Director, Strategic Partnerships, Germany

Organization Background
     The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 and based in New York, that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 65 countries, and experience helping to establish over 200protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.

Program Context
    The WCS Europe and UK Program engages with the European Union and its institutions, European Union Member State governments, other European governments, the UK government and other stakeholders, including the private sector, philanthropy and civil society, in support of WCSGlobal Conservation Programs (GCP). WCS has had a staff person in Germany since 2015, working to build and expand our partnerships with key German Government agencies. This is a strategic moment for WCS to expand its partnerships with the Government of Germany, with international agencies based in Germany, as well as with the German private sector and philanthropists, and to strengthen alliances with other conservation organizations to support GCP. 

Position Objectives:
     The Director of Strategic Partnerships, Germany is a full-time position with the Wildlife Conservation Society. Working closely with senior staff across GCP, this individual focuseson collaboration and strategic partnerships with Germangovernment agencies, identifying and delivering on opportunities in Germany to advance the mission of WCS GCP. As the WCS representative in Germany, this individualdevelops and manages strategic partnerships and policy advocacy efforts in Germany, with a focus on supporting the growth and increasing the impact of WCS’s GCP and increasing the visibility and influence of WCS in Germany.

      The position requires knowledge of global conservation issues; institutional players in Germany; understanding of the role of science in conservation; understanding of WCS and Government of Germany international policy objectives, as well as of the ways WCS uses its science and conservation expertise to promote policy objectives; and familiarity with the sources of funding for conservation, particularly in Germany. It requires knowledge of conservation issues globally, program development experience, and strong writingand public speaking skills.

     The Director of Strategic Relations, Germany is a key member of the GCP’s Europe and UK team and will be able to understand all aspects of GCP’s conservation portfolio, articulate it for external audiences in Germany and contribute to the development and implementation of WCS’s strategy in Europe and the UK.

• Help WCS build strategic partnerships and collaborations with the government of Germany, international agencies based in Germany, as well as with corporations and private foundations, to increase support for GCP programs and scale up conservation impact;  
• Help promote WCS international policy objectives with German government agencies, inform WCS of developments and priorities of the German government as part of organizational planning;
• Help develop alliances and collaborations with other conservation organizations in Germany, taking advantage of each entity’s unique contributions to conservation.
• Participate actively as a member of the WCS Europe and UK team and contribute to the development and implementation of WCS’s Europe and UK strategy and engagement.
 

Principal Responsibilities
• Serve as a key member of the WCS Europe team, contributing to the development and implementation of an integrated WCS Europe strategy, including leading the development and implementation of the WCS strategy in Germany.

• Strengthen and expand WCS strategic collaboration and partnership with the Government of Germany, especially with German government agencies (BMZ, BMU, Federal Foreign Office, KfW and GIZ)involved in international biodiversity conservation, One Health, forests and climate change and combatting illegal wildlife trade with the aim of increasing institutional alignment and financial support for WCS programs.  Lead WCS’s approaches to such institutions. This will require in depth knowledge and experience with processes and procedures within these institutions and relationship-building with key staff.
• Elevate the profile of WCS, its expertise and its senior staff in Germany. Ensure WCS is represented in key meetings with stakeholders, conferences, and other public venues with high-level government officials, private sector and philanthropic leaders, scientists and civil society organizations. Identify opportunities and oversee the process of expanding WCS’s communications in Germany, in coordination with staff across GCP. Write and prepare communications materials, including proposals, briefings, reports and presentations.
• Working with partners at all levels, guide the development of strategic initiatives to expand financial support for WCS programs. Understand and track historic, current and emerging trends in Germany and other European government agencies regarding public funding for conservation-related programs and ensure this knowledge is effectively communicated regularly to relevant GCP staff. 
• Negotiate grant agreements and MOUs with German funders and monitor and evaluate WCS performance and proactively intervene when required. This includes ensuring there is appropriate management of existing WCS projects funded by the German government and the German private sector.
• Support the advancement of WCS science-based international policy goals and objectives in Germany in coordination with the VP, International Policy, the WCS Europe team and other international and regional staff.
• Strengthen and expand WCS relationships with international and intergovernmental agencies based in Germany, international initiatives, e.g., IPBES Secretariat, CMS Secretariat, UNFCCC.
• As needed, supervise other staff, including the Manager, One Health.
  Qualification Requirements : 

Required qualifications

• Higher degree (Masters or PhD) in conservation, environmental sciences or related fields.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in government relations, environmental policy, biodiversity conservation climate change fields.
• Understanding of trends in development assistance and German government international policy goals.
• Successful experience in program development and management, especially with bilateral and multilateral donors. Proven stakeholder management, relationship-building and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively, generating innovative ways to drive performance and impact.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; and ability to multitask and deliver high quality products and services under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Entrepreneurial, persuasive, diplomatic, discrete and resolute; able to set challenging but realistic goals, prioritize activities and solve problems.
• Ability to work effectively in distributed interdisciplinary and multicultural teams and environments to deliver concrete results.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, in both German and English (other languages desirable), including public speaking skills. Ability to quickly understand complex information and communicate it effectively to a range of audiences.  
• Successful experience in a nonprofit organization.
• An understanding of and passion for WCS’s mission. Experience with conservation programs in developing countries is desirable. 
• Ability to travel as needed and available outside of regular work hours to accommodate meetings and calls in multiple time zones worldwide.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value 

The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.