Vice President, Wildlife & Industry

About this position

About WWF-Canada
Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission and one common set of values: 

• Courage to work for change where it’s needed and to inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home. 
• Integrity to live the principles we call on others to meet and to rely on traditional science and Indigenous knowledge to guide us. 
• Respect to honour the voices and knowledge of the communities that we serve.
• Collaboration to deliver impact through collective action and innovation. 
   

Position Description
WWF-Canada’s 10-year plan to Regenerate Canada aims to expand large-scale resilient habitats, undertake complex ecosystem restoration, and reduce or eliminate industrial impacts and, as a result, reverse wildlife and biodiversity loss and fight climate change. It’s an exciting time for WWF-Canada as we focus on improving ecosystem resilience in ways that bring benefits for wildlife, Indigenous and other communities, and climate. 

The Vice President, Wildlife and Industry (VP) leads strategy and implementation of WWF-Canada’s efforts to reduce or eliminate harmful impacts from activities in the forestry, mining shipping, and energy infrastructure sectors, among others. The VP provides leadership to the Wildlife and Industry Team to end direct threat to wildlife habitat viability and carbon storage in WWF-Canada’s priority geographical focus regions, in collaboration with Indigenous organizations and communities as well as industry and commercial sector leaders.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development and implement strategies and projects, and collaborative partnerships to find solutions to actions or operations that pose a threat to wildlife habitat and climate stability in WWF-Canada’s geographical focus regions.
• Assemble and maintain a strong network of mutually supportive partners, including a wide array of relevant business and commercial interests, First Nation, Inuit, and Métis and local communities, academia and governments, to maximize benefits for wildlife, climate and communities.
• Manage a team of subject-matter experts including establishing clear direction, setting ‘stretch’ objectives, overseeing the execution of day-to-day work, and responsibility for professional development. 
• Collaborate with and provide strategic guidance on wildlife and industry issues to WWF-Canada’s other Conservation units as well as other divisions including Marketing & Communications and Development.
• Track progress towards WWF-Canada’s Regenerate Canada goals and targets using established indicators, and actively support a culture of accountability for execution and results.
• From time-to-time, serve as WWF-Canada’s liaison on global issues and initiatives relevant to wildlife and industry as part of the WWF International’s network.
• Represent WWF-Canada at external fora such as conferences and international meetings, as assigned.
• Manage and prepare budgets, financial and progress reports, and forecasts.
   

What We Are Looking For

• Post-secondary education in science or policy fields relevant to conservation, or comparable work experience.
• At least 10 years of experience that would result in understanding how to determine industrial threats to biodiversity and carbon in nature and how to productively engage with sectors such as forestry, shipping, and/or mining. 
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities coupled with an outcome, delivery-oriented approach.
• Proven knowledge of the interface between industrial and commercial threats and conservation goals, particularly from a solutions-oriented perspective. 
• Experience in respectful collaboration with Indigenous communities. 
• Knowledge of how to develop regulatory and policy options based on multi-partner interests and legislative contexts in one or more jurisdiction.
• Ability to identify issues requiring a campaign-style approach to achieve threat reduction in high priority ecological land and seascapes.
• Strong team, project and budget management skills.
• Exceptional ability to proactively manage complex, high profile or sensitive initiatives. 
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Indigenous language skills are an asset, particularly a language used in regions where WWF is active (examples include but aren’t limited to Secwepemctsin, Delaware, Swampy Cree, Moose Cree, Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe, or Michif).
• Familiarity with data sovereignty guidelines (such as First Nations Principles of OCAP, BC First Nations Data Governance Initiative, or other similar guidelines) an asset. 
• Identify & align with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration 
• Passionate commitment to the mission and objectives of WWF-Canada and to its success in accomplishing these.

Other Information
This position can work from any WWF-Canada office.

How to Apply 
If you are interested in applying for this exciting opportunity, please apply on our website, and ensure that your application is received on or before April 5, 2023 at 5pm EST. 

Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility
Our vision is a Canada with abundant wildlife where nature and people thrive and we value and rely on diversity of thought, knowledge, expertise, and lived experience to help bring our vision to life.

We recognize that experience comes in many forms and skills are transferable. If you feel that your unique experiences can enhance our vision, we encourage you to apply – even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements.

We encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

We are committed to a barrier-free and equitable recruitment & selection process. If you are contacted in relation an opportunity to join our team and require an accommodation at any point in the process, please advise the recruiter of your specific needs. We commit to managing these requests in a confidential manner.