Sr. Program Operations Specialist, WWF GCF Accredited Entity

Company Description

Founded in 1961, WWF works to help people and nature thrive. As a global conservation organization, WWF operates in more than 100 countries, partnering with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions. Grounded in science and driven by collaboration, WWF works to help nature by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. Nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 5 million globally are WWF members.

Job Description

About the Role:

World Wildlife Fund, Inc. is an Accredited Entity (AE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF is the world's largest dedicated fund helping developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change. Based on specialized fiduciary and programming expertise, Accredited Entities partner with the GCF and developing countries to carry out activities that include the development of GCF funding proposals and the management and monitoring of projects and programs funded by the GCF. This position works under the supervision of the GCF AE Financial Director, and in collaboration with team members of the GCF Accredited Entity unit, and other teams across WWF.

Major Function  

The Sr. Specialist will oversee the execution of project budgets, financial tracking, analysis and reporting, grants and agreements, change requests, and administrative functions for assigned Green Climate Fund projects, and support with long-range planning and general administration of the WWF GCF Accredited Entity. The Sr. Specialist will work closely with the Accredited Entity’s in-country project execution partners and oversee their execution of medium sized ($50M to $250M) GCF projects. The role will be responsible for meeting performance measures as outlined in the program operations standards, and for complying with organizational and donor-imposed reporting requirements.

Key Responsibilities

  Project Implementation

  Financial oversight of assigned GCF projects including the following:

• Ensures in-country project execution partners remain compliant with GCF and WWF fiduciary policies (Prohibited Practices; Procurement; AML/CFT; Information Disclosure, etc.).
• Supports in overseeing the lifecycle of outgoing agreements under assigned projects.
• Reviews and analyzes quarterly project financial reports to ensure compliance with budget and monitor progress of financial milestones.
• Ensures spending levels under assigned projects are appropriate and coding is correct. Identifies problems and recommends corrective action and assists in the revision of budgets as necessary. 
• Prepares project-level financial information for GCF Semi-Annual and Annual Performance Reports.
• Reviews audit reports of project execution partners and works with AE Financial Director to draft response plans as necessary.
• Meets with the AE Implementation Lead on an ongoing basis to ensure alignment between project financial progress and reported technical progress.
• Participates in project supervision missions annually to ensure appropriate financial and administrative management systems are implemented in-country to meet the level and complexity of funding.
• Capacity Building: Provides training and guidance to in-country project execution staff on GCF requirements and WWF US procedures as they relate to the financial operations of assigned GCF projects.

  Project Development

• Provides guidance and input to the Budget, Procurement Plan, Risk Assessment and Management, AE Fee Request, Term Sheet, First level AML/CFT (KYC) assessment sections of the GCF Funding Proposal.
• Oversees due diligence on proposed project execution partners, ensuring that recommended risk mitigation is reflected in the sub agreements and reviewed during annual supervision missions.
• Grants and Contracts: In collaboration with General Counsel's office, reviews the draft Term Sheet and GCF Funded Activity Agreement (FAA) and drafts changes/amendments to FAA.

  WWF Institutional

• Assists in the annual budgeting process for the GCF AE program, including 3-year GCF AE program forecasts.
• Serves as a resource for GCF financial and administrative policies. Coordinates and expedites information-sharing both intra-departmentally and inter-departmentally.
• Ensures that budgets for project staff are incorporated into their department annual budgets and three-year projections.
• Recommends and implements departmental procedures and provides feedback on policies and operating procedures. Maintains good working relationships and stays abreast of program issues to provide overall support to program initiatives.

  Compliance and Risk Management

• Conducts bi-annual risk assessments of in-country project execution partners under the supervision of AE Financial Director and develops risk mitigation plans as necessary.
• Coordinates with Vice President of Accounting and Controller on WWF GCF AE Audit and other reports as required by the GCF.
• Maintains a working knowledge of relevant GCF Policies ensuring that updates are communicated to relevant parties and templates are revised accordingly.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Key Competencies:

• Strong Attention to Detail: Skilled at connecting the dots and confirming accuracy or rooting out discrepancies between quantitative (financial) and qualitative (technical) reports.
• Complex Project Leadership: Oversees complex, multi-partner projects with multiple donors, implementing entities, and stakeholders. Ensures smooth coordination across diverse teams, anticipates risks, and resolves challenges to achieve high-quality results.
• Relationship Management and Collaboration: Establishes and maintains productive relationships with individuals both within and outside the organization, including donors, partners, governments, and community-based stakeholders. Understands and addresses the needs and concerns of others, fosters trust, and promotes collaboration to achieve shared goals. 
• Prioritization: Having a well-developed sense of urgency vs priority vs risk is essential. 
• Procedural Agility: Adaptable to fluidly changing policies and procedures and able to quickly understand and communicate impacts to colleagues and decision makers.

Skills and Abilities:

• Bilingual Spanish is REQUIRED
• Bachelor’s degree is required (preferably in accounting, finance, business, international development, or a related field.)
• 6+ years of demonstrated experience in the following areas (3+ years with a graduate degree):
  • Grants management
  • 2+ years of experience with bilateral and/or multilateral finance projects (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, World Bank, USAID)
  • Implementing and/or supervising financial and operational functions. 
  • Experience with activity-based budgeting and reporting.
  • Proven success navigating complex funding agreements.
• Experience with Green Climate Fund projects or similar multilaterals (GEF, Adaptation Fund, etc.) is highly preferred.
• MUST be able to travel internationally, to project sites 1-3 times per year.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills including presenting financial information and operational risks to a variety of audiences, including foreign governments, international partners, and decision makers.
• Experience working in a multicultural setting and the ability to work effectively as a member of a team with colleagues around the world.
• Ability to operate with independence to solve problems and work on multiple initiatives under deadline pressure.
• 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: 
  • 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.  

Additional Information

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 will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  

Relocation is not provided for this position.

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