Job Opportunity for Senior Expert – Commodities and Sustainable Supply Chain at WWF India in Delhi

WWF India is seeking a Senior Expert in Commodities and Sustainable Supply Chain based in Delhi. The role involves leading sustainable practices in business, managing projects related to sustainable supply chains, and engaging with stakeholders to promote conservation outcomes. Responsibilities include overseeing palm oil strategies, advancing work on deforestation and sustainable commodities, stakeholder management, and providing operational support to the team.
Roles and Responsibilities

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, renewable energy, plastics management.

WWF-India is looking for a dynamic and self-motivated individual with inherent sensitivity towards conservation of nature, to lead our work on promoting sustainable practices with the Business and Industry sector to promoting sustainable supply chains, promoting sustainable consumption and production. The incumbent shall be responsible for management and execution of priority projects within the sustainable business programme, including technical inputs, corporate & government engagement, network coordination, knowledge management and fundraising. Supporting the Director, Sustainable Business in strategic planning and decision making, forecasting and representation in events and conferences. The individual would also be responsible for operational support to the team, including recruitment, admin/financial management, and representation of the team within WWF India.

Location: New Delhi

Job Profile:
• Leading WWF’s palm oil strategy and program in India in close coordination with the global palm oil and market transformation teams to promote uptake of sustainable palm oil in India
• Advancing WWF India’s work on deforestation, conversion free (DCF) & sustainable supply chains across forest & agricultural commodities including palm, soy, timber, rubber through interventions within and beyond supply chains
• Project oversight and management guidance on commodities, such as palm oil and overall support across the portfolio of commodities related projects within the Sustainable Business Programme.
• Responsible for managing the planning and implementation of priority/ flagship projects, including effective development and delivery of the project as per timelines, reporting and project documentation, identification and leveraging opportunities.
• Stakeholder management: corporate outreach and maintaining relationships with existing program stakeholders and leading outreach to Sustainabdrive the adoption of sustainable business practices
• Leading and providing oversight on sustainable supply chain, linked to sustainable consumption and production, including promoting relevant standards linked to forest and agriculture commodities
• Engaging with key stakeholders across the commodity value chain including investors & policy makers to facilitate sectoral transformation
• Establishing relationships & partnerships with key organizations working in this space to synergize efforts and achieve impact at scale
• Acting as the focal person to coordinate with the WWF international network on all aspects of our soft commodities related work
• Strategic planning and visioning to identify suitable fundraising opportunities and develop proposals and projects to expand WWF-India’s work on soft commodities in accordance with our engagement guidelines
• Promoting WWF India as a thought leader on sustainable commodities supply chains through knowledge creation, representation in industry events and platforms.
• Managing direct reportees to develop and implement project deliverables

Qualifications, Experience and competencies required:
• An advanced degree in Environmental Studies/ Natural Sciences/ Business.
• 7– 8 years work experience in a related field;
• Demonstrated ability to work with and influence key stakeholders on the sustainability agenda, especially as it relates to the business world
• Broad understanding ofsustainable supply chains, linked to sustainable consumption and production, linked to forest and food commodities
• Exceptional research and analytical skills;
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills;
• Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to work under pressure, and manage multiple tasks;
• Willingness to travel to attend meetings with key corporate partners in and outside India.

Management:

Position reports to Director – Sustainable Business