including government and civil society partners, for the long‑term survival of threatened raptors.
• – Collaborate with central and state governments to support policies affecting vultures, other raptors, and their habitats.
• – Track finances of the RCP, including budgeting and adaptive management.
• – Work with the CCP team to coordinate with grantees and develop/implement capacity‑building approaches.
• – Assess grant proposals for technical quality, feasibility, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• – Oversee grant disbursement schedules, compliance with financial and procurement norms, and timely submission of narrative and financial reports by grantees.
• – Provide technical backstopping to grantees, including advice on project design, field methodologies, data management, and communication of results.
• – Coordinate periodic field reviews and audits of grant-supported projects; document lessons learned, success stories, and scalable models for integration into WWF-India's wider programmes.
• – Compile programme‑level synthesis reports on the CCP, highlighting contributions to biodiversity conservation in the country.
• – Provide strategic oversight to WWF-India State and Branch offices to ensure alignment with WWF-India's conservation strategy, annual work plans, and compliance requirements.
• – Support state and branch teams in planning, implementing, and monitoring biodiversity conservation projects.
• – Establish and periodically review branch-level performance indicators and support course-correction where needed.
• – Facilitate cross-learning between branches and landscape programmes.

REQUIREMENTS

• – PhD or equivalent in ornithology, ecology, wildlife, environment, biology, or a related field.
• – At least 15 years of experience in conservation or a related area.
• – Minimum ten years of experience managing field conservation and research projects.
• – Ability to design and implement strategies and programmes independently.
• – Experience in managing teams and working collaboratively.
• – Ability to drive high‑level discussions with stakeholders, including government departments, scientific institutions, and NGOs.
• – Strong written and spoken communication skills in English; knowledge of any regional language is a plus.