WWF India - Lead - Programme Development - Advocacy & Partnerships (Gurugram)

WWF India is hiring a Lead for Programme Development, Advocacy & Partnerships in Gurugram. The role focuses on enhancing corporate sustainability through programme development, corporate engagement, and policy advocacy. Key responsibilities include managing donor relations, driving climate action and market transformation, and engaging in policy initiatives. Candidates should have a Master's degree and 8-12 years of relevant experience. The position requires in-office work with some travel.
Location: New Delhi (In office)
Travel: ~20%
About the Organisation:
- India's rapid economic growth is creating both new opportunities and complex developmental challenges. As one of the country's largest conservation organizations, WWF-India is committed to enhancing biodiversity conservation and reducing the environmental footprint of human activity.
- WWF-India's Sustainable Business Programme partners with businesses and industries to improve both environmental and social outcomes. Through these engagements, corporates gain insights into:
- The environmental impact of their business, financing, and supply chains-including deforestation, extractives, and carbon emissions
- Solutions to mitigate risks and unlock opportunities for positive conservation outcomes in areas like sustainable finance, water stewardship, climate innovation, decarbonization, renewable energy, plastic management, and deforestation-free supply chains
- The programme leverages strategic pathways such as science-based policy awareness, capacity building, market transformation, and sustainable finance.
About the Role:
WWF-India is seeking a dynamic, motivated professional with a strong commitment to environmental conservation to join as Lead - Programme Development, Advocacy & Partnerships. This role is central to driving programme development, corporate engagement, policy advocacy, partnership building, and portfolio growth to accelerate corporate sustainability and support WWF's conservation goals.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Programme Development & Management
- Lead development of high-quality proposals and manage donor engagement to grow the corporate stewardship portfolio
- Oversee project implementation to ensure timely delivery, technical robustness, and compliance with reporting requirements
- Monitor progress against project KPIs and ensure alignment with WWF-India's conservation priorities
2. Business Engagement & Market Transformation
- Drive corporate engagements across key sectors to promote climate action, net-zero alignment, ESG integration, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable supply chains
- Catalyze market transformation through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and innovation
- Provide technical advisory to embed biodiversity, climate, and water stewardship into business strategies
- Apply leading frameworks and tools such as SBTi, SBTN, RE100, Net Zero pathways, and WWF's Biodiversity & Water Risk Filters to assess risks and guide sustainability actions
Represent WWF-India in relevant multi-stakeholder platforms such as:
India Green Steel Coalition (IGSC)
India Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition (I-SPOC)
3. Policy Engagement
- Lead policy research, analysis, and advocacy initiatives to influence the enabling environment for corporate sustainability and conservation-linked business transitions
- Engage with government bodies, regulators, industry associations, and think tanks to inform policy dialogues and promote nature-positive outcomes
- Develop briefs, thought leadership content, and WWF positions on priority sustainability and environmental topics
Qualifications & Experience:
- Master's degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Public Policy, Economics, or related fields
- 8-12 years of experience in sustainability, climate policy, corporate ESG, consulting, or related domains
- Proven experience in programme development, stakeholder engagement, or policy advocacy
- Strong understanding of climate action, sustainable finance, decarbonization pathways, and environmental risk assessment
- Excellent communication, proposal writing, analytical, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to engage senior corporate and policy stakeholders effectively

(ref:iimjobs.com)