Director – Brahmaputra Programme

WWF-India; Sonitpur; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

WWF-India invites applications for Director – Brahmaputra Programme, a senior leadership role overseeing terrestrial and freshwater conservation, climate resilience, and community empowerment in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh.

The Director will guide a 30+ staff team, build high-level donor partnerships, manage grants, and drive landscape-scale conservation strategies in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in management, environmental sciences, sustainable development, agriculture, or social sciences.
• 15+ years of leadership experience in multidisciplinary conservation or rural development programs.
• Deep knowledge of species/habitat conservation and river basin ecology.
• Strong network with government, donors, and civil society across Northeast India.

Responsibilities

• Visionary leadership to execute a multi-year Brahmaputra Programme strategy across WWF-India and partners.
• Oversee grants, ensure technical quality, financial compliance, and impact delivery.
• Lead cross-functional teams, governance, and staff development.
• Engage government, CSOs, industry, and donors to secure support and policy alignment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Donor relations

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Education

Master’s or PhD in relevant field

Job description

Background

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.

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.

This includes conservation-related issues (freshwater and terrestrial species and habitats restoration & 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 & monitoring, capacity building & institutional development, policy & advocacy, and engagement with multiple partners, including local communities, industries, government agencies, and CSOs.

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.

Key Responsibilities

Visionary Leadership & Strategic Growth

• 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.
• Innovation & 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.
• Resource Mobilisation: Drive strategic fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the landscape.

Operational Excellence & Programme Governance

• Portfolio Management: Oversee the end-to-end execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact deliverables, and financial compliance.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of specialists, scientists, and consultants.
• Cross-functional Integration: Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery.
• Institutional Safeguards: Embed WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across all field operations, ensuring ethical, inclusive, and equitable conservation delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Support

• Government & Network Alliances: Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests, Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical institutions, and industry leaders.
• Policy Engagement: Design and execute targeted strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water resources management and agricultural practices across the basin.
• Community Co-Design : Strengthen grassroots partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models.
• Strategic Communications : 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.
• Regional Context : Strong strategic grasp of the ecological, socio-economic, and political landscape of Northeast India (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).
• 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.

Last date for application - 5 September 2026

WWF-India is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from women and diverse candidates.