Job Description

Position title:Living Amazon Initiative: Head of Crosscutting Component Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (CC6)

Reports to:Leader, Living Amazon Initiative (based in Brasília)

Supervises:Coordinates network of experts and focus persons in different WWF Offices, Organisations and Programmes (including LAI); supervises specific consultants and other assigned staff; may supervise own CC6Programme Officer(s)

Location:Any WWF Office related directly to the Amazon[1]

Date: August 20th, 2012

  1. Mission

WWF Mission

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

  • conserving the world’s biological diversity
  • ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
  • promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Living AmazonInitiative Vision

Building upon four decades of experience in the Amazon, the Living Amazon Initiative (LAI) is WWF’s response to matching the scale and impact of the threats currently affecting the Amazon. LAIStrategy is built on the conviction that the fate of humanity is inseparable from the fate of the Amazon, and that humankind has within its reach the means to ensure a dignified life for all without destroying the Amazon’s natural endowments upon which our collective well-being is based. Our proposed vision, of:

An ecologically healthy Amazon Biome that maintains its environmental and cultural contributions to local peoples, the countries of the region, and the world, within a framework of social equity, inclusive economic development and global responsibility

Is the compass that has guided the design of the LAI and will steer its implementation for years to come.

There are five Transformational Strategies (TSs) proposed in LAI Strategic Plan: (1) Shifting the Paradigm of the Development in the Amazon (SP); (2) Promoting Ecosystem Services and Products (PESP; formerly called Bolstering the Value of Natural Ecosystems); (3) Sound Land Planning and Conservation (SLPC); (4) Sustainable Agro-commodities (SAc); and (5) Well Beyond Infrastructure (formerly called Forest-friendly Roads and Free-Flowing Rivers). Also, LAI Strategy has Crosscutting Components (CCs), such as Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (SME; CC6), Communications and Campaigns (CC7)and Programmatic Operations (CC8), besides other elements, substrategies and components.

  1. Major Functions

The Head of LAI Science, Monitoring and Evaluation works to incorporate the best available science as the technical foundation for the development and implementation of LAI Strategy, from the identification of conservation priorities, to the selection of effective conservation and sustainable development interventions, besides monitoring frameworks and performance reports. The Head of LAI SME coordinates the efforts of a broad array of scientists and programme officers to monitor and evaluate the WWF LAI Strategy deployment, including through WWF local presences.

Under the leadership of the LAI Leader, the Head of the Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (CC6), will:

  • Lead and direct the effort to advance (design, plan, implement, monitor, evaluate…) the science and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) elements of LAI Strategy – both collaborating and contributing to other components, transformational strategies and activities led by other members of LAI Core Team, and leading components, objectives, activities directly (for instance, the in TS1).
  • Lead, direct and coordinate the collaborative effort of the Programme Offices, National Organisations and other WWF Network Units and Programmes for the advancement of science and M&E in WWF works related to the Amazon – leading (creating, strengthening, managing…) Living Amazon (“extended”) teams related to science and M&E.
  • Orchestrate the human, technical and financial resources from within and outside the (WWF) Network to implement the related component, objectives, activities and support.
  • Co-ordinate with other Heads of LAI Transformational Strategies and Crosscutting Components, for the success of LAI and thesecomponents, support them with scientific information, tools and assessments, and coordinate them to the monitoring of LAI Strategy.
  • Enlarge perspectives of WWF and LAI feeding in from a broad array of science fronts (ecologic, social and economic related), develop models of conservation and sustainable development monitoring to mobilise societies for the Amazon and promote the needed societies changes towards its sustainability.
  • Produce timely reports of the status of the Amazon conservation and related footprints, of the impact of LAI Strategy and about any relevant emerging knowledge related to the Amazon conservation.
  • By providing timely and adequate information, assures that LAI and WWF communications and campaigns related to the Amazon are accurate and promotes information within LAI TSs/CCs and other Units and Programmes of WWF Network to enhance understanding about the Amazon and success of their actions.
  • Liaises with the corresponding science and monitoring units of WWF Units (Programme Offices, National Organisations, Global Initiatives and Programmes…) and other stakeholders acting related to the Amazon and lead the outreach effort to other institutions in the region and beyond in order to build a shared agenda that advances the objectives of LAI, particularly related to science and conservation and sustainable development monitoring.
  • Search, develop and coordinate partnerships to complement WWF capacities and enhance potential to achieve the objectives of LAI Strategic Plan.
  • Always work and co-ordinate actions to address the LAI Threat Mitigation Objectives and advance the overall LAI Conservation Goals and the ultimate mission of LAI.
  1. Major Duties and Responsibilities
  • Develop yearly work plans for the science and monitoring (sub)-components of the LAI Strategy together with relevant NOs, POs, Global Initiatives (GIs) and other Programmes.
  • Develop ideas, concepts and project proposals and proceed with the necessary contacts to fundraise for science, M&E and LAI in general – integratedwhenever possible with relevant NOs, POs and other (WWF) Network programmes, initiatives and actions.
  • Lead and coordinate the required steps to complete the Amazon conservation priority assessments and analysis as required for the LAI Core Team staff.
  • Manages the virtual WWF LAI Science Team ensuring the delivery of results within the expected time frame.
  • Elaborate reports on the conservation status and threats of the Amazon (biome and basin).
  • Provide timely information to the LAI Head of Communications and Officers and other Heads LAI in relation to scientific facts and new technical developments relevant to Amazon conservation and sustainable development.
  • Prepare an annual monitoring report of the advance of the LAI Strategy, in coordination with the Leader and Core Team, and all WWF Units related to the overall, integrated LAI Strategy.
  • Remain abreast of outreach efforts relevant to LAI, particularly related to science and M&E, that are (co)-spearheaded by NOs and POs to national and local institutions located in the region.
  • Act as a point person for any scientific product, information or consultation to be developed by the Living Amazon (Core and Expanded) Teams or any consultant work under the GI Annual Plan.
  • Develop and maintain a database of geospatial information of the indicators: conservation targets, critical threats and context drivers in alignment with the monitoring and evaluation needs of the NI.
  • Manage and report on project funds flowing through the budgets associated directly or indirectly to LAI science, monitoring and evaluation related actions.
  • Works with the LAI communicator to develop public dissemination products and to ensure the scientific consistency of the information and the mobilisation of social actors to support the Initiative’s objectives.
  • Identify actions that can be advanced jointly with the other TSs/CCs and components for maximum leverage and impact.
  • With the LAI Leader, assess the overlap (thematic and geographic) between current WWF investments and the proposed science and M&E related actions, and, based on the results, decide what investments should be built on versus phased out.
  • Always coordinate the implementation with the other Heads of Transformational Strategies (TS) and Crosscutting Components (CCs) and the LAI Leader, in order to find the best synergies amongst TSs/CCs.
  • Always work in collaboration with relevant WWF Network Units (for instance, Programme Offices (POs), National Organizations (NOs), Global Initiatives and Programmes), particularly in the implementation of overall, integrated LAI Strategy.
  • Always represents LAI, including at scientific meetings and on behalf of the LAI Leader or at request of others.
  1. Profile

