Director Brahmaputra Programme

BACKGROUND

Operating as the
institutional leader and public face of WWF-India across Assam and Arunachal
Pradesh, the Director will orchestrate cross-functional teams, cultivate
high-level technical, political and donor partnerships, and drive
transformative landscape-level conservation strategies.

This includes
conservation-related issues (freshwater and terrestrial species and habitats
restoration & monitoring, addressing human-wildlife conflict and
strengthening protection); social development (community empowerment,
sustainable livelihoods); as well as engaging with external drivers such as
nature-safeguards in infrastructure, land use change, and agricultural
production. Approaches include research & monitoring, capacity building
& institutional development, policy & advocacy, and engagement with
multiple partners, including local communities, industries, government
agencies, and CSOs.

As Director, the
person is expected to drive the implementation of the programme to deliver its
strategic outcomes in close coordination with the internal Programme Steering
Group (PSG). The Director – Brahmaputra Programme will have to manage a team of
30+ staff, comprising ecologists, agriculture specialists, and social
scientists, working across various districts of Assam.

VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP & STRATEGIC GROWTH

• Strategy Execution: Internalise, evolve, and
  communicate a compelling multi-year vision for the Brahmaputra Programme across
  WWF-India, the global WWF network, and external partners.
  
• Innovation &
  Adaptation: Partner with the Programme Steering Group (PSG) to continually refine landscape
  conservation models, integrating cutting-edge approaches to climate adaptation,
  habitat restoration, and human-wildlife coexistence.
  
• Resource Mobilisation: Drive strategic
  fundraising, capital pipeline development, and donor diversification to ensure
  long-term financial sustainability for the landscape.
  

OPERATIONAL
EXCELLENCE & PROGRAMME GOVERNANCE

• Portfolio Management: Oversee the end-to-end
  execution of all committed grants, ensuring technical precision, high-impact
  deliverables, and financial compliance.
  
• Team Leadership &
  Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of
  specialists, scientists, and consultants.
  
• Cross-functional
  Integration: Facilitate coordination between the various cross-cutting teams to align
  strategies and maximise collaboration for seamless project delivery.
  
• Institutional Safeguards: Embed WWF’s Environmental
  and Social Safeguards Frameworks (ESSF) across all field operations, ensuring
  ethical, inclusive, and equitable conservation delivery.
  

STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT & POLICY SUPPORT

• Government & Network
  Alliances: Cultivate strategic relationships with State Departments, including Forests,
  Water Resources and Agriculture, District Administrations, CSOs, technical
  institutions, and industry leaders.
  
• Policy Engagement: Design and execute targeted
  strategies to inform sustainable infrastructure, land-use planning, water
  resources management and agricultural practices across the basin.
  
• Community Co-Design: Strengthen grassroots
  partnerships with local communities and indigenous institutions to scale
  sustainable livelihoods and community-led stewardship models.
  
• Strategic Communications: Position the Brahmaputra
  Programme as a global flagship model for river basin conservation through
  high-impact storytelling and executive positioning.
  

Requirements

• Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in
  Management, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, or
  Social Sciences.
  
• Executive Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of
  progressive leadership experience managing complex, multidisciplinary
  conservation or rural development programmes.
  
• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of species
  and habitat conservation, river basin ecology, sustainable agriculture,
  land-use planning, and transboundary policy dynamics.
  
• Regional Context: Strong strategic grasp of
  the ecological, socio-economic, and political landscape of Northeast India
  (Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).
  
• Diplomacy & Influence: Proven track record in
  high-level donor liaising, government negotiation, coalition-building, and
  conflict resolution.
  
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional executive
  writing and public speaking skills in English. Working proficiency or fluency
  in Assamese is essential.
  
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