Senior Vice President, Conservation & Chief Conservation Officer

World Wildlife Fund Canada

$190K — $210K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 15 years' experience in conservation, including 8+ in leadership roles
  • Deep understanding of conservation aspects like ecosystem restoration and threat reduction
  • Experience with Indigenous leaders on issues such as protected areas and habitat stewardship
  • Demonstrable accountability for multi-year strategic vision execution
  • Proficient in budget management and oversight
  • Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills
  • Practical leadership experience managing teams towards clear outcomes
  • Bilingualism in English plus another relevant language is an asset

Responsibilities

  • Lead high-impact conservation strategy development and implementation
  • Ensure accountability for measurable program outcomes and quality reporting
  • Advise the CEO on conservation opportunities and government engagement
  • Stay informed about innovative conservation approaches
  • Exemplify WWF-Canada values and mentor a diverse team
  • Collaborate with various divisions for cohesive organizational support
  • Maintain relationships with WWF International peers and stay updated on emerging initiatives

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with flexibility in office location
  • Opportunity to work with Indigenous communities and impactful conservation projects
  • Engagement in a recognized global conservation network
  • Supportive and collaborative team environment
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Participation in national and occasional global travel for conservation meetings
Full Job Description
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Position: Senior Vice President, Conservation & Chief Conservation Officer

Location: Hybrid - Work from WWF-Canada office in Toronto, Ottawa, or Montréal

Department: Conservation

Reporting to: President & CEO

Direct Reports: Vice President, Science, Research & Innovation

Vice President, Restoration & Regeneration

Vice President, Resilient Habitats

Vice President, Wildlife & Industry

Strategic Advisor, Climate and Global Affairs

Position Type: Full-time, Permanent

Starting Salary: $190,000 - $210,000 annually (commensurate upon related experience and skills)

Position Description

The Senior Vice President, Conservation and Chief Conservation Officer is a visionary, experienced, and strategic leader responsible for delivery of WWF-Canada's ambitious conservation goals and cutting-edge analysis on emerging conservation threats and opportunities towards greater abundance and stability for native wildlife populations.

All WWF-Canada's conservation work is done in partnership, with a particular focus on supporting Indigenous-led conservation priorities. As a member of the Senior Management Team, this role ensures effective planning, implementation, and collaboration across the WWF-Canada organization, with a wide array of external partners, and with the WWF International Network.

WWF-Canada is currently in the third and final phase of its 10-year Strategic Plan, Regenerate Canada.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of WWF-Canada's high-impact conservation strategy towards greater biodiversity and ecological resilience and reduction in climatic disruptions.
  • Oversee a strong culture of accountability for measurable outcomes including excellence in program and project design, partnership, execution, and reporting.
  • Provide timely guidance to the CEO on emerging opportunities for accelerating conservation and on complementary government engagement.
  • Remain open to and informed about new approaches to conservation to ensure WWF-Canada continues to draw on current and emerging understanding of good practice.
  • As the leader of a large team with varying perspectives and skills, exemplify WWF-Canada's values of courage, integrity, respect, and collaboration.
  • Foster and mentor a high-performing, resourceful, committed, and agile team.
  • Collaborate with and support senior leadership in other WWF-Canada divisions including Strategic Communications, Development, Finance & Planning, and People, Culture, and Technology.
  • Maintain on-going working relationships with peers throughout the WWF International Network in addition to remaining up-to-date on emerging WWF Network initiatives relative to WWF-Canada's work.


What We Are Looking For

  • Minimum 15 years' experience in conservation, including 8+ years in leadership roles.
  • Deep understanding of one or more facets of conservation such as stewardship and protection, wildlife habitats, complex ecosystem restoration, threat reduction, conservation innovation, application of traditional knowledge, or similar.
  • Experience working directly with Indigenous leaders and communities on priority issues such as Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, culturally important habitat, stewardship of lands and waters, and emerging issues like increasing frequency and scale of wildfires or accelerating loss of sea ice.
  • Demonstrated accountability for leading a multi-year strategic vision and execution of that vision.
  • Demonstrated accountability and management of budgets.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across areas of responsibility in an organization or community.
  • Exceptional problem-solving and communication skills.
  • Practical experience leading and managing teams towards clear outcomes.
  • Prior experience of operating effectively within a global network model is a strong asset.
  • English plus another language in an area where WWF-Canada is working (e.g., French, Swampy Cree, Inuktitut, a Central Coast Salish language) is an asset.
  • Identify & align with WWF's core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration


Other Information

  • Travel nationally to regions where WWF-Canada works and, occasionally once or twice a year to global meetings, is required.
  • This job is being posted to fill an existing vacancy.


How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this exciting opportunity, please click , and ensure that your application is received on or before September 1, 2026.

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and we may close this posting before the advertised date if we identify a suitable candidate pool. We encourage you to apply early and thank you for your interest in working for WWF-Canada.

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