Senior Director, Operations, Asia Pacific - WWF International

Overview

Lead operational functions to ensure strategy realization across Asia Pacific.

You have:

• At least 15 years of professional experience in a senior strategy, country office management and/or operations leadership role.
• Proven knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector, preferably of environmental non-government organizations, governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven leadership, interpersonal, and strategic and operational acumen with excellent capacity to manage change and transformation.
• Experience with developing and delivering shared services.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic plans.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and any other Asia Pacific language/s is an asset.
• Good organizational and planning skills are essential.
• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the devastating impacts of climate change and nature loss. The situation today is worse than the darkest predictions of just ten years ago, pushing billions of people to the edge and threatening lives and livelihoods. At WWF, we are facing our biggest crisis – and our biggest ever opportunity – to create a better future for people and nature. With over 60 years of experience and an active presence in more than 100 countries, we work to achieve both on-the-ground and global policy action, from protecting and restoring species and their habitats, to transforming markets and policies toward sustainability.

Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from conservation science and advocacy to HR and finance. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us tackle this enormous global challenge and drive the urgent conservation impact needed to restore our planet.

What We Do We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, we are part of a growing global movement calling for bolder action on climate and nature, demanding that world leaders set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. WWF works to address the most dominant drivers of nature loss through system-wide changes in how food and energy are produced and consumed, and in how financial systems are structured. By implementing change in every country, we aim to drive visible and positive impacts on the ground, helping to restore nature in the most critical places around the world, from the Amazon to the Coral Triangle.

Engaging everyone means addressing the barriers to participation faced by some groups in society, including local communities. Conservation will only be sustainable if it is owned by, and benefits, local people. That’s why Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be at the centre of action on climate and nature. WWF is committed to using its resources and global network to support these communities in creating together the most effective solutions where they live.

Humanity is still in time, we have a clear pathway to solve this crisis. At WWF, we call on everyone to join the global movement, change how we live, and take action now.

1 MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

To ensure (i) the) development, monitoring and evaluation of WWF Office Strategic Plans (OSP) across Asia Pacific; (ii) performance management; and (iii) operational excellence in the effective and efficient functioning of the Asia Pacific Country Office Leadership and WWF International managed offices in the Asia Pacific region. (iv) To achieve effective management of processes and systems needed for WWF to deliver conservation impact and operate efficiently in the region.

2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS

The Senior Director, Operations - Asia Pacific leads the performance management and operational functions to ensure strategy realization and the effective and efficient operational health of all Asia Pacific Country Offices (CO) in fulfilment of their Office Strategic Objectives, WWF values/WWF Network Standards, and policies/procedures of WWF International.

In collaboration with the Regional Directors for Asia Pacific (for Southeast Asia/SEA & East, Central Asia and Pacific/ECAP) and other Regional and Senior Leadership team members, the Senior Director for Operations Asia Pacific will facilitate strong collaboration, learning and communications in relation to Country Office strategy realization, performance management, and operational excellence, and interact with the WWF Network to ensure strong, empowered and financially sustainable Asia Pacific Country Offices.

3 Major Duties and Responsibilities

Overall

Responsible for supporting the realization of Regional and CO strategies in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Conservation Impact Directors, driving controls and efficiencies, providing thought leadership, and championing CO strategic planning, performance management, and operational best practices. Acts as a business partner to the rest of the regional management team to understand all necessary strategic planning, performance management, and operational aspects and needs for delivering the regional and country objectives and targets. Provides support to Regional Directors for Asia Pacific (SEA & ECAP) in managing country offices and provides advice to Country Directors on key strategic, performance management, and operational issues. Acts as an escalation point for strategic and operational issues requiring global support; identify remedial solutions and oversee timely, efficient implementation as required. Drives and supports transformational change initiatives to achieve sustainable, quality, and operational growth at scale. Coordinates and supports the progress tracking of KPIs in the WWF International strategic plan, particularly Strategies 3 and 4. Acts as a deputy to the Regional Directors on key issues and areas. Performs other duties assigned by the SEA and ECAP Regional Directors.

OSP Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Realization

In conjunction with the Asia Pacific (SEA & ECAP) Conservation Impact Directors, co-lead the region in supporting the preparation planning and development of Office Strategic Plans (OSPs) for all the WWF International Asia Pacific offices (SEA & ECAP), ensuring high-quality OSPs that align with WWF Network Conservation Goals and Objectives, WWF International Strategic Plan and the Asia Pacific regional strategy and follows an integrated approach that incorporates Conservation, Resource Mobilization, Enabling Functions, and Leadership & Culture goals, objectives, targets, and indicators/KPIs that together achieves strategy realization. Leads the region and works closely with the Head, Finance Business Partner Asia Pacific in supporting the preparation planning and development of Multi-year Planning and Budgeting plans for the all the WWF International Asia Pacific offices that breaks down the OSPs to annual objectives, activities, KPIs, targets, and budgets. Co-leads the region in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Conservation Impact Directors and works closely with the Asia Pacific Regional Management Team (RMT) to monitor and evaluate the realization of the OSPs, encouraging learning and continuous refinement of the OSPs, and ensuring quality mid-term OSP reviews. Ensures and assists Asia Pacific RMT in the communication and presentation of the OSPs and ongoing reviews to both internal and external stakeholders. Note: Country Directors are accountable for their offices’ strategy and OSP realization and report to the Regional Directors. The Senior Director for Operations Asia Pacific’s role as defined above does not supersede the CDs’ accountability.

