WWF-CEE is looking for a Regional Director for Engagement and Resource Mobilization

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Regional Director for Engagement and Resource Mobilization, location – Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Kiev or Sofia

This is us:

WWF is the world's largest conservation organization, founded in 1961. We’re active in in over 100 countries and have over 8000 employees WWW-Central and Eastern Europe (WWF-CEE) is the region that we call the Green Heart of Europe, with a team of over 200 highly specialized professionals, offices and projects in 6 countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. Over the past twenty years, WWF-CEE has played a leading role in efforts to restore and sustainably manage the natural values of Central and Southeastern Europe. We are working across political borders through an ecoregional approach based on model projects, influencing policy, networking, capacity building, communication and crisis response.

This is you:

We’re looking for a seasoned professional to join as Regional Director for Engagement and Resource Mobilization and play a key role in the further development of WWF-CEE as a change agent, helping us to open to and engage new partners and broaden our constituency and circle of supporters in pursuit of our mission and objectives as well as strengthening us as an organization.

You are the right person if you have:

  • At least 15 years professional experience 
  • A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in engagement and resource mobilization, including at strategic and operational level as well as project planning and implementation
  • A proven record and accomplishment in sales and/or fundraising within the corporate sector 
  • Ability to translate the importance of conservation and of the work of WWF in a compelling manner (in written and oral form) to our partners
  • Excellent social skills, the power to create communities
  • Strong client orientation
  • Proven skills in people management and development
  • Ability to work well within the regional and larger international WWF team, as well as independently. Intercultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Proven skills to organize, meet deadlines, identify, follow and adapt to changing priorities    
  • A good visual sense and experience with visual communications. An appreciation for quality and detail – an eye for what is “on brand” and what not  
  • Strong computer literacy, tech-savvy
  • Fluency in English and one of the WWF CEE languages
  • And adhere to our core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

The following would be an advantage:

  • Experience with coaching and mentoring
  • Experience in policy-driven campaign planning and implementation 
  • Understanding of conservation and sustainability issues, in particular of the CEE region
  • Experience in working for or with the non-profit sector is an asset.

This is the role and its key responsibilities: 

The Regional Director for Engagement and Resource Mobilization will be directly responsible for communications and marketing, corporate engagement and individual fundraising at regional and international levels and will seek to support, strengthen and empower relevant staff working at country level. The jobholder will be in charge of the following streams of work:

1. Lead the development and implementation of the WWF-CEE engagement and resource mobilization strategy, including marketing and brand, corporate and individual engagement and fundraising.

  • Lead development and implementation of a strategic brand profile and positioning for WWF in Central and Southeastern Europe within the broader WWF brand guidelines and in close cooperation with conservation and fundraising leads as well as interested partners
  • Lead development and implementation of a corporate engagement strategy
  • Supervise the development and implementation of a strategy for raising financial and other support from individuals
  • Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of progress toward achieving objectives 
  • Coordinate, develop and deploy marketing initiatives across the region to reach and serve selected target groups particularly at the international level (WWF partners, EU institutions and regional conventions, relevant civil society groups, existing and potential private sector partners as well as international media)
  • Advise and contribute to the development of regional strategies and plans, particularly related to conservation, to ensure the integration of engagement and resource mobilization and the achievement of the organization’s overall goals and objectives
  • Plan, coordinate and manage the implementation of WWF and WWF-CEE brand guidelines across the CEE region
  • Cultivate strategic partnerships and relationships that can further WWF-CEE’s marketing efforts and engagement 
  • Build relationships with relevant colleagues from the WWF network and partner organizations, including heads of marketing of partner offices.

2. Promote WWF-CEE, its priorities and work to selected target groups at regional/international level

  • Initiate, develop and where relevant oversee implementation of regional communication and marketing campaigns, projects, events and initiatives 
  • Proactively identify and pursue opportunities, including fundraising, to develop the communications, corporate and individual engagement at regional and country levels
  • Cultivate funding and other support for engagement by: initiating and leading the development of grant proposals related to marketing and communications; contributing to the planning of conservation and fundraising projects, ensuring that marketing and communications needs and opportunities are fully integrated; and cultivating marketing-related partnerships and cooperation
  • Oversee the development and implementation of communications activities, including work with traditional and social media, development of communications materials and organization of events. Ensure the implementation of communications activities for regional projects
  • Oversee liaison with communications leads of key conservation partners.


3. Supervise and lead engagement of corporate partners

  • Oversee and ensure the engagement of corporate partners particularly at regional and international level 
  • Ensure the integration of corporate engagement with marketing and communications as well as other areas of work and development 

4. Lead the development of new individual donation streams and activities

  • Supervise development and implementation of strategies and plans for individual fundraising 
  • Supervise the monitoring, evaluation and reporting on individual fundraising  
  • Ensure the integration of individual fundraising with marketing and communications as well as other areas of work and development. 

5. Support the development of engagement and resource mobilization of WWF-CEE country organizations in Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. 

  • Advise country CEOs on the development of engagement and resource mobilization in their countries and organizations 
  • Advise and support country CEOs and country leads for engagement and resource mobilization. Liaise with country-level communications staff as needed 
  • Ensure the coordination and exchange of know-how and expertise related to engagement and resource mobilization across WWF-CEE 
  • Support conservation staff in learning to identify the communication value of conservation work and contribute to professional communication work of the organization.

This is what we offer:

  • The opportunity to make a difference: help us create a world where people live in harmony with nature 
  • Belong to an international community of over 8000 people #togetherpossible
  • Multi-cultural environment
  • Challenging and dynamic environment, varying tasks, fulfilling work in one of Europe’s most exciting eco-regions
  • Highly professional team, access to information, sharing knowledge within our offices
  • Friendly and intrinsically motivated people. Inspirational leaders. 
  • Great learning environment
  • We pay attention to work-life balance; we offer flexible schedules, work from home, 25 days off
  • A salary according to NGO standards

If this feels like the right professional challenge for you, we look forward to getting your application package 
(CV and cover letter in English) to hr@wwf.bg no later than 21 June 2023. Please understand that we can only reply to short-listed candidates.