WWF - Chief Operating Officer – Asia Pacific

CHIEFOFFICEROPERATING–ASIAPACIFICAUGUST2022

You can find out more about WWF International on our website.

ABOUT WWF INTERNATIONAL

WWF is an environmental organization that is deeply committed to people-centered nature conservation with the ambition to apply the highest standard of safeguards to protect human rights in all of our work. Our 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. We understand that the future of nature can only be secured when conservation is inclusive and people both drives, and benefit from, the protection of natural ecosystems.

THE ROLE TITLE: Chief Operating Officer LOCATION: Asia Pacific – Preferably Malaysia, Vietnam, or the Philippines (for nationals of Philippines only) or Singapore (for nationals of Singapore only) and Hong Kong. SALARY: Competitive © Ronald Petocz / WWF

THE ROLE IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

WWF is continuously delivering impact for people and the planet and growing fast in the Asia Pacific region through innovative programs delivered by our nine offices in Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam as well as transboundary or multi-country projects. This work is led and overseen by the Asia Pacific Regional Office. We are growing our ambition to further scale up impact and influence as we implement our regional and country strategies, aligned with WWF’s global goals. The last two years were constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic but now is the time for us to rev up.

To support this ambition, we are building a new Operations Unit in the Regional Office so we can optimize opportunities, address challenges, and enable the achievement of our inclusive conservation objectives. The unit has key relationships with its counterparts in country offices and has to build collaborative networks, the WWF Secretariat, WWF National Offices and stakeholder groups. We are looking for people who are experienced, excited by and confident in facing challenges, solutions focused, and team oriented. We want people who know how to achieve operational effectiveness as it underpins strategy implementation. We want people who are well-versed at the strategic level of operational functions and, at the same time, do not hesitate to roll up their sleeves and be hands-on as needed. An understanding of the Asia Pacific region and what it requires to operate here is essential and qualified nationals from Asian Countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

To ensure operational excellence in effective and efficient leadership and management by the Asia Pacific Regional Office of the WWF Country Offices in the Asia Pacific region. To achieve effective management of processes and systems needed for WWF to deliver conservation impact and operate efficiently in the region.

MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

3.

2. Improve support to country offices and transboundary programs by building a ‘fit for purpose’ operations unit of the AP regional office. Set strategic goals and coordinate the flow of information to the Regional Director, the regional management team, Country Directors, the WWF International Secretariat as well as across the WWF Network to support decision-making.

1. Increase operational leadership capacity. Streamline managerial and administrative procedures, reporting and operations controls to support WWF Asia Pacific’s drive for results, growth and overall efficiency and effectiveness. Ensure consistent and coherent oversight on all aspects of operations through the Operations Unit led and managed by the COO.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTUREREGIONALDIRECTOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT HEADHEADCOOOFFINANCEOFPEOPLEANDCULTURE CONSERVATIONDIRECTOR PROGRAMDIRECTORQUALITY ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENTSTRATEGICANDDIRECTOR © Martin Harvey / WWF

The COO Asia Pacific leads the regional operations teams to ensure the effective and efficient operational health of all Asia Pacific Country Offices in fulfilment of their individual Strategic Objectives, WWF values/ Network Standards, and policies/procedures of WWF International. In collaboration with the Regional Director Asia Pacific and other Regional and Senior Leadership team members, the COO will facilitate strong collaboration, learning and communications in relation to operational excellence, across the Asia Pacific region and interact with the WWF Network to ensure strong, empowered and financially sustainable Asia Country Offices.

JOB SUMMARY

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

Internal - Works closely with Regional Director Asia Pacific, Country Office Leadership/Regional team members, Finance Director-Country offices, Country Office management teams, Executive Director Finance & Quality Assurance, & Executive Director Network Governance WWF International and other functions of the WWF International Secretariat and wider WWF network offices.

• Develop, supervise, and refine operational processes and controls, enhance policy and procedures, and maintain robust regulatory, legal and risk compliance framework by actively engaging with WWF International legal and risk & compliance units.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the implementation and adoption of the integrated performance system to ensure review and improvement of performance of all WWF International Asia Pacific offices to meet WWF International’s Finance, People & Culture, Internal audit/compliance, administration, and management systems network standards and KPIs.

• In collaboration with the Head, Finance Asia Pacific, provides financial oversight of country offices, by setting up and implementing risk management and internal control frameworks that allow for empowerment with appropriate levels of control and oversight at all levels.

@ Simon Rawles / WWF

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

• Accountable for the implementation of operational structures and appropriate capacity to ensure operational excellence across Country Office operations teams to support effective and efficient conservation delivery,

• Reinforce an effective and exemplary risk and control culture and further strengthen the control environment.

• Lead the development and preparation of Country Office strategic Plans and Budgets for the organization and assist Asia Pacific-RMT in the review and final presentation to both internal and external stakeholders.

• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate, and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

• Responsible to drive controls and efficiencies, execute strategy, provide thought leadership, and champions best operational best practices.

• Ensures implementation of Organizational Development initiatives from an operational perspective. Provides oversight and direction on OD processes, review of the systems and organizational processes with a view to making them empowering, efficient and effective;

• Provides support to Regional Director Asia in managing country offices and provides advice to Country Directors on all operational issues.

• Supports the Regional Head People & Culture Asia 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.

• Acts as a business partner to the rest of the management team to understand all necessary operational aspects and needs for delivering the business and strategic plan targets.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other duties assigned by the Regional Director, Asia Pacific.

• In consultation with the WWF International General Counsel, ensures that overall legal requirements of WWF are complied with and its presences and staff in Asia Pacific Region as well as contractual partnerships and agreements are including mandatory legal provisions and adherence to WWF standards and critical policies, are credible and up to date.

• Act as an escalation point for operational and strategic issues requiring global support; identify remedial solutions and oversee timely, efficient implementation as required.

• Drive and support transformational change initiatives to achieve sustainable, quality, and operational growth at scale.

• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic plans.

• Proven leadership, interpersonal and financial acumen with excellent capacity to manage human and financial resources.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector, preferably of non- government organizations, governance, and regulatory compliance is an additional asset.

• Demonstrates WWF behaviors in way of working: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly, Innovate Fearlessly.

• 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.

• Experience in working in Matrix and Network organizations and the ability to lead without formal authority.

• Good organizational and planning skills are essential.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and any other Asian language/s is an asset.

• Identifies with the values of the WWF organization, Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration

• At least 10 years of professional experience in a senior finance and operations leadership role, with demonstrated success in managing teams, office operations, and budgets at a regional level.

• Experience with developing and delivering shared services.

• Adheres to WWF’s brand values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

• A qualified accountant with advanced degree in finance and accounting or business administration.

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

TIMELINE

Final interviews: TBC SELECTION PROCESS

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

First stage interviews: Week of September 19th

EQUALITY STATEMENT Equality and diversity are at the core of WWF values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Hua-Lin-CV-082022-WWF or HuaLin-CoverLetter-082022 -WWF.

HOW TO APPLY

Closing Date: September 16th (applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis)

QUERIES If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at coo-wwfasia@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

Candidates who have made a prior application for this role through WWF do not need to reapply.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of a development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

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