Associate Director - Sustainable Business

Position:

Location:

Travel:

Job Profile:

Management and Coordination

• Work with Director Sustainable Business to continually review and refresh the strategic approach and provide innovative ideas towards adaptive management
• Provide strategic management oversight and support to the Sustainable Business Programme to ensure effective implementation of projects for timely delivery of outcomes and achievement of technical and financial targets
• Manage and provide strategic guidance to the team, consultants and other partner organizations engaged in delivery of the programme
• Ensure efficient and effective monitoring, evaluation and learning processes within the Sustainable Business Programme to track progress toward strategic goals, and enable adaptive project management in response to emerging challenges
• Uphold and ensure implementation of organizational policies to achieve greater efficiency, compliance, and accountability in programme operations
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams within WWF-India to enhance synergies; promote integrated approaches across thematic areas ; facilitate collaboration to co-design and co-implement field interventions and knowledge-driven initiatives
• Manage partner and consultant onboarding processes, including drafting, execution, and tracking of relevant MoUs and agreements
• Collaborate closely with Programme Operations to oversee and streamline procurement processes for goods and services
• Build and sustain relationships with external stakeholders and network donors to support strategic initiatives
• Ensure timely and high-quality technical and financial reporting to donors and internal stakeholders
  

Programme Development & Partnerships:

• Work towards facilitating and supporting business transformation is WWF-India’s priority sectors
• Lead and support ideation, development, and finalization of thematic project proposals aligned with programme focus areas, and ensure financial closure for successful fund-raising; Lead fundraising efforts in the team, including but not limited to responding to WWF-Network and external funding opportunities
• Work closely with the Sustainable Business and other cross-functional teams to define strategic direction and ensure programmatic coherence and impact
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with key actors in business, finance, government, and civil society
• Provide strategic and technical inputs to drive corporate and policy-level action on energy transition, sustainable finance, circular economy, and deforestation/conversion-free supply chains
• Evaluate and mainstream scalable innovations and technology-led solutions that enable sustainability transitions in the private and public sectors
  

Policy Engagement & Outreach:

• Conduct horizon scanning and policy analysis to inform WWF-India’s work on business sustainability, covering existing and emerging regulatory frameworks, standards, and trends
• Contribute to WWF-India’s policy engagement with Government, industry leaders, financial institutions, and trade bodies to promote sustainable business practices
• Lead and support development of white papers, position statements, and policy briefs to advance WWF-India’s positions on circularity, decarbonization, sustainable finance, and responsible sourcing
• Together with the Director Sustainable Business strengthen outreach and communications and delivery of outputs therein.\
• Support planning and execution of consultations, workshops, and multi-stakeholder dialogues; develop advocacy materials for wider dissemination
• Provide strategic inputs to facilitate policy alignment and mainstreaming of program learnings into government and industry frameworks
• Represent WWF-India in national and international forums, conferences, and industry platforms to promote sustainable business practices
  

Requirements

Desired Qualifications, Experience and Desired Skills:

• Proven experience in programme and project management with strong strategic oversight, planning, and adaptive management capabilities in sustainability or conservation-focused initiatives
• 8–10 years of experience in sustainable business, energy transition & decarbonization, circular economy, and sustainable finance across corporates, consulting, think tanks, or non-profits, with demonstrated alignment to conservation goals
• Strong track record in developing high-quality proposals, securing donor funding, and building strategic partnerships across private, public, and multilateral sectors
• In-depth understanding of sustainability challenges and opportunities in key sectors (e.g., energy, circular economy, finance), with the ability to drive conservation-compatible pathways
• Ability to interpret complex policy, regulatory, and market trends to inform strategic interventions, advocacy, and programme design in business sustainability
• Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal—with experience in preparing policy briefs, white papers, and technical reports for diverse stakeholders
• Effective advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills to influence decision-makers and catalyze policy and corporate action on sustainable business practices
• Minimum Master’s degree in environmental management, sustainability, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines
• Strong analytical and systems thinking skills, with the ability to connect cross-cutting issues and design scalable, integrated sustainability solutions
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead multi-stakeholder programmes, manage cross-functional teams, and deliver results in complex, fast-paced environments
• Collaborative mindset with a high level of integrity, organizational discipline, and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and stakeholder groups
  

WWF-India is an equal opportunities employer. Applications from qualified women are encouraged.