Director, Sustainable Livestock Systems – 21036

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organization, seeks a Director of Sustainable Livestock Systems.

Position Overview

This role provides leadership in the development of an updated sustainable protein strategy and for the shared vision (along with sector stakeholders) for the future of sustainable protein production in the livestock sector.

Responsible for planning, communicating, and implementing priority programs related to beef production and other animal protein commodities including dairy, poultry, eggs, and swine. Focuses on the development and implementation of global principles, robust and measurable sustainability targets for production of livestock, criteria, and key metrics, as well as the identification and cost effectiveness of practices and incentives for adoption by livestock producers, feed producers, processors, traders, retailers, and other supply chain actors in the United States and globally.

Engages in key global and national platforms that drive sustainability for key animal commodities and their feed sources with a focus on the Global and U.S. Roundtables for Sustainable Beef bringing a strong conservation voice to these deliberations. Creates data bases and/or other tools that allow producers to share information about how to reduce key impacts. Advances thought leadership for WWF on sustainable livestock systems though analysis, public speaking, and written reports.

Develops and maintains successful business and producer partnerships to deliver results and impact. Engages closely with WWF colleagues across other teams, including Freshwater & Food, Forests, Markets, and Climate to coordinate efforts and impact, especially in priority landscapes where livestock systems including feed production, are critical for livelihoods including the Northern Great Plains, the Southern Plains in the US, and the Amazon, Cerrado, Chaco-Pantanal region in South America.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Direction and Program Design and Implementation: Provides strategic direction on sustainable beef and other livestock commodity programs, tracks and influences markets and trade of livestock and feed commodities globally, integrates and scales innovation for impact and evolves WWF's programming accordingly, and supports on-the-ground programs in priority landscapes including the Northern Great Plains and the Chaco-Pantanal.
• Strategic Partnership and Platform Engagement: Leads WWF-US engagement in advancement of our primary conservation priorities in multisector platforms including the Global, United States and Canadian Beef Roundtables, the U.S. Sustainable Roundtable for Poultry and Eggs and potentially others. Develops partnerships with other NGOs, universities, research institutes, producer groups, corporate entities, and others as appropriate, and leads on such partnerships.
• Technical Expert: Represents WWF-US within the Network and at national and international meetings, workshops, and other relevant fora on beef and where appropriate other livestock production systems and drives WWF's conservation agenda and outcomes. Serves as an internal WWF expert on all beef and livestock issues. Provides technical support to business partners and the WWF Network on beef and livestock production issues, where appropriate.
• Thought Leadership: Undertakes or oversees research, develops reports, white papers, blogs, podcasts, and other materials that would help build awareness and consensus within WWF and outside about key impacts and potential strategies to reduce them.
• Fundraising: Persuasively conveys the mission of WWF to solicit program support from diverse groups. In coordination with WWF Development staff and others on the Freshwater and Food team, oversees development and conceptual framework for multi-year proposals. Oversees staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals. Engages with SVP to communicate with individual donors, attending events or field site visits as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Experience Requirements:

• An MBA or other graduate degree in a relevant field such as agribusiness, supply chain management, or marketing within a relevant livestock commodity, is preferred. A bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Must have at least 10 years of work experience in strategy development, project design and execution in any of the related areas of livestock production, marketing, trade, animal nutrition, feed sustainability, international agriculture production, certification of agriculture, agribusiness management, agricultural program and policy, international agriculture development, negotiations with internal and external stakeholders, design and negotiation of strategic partnerships that are multi-dimensional and broad-reaching and implementation and activation of partnerships within an organization or institution.
• Direct experience within the livestock industry, with emphasis on the beef supply chain preferred.
• Experience working with governments, NGOs, global organizations, bilateral and multilateral organizations on agricultural issues, specifically livestock systems, is an advantage.

Skills and Proven Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills are required, especially people management, relationship management, negotiation and facilitation skills, and the ability to work as part of a high-level, diverse, international team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; knowledge, experience and certification using project management tools a plus.
• Excellent strategy development, project design, research, analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to assess macro and micro-trends and to identify key cross-cutting themes and levers.
• Excellent professional judgement and personal work ethic, a self-reflective learner who is open to growth and continuous learning opportunities through constructive feedback, support, and mentorship.
• Excellent and inspired leadership and team management skillset with commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Ability to operate with independence and under pressure, to meet deadlines and commitments; a proactive self-starter who is self-reflective, a problem-solver, and not afraid of making mistakes or asking for help.
• Ability to work on initiatives with multiple and competing priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a matrixed, cross-cutting, and global team, with a wide range of diverse individuals across cultures, geographies, and time zones.
• Must be willing and able to travel, domestically and abroad, up to 25% of the time (when safe to resume travel post-COVID).
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of additional languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Thai preferred.
• Commitment to F&F values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)

Please Note: Applicants are encouraged to apply by Sunday, March 14th, 2021

To Apply

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #21036
• Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.

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