Manager, LATAM Implementation Oversight 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 leading international donor for climate change projects with an average WWF GCF project value of $30-$40 million, excluding co-financing (often exceeding $100 million per project with co-financing commitments). As an Accredited Entity (AE) to the GCF, WWF works to bring innovative and transformational projects featuring large-scale, nature-based solutions that protect, restore and manage ecosystems to enhance adaptation and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, as well as providing other co-benefits in the areas of biodiversity conservation.

The WWF-US GCF AE unit is the designated entity within the WWF network managing the relationship with the GCF Secretariat and all relevant partners on all projects where WWF serves as an AE to the fund. The WWF GCF AE unit is currently comprised of five dedicated staff members tasked with overseeing the development, implementation, and monitoring of GCF projects and programs and managing WWF’s relationship with the GCF, ensuring compliance with GCF policies and WWF standards throughout the project cycle. The unit is headed by the Vice President, Climate Finance, who serves as the designated primary focal point of WWF to the fund. The unit works closely with other WWF US staff in the areas of safeguards, M&E, program operations (finance) and the office of general council to ensure fiduciary compliance with GCF policies and WWF’s accreditation parameters. The WWF GCF AE unit operates as a WWF network service hosted within WWF-US Integration & Performance Team.

Major Function: 

The Manager, LATAM Implementation Oversight GCF Accredited Entity will serve as the AE focal point for two of WWF’s GCF projects in implementation in Latin America; they will engage and coordinate with national governments, donor country agencies, private sector entities and WWF Offices in oversight of their execution of projects ranging from $70M to $150M and medium environmental and social risk. In this role they will serve as the Project focal point to their GCF Secretariat counterpart and within WWF, leading the extended AE team (Finance Manager, Safeguards Specialist, Gender Specialist, and M&E Specialist) in the oversight of each project. These projects are focused on assisting national governments and local partner organizations to address climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges.

Technical Financial oversight of assigned GCF projects including the following:

• Leads WWF GCF AE Extended Team in oversight of each project in Latin America;
• Leads WWF GCF projects in coordination with WWF departments, offices, governments, and other key partners;
• Provides guidance to project teams in adaptive management, troubleshooting, reporting, and other implementation management duties;
• Completes GCF Accredited Entity project reporting;
• Leads annual technical supervision missions of each project in-country
• Builds capacity of select WWF Offices and Teams, government agencies, and other key partners to engage in GCF project processes;
• Provides expert guidance on the application of GCF policies, procedures and tools for the implementation

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Identifies and manages risks associated with GCF projects at all stages of implementation.
• Develops and implements mitigation approaches and ensures compliance with WWF and GCF standards/requirements, identifying issues for escalation to the Director, GCF Relations and Implementation Oversight, VP, Climate Finance, WWF’s Legal department and senior leadership, as needed.

Relationship Management:

• Acts as Project specific focal point with each Project’s GCF task manager and WWF Country Offices participating in project implementation.
• Represents WWF’s GCF AE with the GCF Secretariat including in project consultation sessions, technical supervision missions, GCF-convened regional and thematic workshops, etc.

Qualifications

Key Competencies:

• 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.
• Resourcefulness and Accountability Competency: Applies proactive problem-solving skills, takes initiative to address challenges, and applies accountability appropriately for delivering results.
• Relationship Management and Collaboration: Establishes and maintains productive inter-cultural 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. 
• Strong Attention to Detail: Skilled at connecting the dots and confirming accuracy across multiple deliverables; effectively manages timelines to consistently meet deadlines.
• 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.)
• 8-10 years of demonstrated experience in the following areas (6-8 years with a graduate degree):
  • Project 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 technical and operational functions. 
  • Experience with activity-based 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 2-3 times per year.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills including presenting technical 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 – 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.