Lead –Programme Development, Advocacy & Partnerships

Wwfindia; New Delhi; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

WWF-India invites applications for Lead – Programme Development, Advocacy & Partnerships in its Sustainable Business Programme. The role focuses on developing NGO partnerships, stakeholder and policy engagement, and program management to accelerate corporate sustainability aligned with WWF’s conservation goals.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree and 5–8 years in sustainable business, energy transition, decarbonization, or related fields, with proven fundraising, proposal

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental management, sustainability, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines.
• 5–8 years’ experience in sustainable business, energy transition, decarbonization, circular economy, or sustainable finance across corporates, consulting, think tanks, or NGOs.
• Effective advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills to influence decision-makers and catalyse policy and corporate action on sustainable business practices.
• Proven track record in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and policy advocacy.
• Strong understanding of climate, biodiversity, and supply chain & other sustainability frameworks.
• Demonstrated project management, fundraising, and proposal development skills.
• Excellent communication and networking skills, with the ability to represent WWF in high-level forums.

Responsibilities

• Lead proposal development and donor engagement to expand WWF-India’s corporate stewardship portfolio.
• Manage projects to ensure timely delivery of outcomes, technical quality, and effective reporting.
• Track progress against project objectives and KPIs, ensuring alignment with WWF’s conservation goals.

Skills

Advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Policy engagement

Project management

Fundraising & proposals

Partnership development

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental management, sustainability, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines

Job description

• Industry Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
• Country India

Job Description

India’s rapid economic growth is leading to new and increased developmental opportunities and challenges at multiple levels. As one of the largest conservation organizations in the country, WWF-India seeks to leverage these opportunities and address these challenges both through enhancing biodiversity conservation, and reducing humanity’s environmental footprint.

WWF-India’s Sustainable Business Programme is aimed at working with business and industry in improving environmental and social outcomes. These engagements help corporates (1) understand the impact of their business/ financing and supply chains on critical natural habitats, such as deforestation, extractives, fossil fuel emissions, and (2) find solutions that mitigate business risks and enhance business opportunities that promote positive conservation outcomes, such as sustainable finance, water stewardship, climate innovation, DCF (deforestation and conversion free) supply-chain of deforestation risk soft-commodities, energy transition, renewable energy usage, plastics management, decarbonization of industry. The programme focuses on working around strong levers to materialise transition, such as science-based policy awareness and capacity building, market transformation, and sustainable finance.

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated individual with inherent sensitivity towards the conservation of nature to join as Lead – Programme Development, Advocacy & Partnerships . The role involves programme development, stakeholder and policy engagement, , partnership development, and program management to accelerate corporate sustainability and advance WWF’s conservation goals.

Job Profile:

• Lead proposal development and donor engagement to expand WWF-India’s corporate stewardship portfolio
• Manage projects to ensure timely delivery of outcomes, technical quality, and effective reporting
• Track progress against project objectives and KPIs, ensuring alignment with WWF’s conservation goals

Business Engagement & Market Transformation

• Lead corporate engagement across key sectors to advance climate action, net-zero commitments , ESG integration , industrial decarbonization , and sustainable supply chains , thereby strengthening the climate orientation of businesses
• Promote market transformation through strategic partnerships , advocacy , and innovation
• Provide technical inputs to integrate biodiversity, water, and climate considerations into business operations
• Apply frameworks like SBTi, SBTN, RE100, Net zero and tools like the Biodiversity & Water Risk Filters to assess corporate risks and guide sustainability action
• Represent WWF-India in multi-stakeholder coalitions (e.g., India Green Steel Coalition (IGSC) , India Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition (I-SPOC) ) to drive systemic change

Policy Engagement

• Track and analyse emerging policies, regulations, and standards impacting business sustainability
• Draft WWF-India’s policy briefs, white papers, and position notes on corporate stewardship and decarbonization pathways
• Provide strategic inputs for WWF’s engagement with ministries, regulators, trade associations, and industry leaders
• Represent WWF-India at national and international conferences, platforms, and policy dialogues
• Build and maintain partnerships with ministries, corporates, financial institutions, and industry bodies
• Lead engagement with business stakeholders to foster partnerships and advance project objectives
• Organize workshops, round-tables, and dialogues to promote sector-wide adoption of sustainable business practices
• Identify and pursue collaborations with bilateral and multilateral agencies , as well as NGOs , to scale collective action initiatives and create new fundraising opportunities

Reporting & Line Management

• Reports to: Director, Sustainable Business, WWF-India
• Works in close coordination with cross-cutting teams and WWF global network teams

Requirements

Desired Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental management , sustainability, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines
• 5–8 years’ experience in sustainable business, energy transition, decarbonization, circular economy, or sustainable finance across corporates, consulting, think tanks, or NGOs
• Effective advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills to influence decision-makers and catalise policy and corporate action on sustainable business practices
• Proven track record in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and policy advocacy
• Strong understanding of climate, biodiversity, and supply chain & other sustainability frameworks
• Demonstrated project management, fundraising, and proposal development skills
• Excellent communication and networking skills, with the ability to represent WWF in high-level forums

Why Join WWF-India?

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape India’s transition towards sustainable business and low-carbon growth by leveraging WWF’s brand credibility, science-based expertise, and global network .

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