Director – Brahmaputra Programme

<strong>BACKGROUND<br><br></strong>For three decades, WWF-India has pioneered area-based conservation across the Brahmaputra Basin. To lead its next phase of impact, WWF-India is appointing a Director – Brahmaputra Programme. This high-profile executive role sits at the critical intersection of terrestrial and freshwater conservation, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and community empowerment.<br><br>Operating as the institutional leader and public face of WWF-India across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the Director will orchestrate cross-functional teams, cultivate high-level technical, political and donor partnerships, and drive transformative landscape-level conservation strategies.<br><br>This includes conservation-related issues (freshwater and terrestrial species and habitats restoration &amp; monitoring, addressing human-wildlife conflict and strengthening protection); social development (community empowerment, sustainable livelihoods); as well as engaging with external drivers such as nature-safeguards in infrastructure, land use change, and agricultural production. Approaches include research &amp; monitoring, capacity building &amp; institutional development, policy &amp; advocacy, and engagement with multiple partners, including local communities, industries, government agencies, and CSOs.<br><br>As Director, the person is expected to drive the implementation of the programme to deliver its strategic outcomes in close coordination with the internal Programme Steering Group (PSG). The Director – Brahmaputra Programme will have to manage a team of 30+ staff, comprising ecologists, agriculture specialists, and social scientists, working across various districts of Assam.<br><br><strong>Key Responsibilities<br><br></strong><strong> VISIONARY LEADERSHIP &amp; STRATEGIC GROWTH <br><br></strong><ul><li> Strategy Execution: Internalise, evolve, and communicate a compelling multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners. </li><li> Innovation &amp; Adaptation: Partner with the Programme Steering Group (PSG) to continually refine landscape conservation models, integrating cutting-edge approaches to climate adaptation, habitat restoration, and human-wildlife coexistence. </li><li> Resource Mobilisation: Drive strategic fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the landscape. <br><br><br></li></ul><strong> OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE &amp; PROGRAMME GOVERNANCE <br><br></strong><ul><li> Portfolio Managemen t: Oversee the end-to-end execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact deliverables, and financial compliance. </li><li> Team Leadership &amp; Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of specialists, scientists, and consultants. </li><li> Cross-functional Integration: Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery. </li><li> Institutional Safeguards: Embed WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across all field operations, ensuring ethical, inclusive, and equitable conservation delivery. <br><br><br></li></ul><strong> STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT &amp; POLICY SUPPORT <br><br></strong><ul><li> Government &amp; Network Alliances: Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests, Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical institutions, and industry leaders. </li><li> Policy Engagement: Design and execute targeted strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water resources management and agricultural practices across the basin. </li><li> Community Co-Design : Strengthen grassroots partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models. </li><li> Strategic Communications : Position the Brahmaputra Programme as a global flagship model for river basin conservation through high-impact storytelling and executive positioning. <br><br><br></li></ul><strong>Requirements<br><br></strong><ul><li> Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or Social Sciences. </li><li> Executive Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience managing complex, multidisciplinary conservation or rural development programmes. </li><li> Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of species and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics. </li><li> Regional Context : Strong strategic grasp of the ecological, socio-economic, and political landscape of Northeast India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh). </li><li> Diplomacy &amp; Influence : Proven track record in high-level donor liaising, government negotiation, coalition-building, and conflict resolution. </li><li> Communication Mastery : Exceptional executive writing and public speaking skills in English. Working proficiency or fluency in Assamese is essential. <br><br><br></li></ul><strong> Last date for application - </strong> 5 September 2026<br><br>WWF-India is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from women and diverse candidates.