Head of Forest Policy - WWF International at WWF

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime. All around the world, people are waking up to the devastating impacts of climate change and nature loss. The situation today is worse than the darkest predictions of just ten years ago, pushing billions of people to the edge and threatening lives and livelihoods. At WWF, we are facing our biggest crisis – and our biggest ever opportunity – to create a better future for people and nature. With over 60 years of experience and an active presence in more than 100 countries, we work to achieve both on-the-ground and global policy action, from protecting and restoring species and their habitats to transforming markets and policies toward sustainability. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from conservation science and advocacy to HR and finance. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us tackle this enormous global challenge and drive the urgent conservation impact needed to restore our planet.

Wat We Do

We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, we are part of a growing global movement calling for bolder action on climate and nature, demanding that world leaders set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. WWF works to address the most dominant drivers of nature loss through system-wide changes in how food and energy are produced and consumed, and in how financial systems are structured. By implementing change in every country, we aim to drive visible and positive impacts on the ground, helping to restore nature in the most critical places around the world, from the Amazon to the Coral Triangle. Engaging everyone means addressing the barriers to participation faced by some groups in society, including local communities. Conservation will only be sustainable if it is owned by, and benefits, local people. That’s why Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be at the centre of action on climate and nature. WWF is committed to using its resources and global network to support these communities in creating together the most effective solutions where they live. Humanity is still in time; we have a clear pathway to solve this crisis. At WWF, we call on everyone to join the global movement, change how we live, and take action now.

WWF International global recruitment team are exclusively managing this vacancy. We kindly ask that you do not contact the local office on this position.

LOCATION: Flexible

MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

WWF’s Global Forests Programme works across the WWF Network and with external partners to deliver transformational impact by advancing four interconnected pillars of work: halting deforestation and conversion; protected and conserved areas; restoration; and sustainable forest management. The Forests Programme is one of four core teams in WWF’s Biodiversity Practice whose aim is to support and unite the WWF Network and our partners to achieve the Thriving Biodiversity objective of WWF’s Roadmap 2030 – WWF’s five-year plan to tackle the most urgent conservation issues.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

As a senior policy leader, the Head of Policy, Forests drives WWF’s global forest policy and advocacy agenda, helping translate ambitious goals into meaningful conservation outcomes. The role provides strategic leadership across the WWF Network, identifies opportunities to influence policy and decision-making and their implementation, and strengthens WWF’s position in key international processes, regional and national policy fora and partnerships.

Working closely with the Senior Director, Forests within the Biodiversity Practice, the Head of Policy helps identify and shape strategic priorities, provides strategic policy analysis and research, develops innovative policy solutions, mobilizes WWF offices and partners around common objectives and key policy levers, and with a sharp focus on implementation ensures that policy efforts contribute to measurable progress on forest conservation, climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development goals.

Strategic Leadership and Direction

Lead and facilitate WWF’s global forests policy and advocacy agenda, focusing on strategic thought leadership, capacity building, planning and implementation that demonstrably delivers on forest-related goals of WWF’s Roadmap 2030.
Act as a strategic adviser and thought partner to the Senior Director, Forests and Forests Leadership team, supporting prioritization, strategic decision-making, and long-term direction.
Identify policy opportunities, risks, and emerging trends that could affect WWF's forest objectives and broader conservation ambitions.
Help shape influential narratives and policy approaches that strengthen action on forests, climate, biodiversity, sustainable development, and human rights.
Identify opportunities to align policy priorities with emerging public and private finance mechanisms and funding strategies that can accelerate implementation and scale of forest conservation solutions.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of WWF’s policy and advocacy approaches, capturing learning and adapting strategies to changing political, policy, and institutional contexts.