Required Qualifications

  • Broad geographical and thematic visions, capacity to understand problems, threats and drivers, as well as strategic and transformational solutions and to promote them and put them in motion.
  • At least 10 years professional experience in application, use of science for conservation and sustainable development –including some familiarity with ecological, economic and social related principles and analyses–, with demonstrated success in managing multi-disciplinary teams, networking from the distance, technical capacity building and team leadership.
  • At least 5 years professional experience in a leadership role, with demonstrated success in management of projects and programmes, including managing multi-disciplinary teams and multiple donor budgets.
  • Advanced degree in conservation, natural, socialor other sciences areas, management, international development or relevant fields; familiarity with GIS and remote sensing-associated tools; knowledge of relational databases, strong analytical capabilities necessary.
  • Technical proficiency in the field of conservation, natural-resource management or international development.

Required Skills

  • Excellent communications and interpersonal relationship, verbal and writing skills.
  • Excellent command of English (1st) –indispensable–, as well as Spanish (2nd) or Portuguese (3rd) – preferably both.
  • Excellent knowledge of the Amazon region and of issues and contexts related to the Living Amazon Initiative.
  • Excellent ability to interface between WWF staff, decision makers, and donors.
  • Proven success and capacity in networking and success in leading multi-country and global teams.
  • Proven experience of working with different cultures and institutions.
  • Ability to work effectively in and through matrix organizations.
  • Experience in raising and mobilising funding.
  • Strong skills at developing partnerships learned in either NGO, governmental, or business environments.

Behavioural competencies

  • Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Passionate & Optimistic, Challenging & Inspiring, Credible & Accountable, and Persevering & Delivering Results.
  • Demonstrates potential in the following critical competencies:

Establishing strategic direction

  • Establishing and committing to a long-range course of action to accomplish a long-range goal or vision after analysing factual information and assumptions; taking into consideration resources, constraints and organisational values

Change Leadership

  • Continuously seeking (or encouraging others to seek) opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing organisational problems and opportunities

Selling the Vision

  • Passionately selling an organisational strategy; creating a clear view of the future state by helping others understand and feel how things will be different when the future vision is achieved

Drive for Results

  • Setting high goals for personal and group accomplishment; using measurement methods to monitor progress towards goal attainment; tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement

Managing Global Teams

  • Facilitating team-building process in a socially and culturally diverse environment by promoting openness, flexibility, respect in order to effectively enable each team member to be performant

Decision-making

  • Identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
  1. Working Relationships

Internal - Works closely with the LAI Leader and other LAI Core Team staff, staff relevant for the TS located in the National Organisations, Programme Offices and associates found in the Amazon and elsewhere; relates to staff from other NOs within the Network committed to the LAI, WWF Living Amazon Initiative’s Shareholders Group, and relevant staff of WWF-International and the LAC Secretariat, as well as staff from other relevant Global Initiatives (GIs), Thematic Programmes and others.

External - Works closely with implementing and donor partners (bilateral and multilateral), governmental and non-governmental representatives, as well as representatives of the private sector, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, academia, etc.

  1. Information to consult
  • The Living Amazon Strategy ( particularly the book “WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative; a comprehensive approach to conserving the largest rainforest and river system on Earth”, and strategy updates to FY13-16.
  • WWF Global Initiatives (
  • WWF (

[1] WWF-Peru (Lima or others), WWF-Colombia (Bogota, Quito, Cali or others), WWF-Brazil (Brasília, Rio Branco, Manaus or others) WWF-Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz or others), or WWF-Guianas (Paramaribo, Cayenne or others).