Associate Head – Strategic Partnerships and Business Development

Emirates Nature is a UAE environmental non-governmental organization, established under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s representative in the Western Region and Chairman of Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).

We work in association with WWF (hereafter EN-WWF), one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. EN-WWF has been active in the UAE since 2001 and has successfully initiated and implemented several conservation and education projects and initiatives in the region.

EN-WWF works federally and in the region with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah and is governed by a local board of directors. It is our organizational objective to ensure a high performing workforce within our offices with highly efficient, skilled members all of whom will be unilaterally focused on supporting and delivering conservation activities within the UAE and our stakeholders.

As Associate Head you will be developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy, securing diverse funding sources, and leading the funding proposal process for Emirates Nature-WWF. Key tasks include coordinating with internal teams for high-quality project proposals, managing capacity building initiatives, and supporting Finance & Operations in forecasting and tracking funding gaps and commitments.

The post holder will be recruiting and coaching team members, initiating fundraising campaigns, and leading donor acquisition for specific projects. It requires adherence to WWF Corporate Guidelines, preparing corporate partnership reports, and acting as a liaison for cross-territorial partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.

Responsibilities also include crisis management related to corporate engagements, maintaining regulatory contacts, implementing defined strategies, creating corporate engagement strategies, and developing KPIs. Collaborating with corporate partners on sustainability, conducting due diligence on potential partners, and responding to partnership inquiries are essential functions of this role.

Fundraising Strategy and Proposal Development:

• Develop the short-term and long-term fundraising strategy.
• Research and secure new funding streams in-country from private for profit and non-profit entities, mass engagement, and multilateral/bilateral funding sources.
• Lead all funding proposal development and contracting processes for Emirates Nature-WWF.
• Coordinate funding proposal development activities, including coordination of the Programme/Policy, Finance and Conservation teams' inputs and provide quality assurance of project proposals and budgets.
• Ensure the efficiency of the acquisition and implementation of (un)restricted programme funding, leverage best practice and work on process improvement in this area.
• Identify any capacity or resource gaps related to fundraising and work in collaboration with colleagues to strengthen internal capacity to develop and implement learning and capacity building for fundraising.
• Respond effectively to information requests from donors or member country fundraising teams, maintaining a clear record of reasons for proceeding with or rejecting opportunities.
   

Financial Management and Operations:

• Support the Finance & Operations to complete funding forecasts, accurately identify funding gaps, manage matching funding obligations, and track expenditure against grant commitments.

Team Leadership and Supervision:

• Recruit, supervise, and coach Strategic Partnerships and Business Development team members.
• Work independently along the team of Strategic Partnerships for day-to-day activities.

Donor Engagement and Acquisition:

• Initiate and coordinate fundraising campaigns and events to maximise new engagement and funding opportunities.
• Lead the acquisition of donors for Microdonations Project Funding for EN-WWF.
• Support the Unit to attain donors for Leaders of Change Program.

Corporate Partnerships and Compliance:

• Adhere to WWF Corporate Guidelines and ensure adherence within the team and externally.
• Lead the submission of WWF Corporate Partnership reporting and support Strategic Partnerships Coordinator and Representative in their workplan implementation.
• Develop support tools and best-practice protocols for private sector partnerships.
• Act as the liaison for WWF Asia-Pacific offices and lead negotiations of cross-territorial partnerships on behalf of WWF International.
• Manage crises related to corporate engagement and represent WWF externally at events and meetings.
• Act as point of contact to regulators such as MOCD, IACAD, ERC, and DCD.

Strategy and Implementation:

• Lead the implementation of strategies as defined by the Markets and Finance Practices.
• Create Corporate Engagement strategy and annual action plans.
• Develop corporate engagement journey pipelines and KPIs.
• Work with corporate partners to incorporate environmental sustainability into their business models.
• Co-develop the marketing strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy.
• Collaborate with teams to identify funding gaps in conservation projects for fundraising.
• Lead due diligence on potential corporate partners and develop funding proposals and MoUs.
• Respond to unsolicited partnership inquiries and maintain corporate reporting requirements.
• Promote WWF’s mission within the UAE business landscape through networking events.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in the area of non-profit fundraising, business development or related areas.
• Experience in developing partnerships, resource mobilization, business development, handling investments or similar areas, ideally in the INGO sector.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and digital applications/tools.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and awareness with ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.
• Proven knowledge and or experience in the non for-profit sector, preferably of environmental non-government organizations.

Emirates Nature-WWF Focus: Acts as a member of Emirates Nature-WWF, placing higher priority on Emirates Nature-WWF goals than own goals and anticipating the effects of own area’s actions on others to ensure holistic Emirates Nature-WWF outcomes.

External Orientation: Looks outwards ensuring WWF stays relevant, continues to anticipate and adapt to external environmental and global trends.

Delivering Quality Outcomes: Establishes stretch goals, plans, using best judgment and takes responsibility for planning to and delivering on outcomes.

Building Working Relationships: Builds collaborative relationships through the understanding and development of other’s and own ideas.

Communicating Effectively: Uses appropriate means of communication to convey messages, seeks input from others and ensures understanding.

Leading Change: Encourages and seeks out innovative solutions and brings people on a journey constructively and empathetically.

Managing Resources: Makes the right judgments based on financial and resource availability.

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to develop and execute membership engagement strategies.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong communication skills
• Good knowledge of MS Office
• Able to take initiative and prioritize among competing demands

Internal - Works with all Units

External - Works with external Stakeholders such as, but not limited to, Government entities, international and local Corporates, Individual Donors

Emirates Nature-WWF is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and offer a flexible and diverse place of employment.

Emirates Nature-WWF staff participate wholeheartedly in general activities and events that require the full support and participation of all staff members, whether the focus of any particular event or activity has any bearing on the job description and assigned project objectives and activities.

Please send your application consisting of a cover letter explaining why you are the right candidate to work with EN-WWF and your CV with the subject ‘ Application for Associate Head – Strategic Partnerships and Business Development ’ to the attention of Ms Magdalena Tayoun on [email protected] before 19th July 2024.

Emirates Nature reserves the right to appoint a candidate prior this date.