Job Description
Position title:
Living Amazon Initiative: Head of Crosscutting Component Science,
Monitoring and Evaluation (CC6)
Reports to:
Leader, Living Amazon Initiative (based in Brasília)
Supervises:
Coordinates network of experts and focus persons in different WWF
Offices, Organisations and Programmes (including LAI); supervises
specific consultants and other assigned staff; may supervise own CC6
Programme Officer(s)
Location:
Any WWF Office related directly to the Amazon1
Date:
August 20th, 2012
I. Mission
WWF Mission
WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in
which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
 conserving the world’s biological diversity
 ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
 promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Living Amazon Initiative Vision
Building upon four decades of experience in the Amazon, the Living Amazon Initiative (LAI) is
WWF’s response to matching the scale and impact of the threats currently affecting the Amazon. LAI
Strategy is built on the conviction that the fate of humanity is inseparable from the fate of the Amazon,
and that humankind has within its reach the means to ensure a dignified life for all without destroying
the Amazon’s natural endowments upon which our collective well-being is based. Our proposed
vision, of:
An ecologically healthy Amazon Biome that maintains its environmental and cultural
contributions to local peoples, the countries of the region, and the world, within a framework
of social equity, inclusive economic development and global responsibility
Is the compass that has guided the design of the LAI and will steer its implementation for years to
come.
There are five Transformational Strategies (TSs) proposed in LAI Strategic Plan: (1) Shifting the
1
WWF-Peru (Lima or others), WWF-Colombia (Bogota, Quito, Cali or others), WWF-Brazil (Brasília, Rio Branco,
Manaus or others) WWF-Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz or others), or WWF-Guianas (Paramaribo, Cayenne or others).
Paradigm of the Development in the Amazon (SP); (2) Promoting Ecosystem Services and Products
(PESP; formerly called Bolstering the Value of Natural Ecosystems); (3) Sound Land Planning and
Conservation (SLPC); (4) Sustainable Agro-commodities (SAc); and (5) Well Beyond Infrastructure
(formerly called Forest-friendly Roads and Free-Flowing Rivers). Also, LAI Strategy has Crosscutting
Components (CCs), such as Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (SME; CC6), Communications and
Campaigns (CC7) and Programmatic Operations (CC8), besides other elements, substrategies and
components.
II. Major Functions
The Head of LAI Science, Monitoring and Evaluation works to incorporate the best available science
as the technical foundation for the development and implementation of LAI Strategy, from the
identification of conservation priorities, to the selection of effective conservation and sustainable
development interventions, besides monitoring frameworks and performance reports. The Head of LAI
SME coordinates the efforts of a broad array of scientists and programme officers to monitor and
evaluate the WWF LAI Strategy deployment, including through WWF local presences.
Under the leadership of the LAI Leader, the Head of the Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (CC6),
will:
 Lead and direct the effort to advance (design, plan, implement, monitor, evaluate…) the science
and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) elements of LAI Strategy – both collaborating and
contributing to other components, transformational strategies and activities led by other members
of LAI Core Team, and leading components, objectives, activities directly (for instance, the in
TS1).
 Lead, direct and coordinate the collaborative effort of the Programme Offices, National
Organisations and other WWF Network Units and Programmes for the advancement of science
and M&E in WWF works related to the Amazon – leading (creating, strengthening, managing…)
Living Amazon (“extended”) teams related to science and M&E.
 Orchestrate the human, technical and financial resources from within and outside the (WWF)
Network to implement the related component, objectives, activities and support.
 Co-ordinate with other Heads of LAI Transformational Strategies and Crosscutting Components,
for the success of LAI and these components, support them with scientific information, tools and
assessments, and coordinate them to the monitoring of LAI Strategy.
 Enlarge perspectives of WWF and LAI feeding in from a broad array of science fronts (ecologic,
social and economic related), develop models of conservation and sustainable development
monitoring to mobilise societies for the Amazon and promote the needed societies changes
towards its sustainability.
 Produce timely reports of the status of the Amazon conservation and related footprints, of the
impact of LAI Strategy and about any relevant emerging knowledge related to the Amazon
conservation.
 By providing timely and adequate information, assures that LAI and WWF communications and
campaigns related to the Amazon are accurate and promotes information within LAI TSs/CCs
and other Units and Programmes of WWF Network to enhance understanding about the Amazon
and success of their actions.
 Liaises with the corresponding science and monitoring units of WWF Units (Programme Offices,
National Organisations, Global Initiatives and Programmes…) and other stakeholders acting
related to the Amazon and lead the outreach effort to other institutions in the region and beyond
in order to build a shared agenda that advances the objectives of LAI, particularly related to
science and conservation and sustainable development monitoring.
 Search, develop and coordinate partnerships to complement WWF capacities and enhance
potential to achieve the objectives of LAI Strategic Plan.
 Always work and co-ordinate actions to address the LAI Threat Mitigation Objectives and
advance the overall LAI Conservation Goals and the ultimate mission of LAI.
III. Major Duties and Responsibilities
 Develop yearly work plans for the science and monitoring (sub)-components of the LAI Strategy
together with relevant NOs, POs, Global Initiatives (GIs) and other Programmes.
 Develop ideas, concepts and project proposals and proceed with the necessary contacts to
fundraise for science, M&E and LAI in general – integrated whenever possible with relevant
NOs, POs and other (WWF) Network programmes, initiatives and actions.
 Lead and coordinate the required steps to complete the Amazon conservation priority
assessments and analysis as required for the LAI Core Team staff.
 Manages the virtual WWF LAI Science Team ensuring the delivery of results within the
expected time frame.
