Title: Director, Sustainable Protein Systems
Job Family/Level: Program/ Director
Reports to: Vice President and Deputy Goal Lead, Food
FLSA status: Exempt
Revised Date: November 2022
Major Function
The Director of Sustainable Protein Systems provides leadership in the development and implementation of an updated ambitious sustainable protein strategy and for the shared vision (along with sector stakeholders) for the future of sustainable protein production in the livestock sector. The Director will be responsible for planning, communicating, and implementing priority programs related to beef production and other animal protein commodities including dairy, poultry, eggs, and swine. The Director will focus 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.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Direction, 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. Leads team of practitioners that execute the Sustainable Protein Initiative. Creates or oversees creation of tools that allow producers to share information on reducing key impacts.
- 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 others. Develops and leads partnerships with other NGOs, universities, research institutes, producer groups, corporate entities, and others as appropriate. 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 US Southern Plains, and the Amazon, Cerrado, Chaco-Pantanal region in South America.
- Technical Expert: Represents WWF-US within the WWF global network and at national and international meetings, workshops, and other relevant fora on beef and 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 to build awareness and consensus within WWF and externally about key impacts and potential strategies to reduce them.
- Fundraising: Persuasively conveys the mission of WWF to solicit program support from the major funding sectors (government, foundation, individual, corporate). In coordination with WWF Development staff and others on the Freshwater and Food team, oversees development of conceptual framework for multi-year proposals. Oversees staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals. Engages with VP and SVP to communicate with select donors, attending events or field site visits as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Skill and Abilities:
- A graduate degree in a relevant field.
- At least 10 years of experience in beef, land use, impacts, business, or economics.
- Specific knowledge of beef production and beef producers and/or other livestock production system.
- Direct experience with developing and/or implementing sustainability initiatives within the livestock sector.
- Proven ability to work directly with producers, undertake and oversee research, and work with different players along the value chain.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills and the ability to communicate effectively with board, staff, and business executives.
- Ability to formulate complex strategic programs.
- Ability to understand both the U.S. and global context.
- A high-level of interpersonal skills; especially, relationship management skills and the ability to work as part of a dynamic, multi-dimensional, cross-cutting team.
- Excellent leadership and organizational skills with an emphasis on project management.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- International experience and languages other than English a plus.
- Committed to the Freshwater and Food team’s values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
- Willingness to travel as needed up to 25%. Travel is both within the US and internationally.
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Direction, 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. Leads team of practitioners that execute the Sustainable Protein Initiative. Creates or oversees creation of tools that allow producers to share information on reducing key impacts.
- 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 others. Develops and leads partnerships with other NGOs, universities, research institutes, producer groups, corporate entities, and others as appropriate. 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 US Southern Plains, and the Amazon, Cerrado, Chaco-Pantanal region in South America.
- Technical Expert: Represents WWF-US within the WWF global network and at national and international meetings, workshops, and other relevant fora on beef and 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 to build awareness and consensus within WWF and externally about key impacts and potential strategies to reduce them.
- Fundraising: Persuasively conveys the mission of WWF to solicit program support from the major funding sectors (government, foundation, individual, corporate). In coordination with WWF Development staff and others on the Freshwater and Food team, oversees development of conceptual framework for multi-year proposals. Oversees staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals. Engages with VP and SVP to communicate with select donors, attending events or field site visits as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- A graduate degree in a relevant field.
- At least 10 years of experience in beef, land use, impacts, business, or economics.
- Specific knowledge of beef production and beef producers and/or other livestock production system.
- Direct experience with developing and/or implementing sustainability initiatives within the livestock sector.
- Proven ability to work directly with producers, undertake and oversee research, and work with different players along the value chain.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills and the ability to communicate effectively with board, staff, and business executives.
- Ability to formulate complex strategic programs.
- Ability to understand both the U.S. and global context.
- A high-level of interpersonal skills; especially, relationship management skills and the ability to work as part of a dynamic, multi-dimensional, cross-cutting team.
- Excellent leadership and organizational skills with an emphasis on project management.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- International experience and languages other than English a plus.
- Committed to the Freshwater and Food team’s values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
- Willingness to travel as needed up to 25%. Travel is both within the US and internationally.
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
To Apply:
- Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #23070
- 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.