Director – Brahmaputra Programme

Growth For Impact; Sonitpur; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Growth For Impact seeks a senior leader to internalise and evolve a multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners. You will drive strategic fundraising, manage grants end-to-end, and build a high-performing multidisciplinary team.

The role requires deep domain expertise in river basin ecology, sustainable development, and policy, plus excellence in executive writing and public speaking in English and Assamese. Based in India.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or Social Sciences.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in conservation or rural development programmes.
• Deep knowledge of species and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics.
• Proven track record in donor liaison, government negotiations, coalition-building, and conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Internalise, evolve, and communicate a compelling multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners.
• Drive strategic fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the landscape.
• Oversee the end-to-end execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact deliverables, and financial compliance.
• Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of specialists, scientists, and consultants.
• Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests, Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical institutions, and industry leaders.
• Design and execute targeted strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water resources management and agricultural practices across the basin.
• Strengthen grassroots partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models.
• Position the Brahmaputra Programme as a global flagship model for river basin conservation through high-impact storytelling and executive positioning.

Skills

Executive writing

Public speaking

Donor liaison

Coalition-building

Conflict resolution

Stakeholder management

Education

Master’s degree in Management

Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences

Master’s/PhD in Sustainable Development

Master’s/PhD in Agriculture

Master’s/PhD in Social Sciences

Job description

ROLE

• Internalise, evolve, and communicate a compelling multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners.
• Drive strategic fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the landscape.
• Oversee the end-to-end execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact deliverables, and financial compliance.
• Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of specialists, scientists, and consultants.
• Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests, Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical institutions, and industry leaders.
• Design and execute targeted strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water resources management and agricultural practices across the basin.
• Strengthen grassroots partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models.
• Position the Brahmaputra Programme as a global flagship model for river basin conservation through high-impact storytelling and executive positioning.

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or Social Sciences.
• Executive Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience managing complex, multidisciplinary conservation or rural development programmes.
• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of species and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics.
• Diplomacy & Influence: Proven track record in high-level donor liaising, government negotiation, coalition-building, and conflict resolution.
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional executive writing and public speaking skills in English. Working proficiency or fluency in Assamese is essential.