 Elaborate reports on the conservation status and threats of the Amazon (biome and basin).
 Provide timely information to the LAI Head of Communications and Officers and other Heads
LAI in relation to scientific facts and new technical developments relevant to Amazon
conservation and sustainable development.
 Prepare an annual monitoring report of the advance of the LAI Strategy, in coordination with the
Leader and Core Team, and all WWF Units related to the overall, integrated LAI Strategy.
 Remain abreast of outreach efforts relevant to LAI, particularly related to science and M&E, that
are (co)-spearheaded by NOs and POs to national and local institutions located in the region.
 Act as a point person for any scientific product, information or consultation to be developed by
the Living Amazon (Core and Expanded) Teams or any consultant work under the GI Annual
Plan.
 Develop and maintain a database of geospatial information of the indicators: conservation
targets, critical threats and context drivers in alignment with the monitoring and evaluation needs
of the NI.
 Manage and report on project funds flowing through the budgets associated directly or indirectly
to LAI science, monitoring and evaluation related actions.
 Works with the LAI communicator to develop public dissemination products and to ensure the
scientific consistency of the information and the mobilisation of social actors to support the
Initiative’s objectives.
 Identify actions that can be advanced jointly with the other TSs/CCs and components for
maximum leverage and impact.
 With the LAI Leader, assess the overlap (thematic and geographic) between current WWF
investments and the proposed science and M&E related actions, and, based on the results, decide
what investments should be built on versus phased out.
 Always coordinate the implementation with the other Heads of Transformational Strategies (TS)
and Crosscutting Components (CCs) and the LAI Leader, in order to find the best synergies
amongst TSs/CCs.
 Always work in collaboration with relevant WWF Network Units (for instance, Programme
Offices (POs), National Organizations (NOs), Global Initiatives and Programmes), particularly in
the implementation of overall, integrated LAI Strategy.
 Always represents LAI, including at scientific meetings and on behalf of the LAI Leader or at
request of others.
IV. Profile
Required Qualifications
 Broad geographical and thematic visions, capacity to understand problems, threats and drivers, as
well as strategic and transformational solutions and to promote them and put them in motion.
 At least 10 years professional experience in application, use of science for conservation and
sustainable development –including some familiarity with ecological, economic and social
related principles and analyses–, with demonstrated success in managing multi-disciplinary
teams, networking from the distance, technical capacity building and team leadership.
 At least 5 years professional experience in a leadership role, with demonstrated success in
management of projects and programmes, including managing multi-disciplinary teams and
multiple donor budgets.
 Advanced degree in conservation, natural, social or other sciences areas, management,
international development or relevant fields; familiarity with GIS and remote sensing-associated
tools; knowledge of relational databases, strong analytical capabilities necessary.
 Technical proficiency in the field of conservation, natural-resource management or international
development.
Required Skills
 Excellent communications and interpersonal relationship, verbal and writing skills.
 Excellent command of English (1st) –indispensable–, as well as Spanish (2nd) or Portuguese (3rd)
– preferably both.
 Excellent knowledge of the Amazon region and of issues and contexts related to the Living
Amazon Initiative.
 Excellent ability to interface between WWF staff, decision makers, and donors.
 Proven success and capacity in networking and success in leading multi-country and global
teams.
 Proven experience of working with different cultures and institutions.
 Ability to work effectively in and through matrix organizations.
 Experience in raising and mobilising funding.
 Strong skills at developing partnerships learned in either NGO, governmental, or business
environments.
Behavioural competencies
 Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Passionate & Optimistic, Challenging & Inspiring,
Credible & Accountable, and Persevering & Delivering Results.
 Demonstrates potential in the following critical competencies:
 Establishing strategic direction
 Establishing and committing to a long-range course of action to accomplish a
long-range goal or vision after analysing factual information and assumptions;
taking into consideration resources, constraints and organisational values
 Change Leadership
 Continuously seeking (or encouraging others to seek) opportunities for different
and innovative approaches to addressing organisational problems and
opportunities
 Selling the Vision
 Passionately selling an organisational strategy; creating a clear view of the
future state by helping others understand and feel how things will be different
when the future vision is achieved
 Drive for Results
 Setting high goals for personal and group accomplishment; using measurement
methods to monitor progress towards goal attainment; tenaciously working to
meet or exceed those goals while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal
achievement and continuous improvement
 Managing Global Teams


Facilitating team-building process in a socially and culturally diverse
environment by promoting openness, flexibility, respect in order to effectively
enable each team member to be performant
Decision-making
 Identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing
data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for
choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action
that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
V. Working Relationships
Internal - Works closely with the LAI Leader and other LAI Core Team staff, staff relevant for the
TS located in the National Organisations, Programme Offices and associates found in the Amazon
and elsewhere; relates to staff from other NOs within the Network committed to the LAI, WWF
Living Amazon Initiative’s Shareholders Group, and relevant staff of WWF-International and the
LAC Secretariat, as well as staff from other relevant Global Initiatives (GIs), Thematic
Programmes and others.
External - Works closely with implementing and donor partners (bilateral and multilateral),
governmental and non-governmental representatives, as well as representatives of the private
sector, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, academia, etc.
VI. Information to consult
 The Living Amazon Strategy
(http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/vision_amazon/living_amazon_in
itiative222/), particularly the book “WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative; a comprehensive
approach to conserving the largest rainforest and river system on Earth”, and strategy updates
to FY13-16.
 WWF Global Initiatives (http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/key_initiatives/).
 WWF (http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/).