Country Office Performance Management

Supports the implementation and leads the adoption of the integrated performance system and robust management reporting to ensure review and improvement of performance of all WWF International Asia Pacific offices for strategy realization and to meet WWF International's Finance, People & Culture, Internal audit/compliance, administration, management systems, and network standards and KPIs. Convenes and coordinates periodic performance reviews with all WWF International Asia Pacific offices of key strategic issues and KPIs, ensuring deep dialogue and action planning.

Operational Excellence

General

Provides direction to the Asia Pacific (SEA & ECAP) Offices operations teams and others to ensure alignment and compliance with WWF International policies, procedures, review and approval processes (including QA), and flow of internal communication to and from the region. Finance

Working closely with the Head, Finance Business Partner Asia Pacific and Country Senior Leadership, provides a second line of defence by routinely monitoring the office risk management and internal control frameworks reinforcing an effective and exemplary risk and control culture and further strengthens the control environment. Working with Global Finance, PMEL, Resource Mobilization and Public Sector Partnerships (PSP) teams, monitors cost recovery, and works with office teams to improve cost recovery including sharing of best practices on cost recovery approaches and guidance, adoption of fully costed budgeting methodologies, and building capacities as needed. People & Culture

Supports and manages the Head People & Culture Asia Pacific in driving the right culture, values, people processes and talent management in the region, in alignment with P&C global objectives & strategies and WWF values. Ensures the Health, Safety and Security of all Asia Pacific Region and WWF International Asia Pacific country staff by building capabilities and capacity as required and aligning and complying with WWF International policies and procedures. Accountable for the implementation of operational structures and appropriate capacity to ensure operational excellence across WWF Offices’ operations teams to support effective and efficient conservation delivery. Ensures implementation of Organizational Development (OD) initiatives from an operational perspective. Provides oversight and direction on OD assessments and processes, review of systems and organizational processes with a view to making them empowering, efficient and effective. Procurement

Working with the WWF International Global Finance team, ensure appropriate processes and procedures are in place with regards to purchasing of services, assets and equipment and contracting with third parties. Crisis/Issues Management

Supports the Regional Directors and other colleagues in ensuring timely follow-up and actions to resolve crises and supports effective communication to stakeholders. Risk, Compliance and Legal

Ensures the Scheme of Delegated Authority (SODA) is followed in the region, and relevant reviews and approvals are provided by the Senior Director for Operations Asia Pacific and others in a timely manner. Effectively and collaboratively identifies, escalates, mitigates, and resolves risk, conduct and compliance matters. Improves operational processes and controls, enhances policy and procedures, and supports the development of a robust regulatory, legal and risk compliance framework by actively engaging with WWF International legal and risk & compliance units. In consultation with the WWF International General Counsel’s team, ensures that overall legal requirements of WWF are complied with and its presences and staff in Asia Pacific Region; and Ensures that contractual partnerships and agreements include mandatory legal provisions and adherence to WWF standards and critical policies, are credible and up to date. Audit

Collaborates with Global Finance, Accountability, Internal Audit and Regional teams offices to ensure all audits (internal and external) are well coordinated and address relevant areas of risk. Contributes to review of actions to address audit findings to ensure they are appropriate, ensures all WWF International Asia Pacific offices (SEA & ECAP) address external and internal audit finding actions assigned to them in a timely and high-quality manner.

4 PROFILE

Required Qualifications.

At least 15 years of professional experience in a senior strategy, country office management and/or operations leadership role, with demonstrated success in managing teams, office operations, and budgets at a regional level. Proven knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector, preferably of environmental non-government organizations, governance, and regulatory compliance.

Required Skills and Competencies.

Proven leadership, interpersonal, and strategic and operational acumen with excellent capacity to manage change and transformation. Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic plans. Experience with developing and delivering shared services. Experience in working in Matrix and Network organizations and the ability to lead without formal authority. High level negotiation, facilitation as well as interpersonal and influencing skills and the capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships across the WWF Network and with external partners. Good organizational and planning skills are essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and any other Asia Pacific language/s is an asset. Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration. 5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Internal.

Works closely with Regional Directors for Asia Pacific (SEA and ECAP), Country Office Leadership/Regional team members; Country Office management teams; Finance Business Partner Asia Pacific; WWF International Secretariat Directors of Finance, P&C, Quality Assurance, Network Governance, and other functions; and wider WWF network offices.

External.

External partners with whom there are strategic and operational links in partnership and contractual arrangements with WWF. Managing good relationships with existing/potential donors and key stakeholders.

Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.

Deadline for applications: 15 March 2026

Location: Flexible in WWF International Hubs in Asia Pacific

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

At WWF, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing fair and unbiased consideration for all candidates regardless of their background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Potential interview questions