Senior VP - Urban Biodiversity

Farmers for Forests; Pune District; Hybrid; INR 1,500,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization based in Pune is seeking a Senior VP – Operations to oversee Urban Biodiversity initiatives across multiple cities. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in urban ecology or restoration, proven leadership skills, and be comfortable managing project teams. The role requires effective stakeholder coordination, budget management, and the ability to adapt to shifting project demands while maintaining high-quality standards. Familiarity with Excel and Google Sheets for project tracking is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience managing teams and leading projects.
• Ability to travel frequently across project locations.
• Fluency in English; Hindi preferred, Marathi advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-city Urban Biodiversity and restoration projects.
• Develop project budgets and optimize costs.
• Design and streamline processes across operations.

Skills

Strong interpersonal communication

Leadership

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

Background in urban ecology, biodiversity, restoration, or forestry

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

F4F is a Hybrid Social Enterprise working to protect and increase India’s biodiverse forest cover in close collaboration with rural communities. Founded in December 2019, F4F is one of the few organizations in India working in the forestry sector and using a payment-for-ecosystem services model for its environmental protection and restoration activities.

We have also featured on DW TV and Scroll's Eco India series as well as DW Hindi . We have also been selected as one of India's top innovators working in the ecosystem restoration and conservation sector by the World Economic Forum .

Job Description

The Senior VP – Operations (Urban Biodiversity) will be based in Pune and will lead end-to-end project management and operational execution for all Urban Biodiversity Hubs across multiple cities. The role is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and scaling biodiversity and restoration projects while ensuring timely delivery, high-quality standards, and strong coordination across teams and partners. We are looking for a passionate and experienced individual committed to advancing urban biodiversity, ecological restoration, and creating vibrant green spaces, with the leadership ability to work closely with communities, partners, and government stakeholders.

Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and closure of multi-city Urban Biodiversity and restoration projects.

Develop detailed project budgets, ensuring all costs for establishing Urban Biodiversity Hubs are accurately planned and optimized.

Identify, evaluate, and negotiate the best rates for materials and services including saplings, soil, organic manure, solar pumps, civil works, landscaping elements, and labour.

Drive operational excellence by designing, strengthening, and streamlining processes across procurement, on-ground implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

Use advanced Excel/Google Sheets tools to manage costing sheets, dashboards, and project-tracking systems.

Coordinate effectively with diverse stakeholders such as communities, contractors, ecologists, government departments, landscapers, vendors, and donors.

Build and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team across locations, including mentoring, upskilling, and performance management.

Apply ecological knowledge and principles in restoration planning, biodiversity enhancement, and hub development.

Anticipate and troubleshoot operational challenges with strong problem-solving and timely decision-making.

Establish and maintain strong monitoring systems, ensuring regular progress reports, documentation, and data-driven reviews.

Adapt quickly to shifting priorities in fast-paced project environments and provide stability through strong leadership.

Ensure rigorous attention to detail and uphold F4F’s quality standards and mission across all project phases.

Requirements

Comfortable traveling frequently across multiple project locations.

Background in urban ecology, biodiversity, restoration, landscaping, forestry, or project management.

Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Fluency in English; Hindi preferred (Marathi is an advantage).

Proven leadership ability and experience managing teams.

Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and digital documentation tools.

Strong budgeting and cost-assessment skills for ecological project components.

Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and in multicultural environments.

Flexible, self-driven, and comfortable in fast-paced, evolving situations.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Integrity, reliability, and alignment with F4F’s mission and values.