Policy Development and Advocacy

Lead the development of WWF policy positions, advocacy strategies, and recommendations on key forest-related issues, and work with communications colleagues to ensure messages are clear, consistent, and effectively socialized internally and externally.
Identify and advance policy reforms, governance improvements, and enabling conditions needed to achieve large-scale forest conservation outcomes.
Influence decision-makers and support evidence-based policy solutions that address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
Ensure policy recommendations are practical, implementation-focused, and capable of delivering measurable impact on the ground.

International Engagement and Partnerships

Lead and coordinate WWF’s engagement on forest-related issues at key multilateral and international fora and processes, including UNFCCC, CBD, and other relevant global initiatives, while identifying new spaces for targeted influence.
Represent WWF in high-level dialogues, negotiations, partnerships, and multi-stakeholder processes.
Strengthen WWF's influence through strategic relationships with governments, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local community organizations, research institutions, multilateral organizations, and private-sector partners.
Provide leadership within key forest-related partnerships and coalitions, including the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership (FCLP), Forest Declaration Assessment, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

WWF Network Coordination and Capacity Building

Mobilize and support WWF offices, regional teams, and forest initiatives to advance shared policy priorities at global, regional, and national levels, helping translate forest ambitions into effective implementation and measurable conservation outcomes.
Foster policy coherence and collaboration across WWF programmes, practices, and departments.
Coordinate WWF participation in strategic policy dialogues and ensure effective engagement of relevant experts and senior leaders.
Strengthen policy capacity across the WWF Network through guidance, knowledge sharing, and mentoring.
Provide a research, intelligence, and radar function on external policy developments relevant to WWF.

Required Qualifications

At least 7 years of professional policy experience in conservation, environment, and/or development, including practical experience in international processes. Experience in forest policy processes and fora would be a major advantage.
Strong track record of delivering policy impact and influencing decision-making processes at senior levels.
Experience working in complex organizations and multi-stakeholder environments, including leading through influence rather than direct authority.
Understanding of forest governance, deforestation drivers, voluntary sustainability standards (including FSC), and relevant policy instruments is highly desirable.

Required Skills and Competencies

Strategic thinking and prioritization: Able to identify and focus on the policy opportunities, risks, and choices that matter most for WWF's forest objectives, and to support effective strategic decision-making.
Policy analysis and problem-solving: Strong ability to analyze complex policy, governance, and implementation challenges, develop practical solutions, and translate evidence and insight into effective policy positions and advocacy strategies.
Influence, coalition-building, and political savvy: Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence decision-makers, partners, and coalitions in complex political and institutional environments.
Communication and external representation: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent WWF credibly and confidently in high-level policy processes, partnerships, and multi-stakeholder forums.
Network leadership: Demonstrated ability to coordinate, support, and mobilize diverse teams, experts, and WWF offices around shared priorities, including across remote and distributed teams.
Results and implementation focus: Results-driven, with a strong commitment to ensuring policy and advocacy efforts translate into measurable conservation outcomes and impact on the ground.
Judgement and collaboration: Excellent judgement, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to act as a trusted adviser, thought partner, and collaborative team member across cultures and geographies.
Language skills: Fluency in English required. Fluency in French and/or Spanish would be an asset.
Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

Internal

Close senior working relationship with the Senior Director, Forests, the Forests Team, other Thematic Programme and Practice policy leads, other members of the Biodiversity Practice Core Team, and the Global Policy and Impact Department.
Close working relationships with Forests focal points, Initiative Leads, regional policy specialists, and relevant policy and program leads across WWF offices, particularly those leading forest priorities at national and regional levels.
Close collaboration with other Practice teams - Finance, Food and Agriculture, and Climate and Energy.

External

Senior working relationships with governments, civil society, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples’ and local community organizations, scientific and research institutions, multilateral institutions, private sector actors, and relevant coalitions.
Strategic leadership and engagement with key forest-related partnerships and platforms, including FCLP, Forest Declaration Assessment, FSC, and emerging coalitions relevant to WWF’s forest policy objectives.

Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.

Deadline for applications: 16 October 2026

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

At WWF, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing fair and unbiased consideration for all candidates regardless of their background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.