Senior Director, Critical Minerals and Community Positive Energy Transition – 26066

## Overview

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, has established a new position on its Climate team for a **Sr. Director of its Community Positive Energy Transition (CPET) initiative**. This program will develop and lead a cross‑sector effort to ensure that the clean energy transition advances in a way that protects biodiversity, ecosystems, and local communities.

If poorly managed, rapidly expanding demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earths can cause environmental harm and negative social impacts during the extraction, processing, and use of critical minerals, including biodiversity loss, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. CPET will integrate science, policy, industry engagement, and global collaboration to avoid and/or reduce these pressures on ecosystems.

CPET’s promotion of circular economy approaches—such as recycled material sourcing, mineral substitution, improved material efficiency, and new technology pathways—will also work to reduce primary mineral demand and extraction.

The **Senior Director, Community Positive Energy Transition**, develops and executes a global strategy to mitigate social, environmental, and biodiversity impacts across the full critical minerals value chain. The Senior Director will ensure CPET is aligned with WWF’s conservation mission, focusing on ecosystems in WWF’s priority places in Africa, Asia, Latin America, as well as the Northern Great Plains and the Arctic regions of the United States.

**Salary Range:** $144,000 – $206,900
**Location:** Washington, D.C. (Hybrid work structure with minimum of 2 days a week in office)

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

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## Responsibilities

### Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement

Build partnerships with governments, mining companies, renewable energy developers, battery storage users, NGOs, Indigenous communities, and finance institutions to promote just and environmentally sound value chains for energy transition minerals.

Convene multi‑stakeholder working groups to advance sustainable approaches to mineral resource management. Represent WWF in international consortia and industry associations addressing supply chain integrity, transparency, and sustainable development.

Engage WWF country offices to co‑create and execute a critical minerals strategy. Represent WWF‑US in the WWF Network mining and metals community of practice.

### Research, Analysis & Standards Development

Lead, commission, or participate in assessments of ecological risks associated with mining and processing of critical minerals, including impacts on ecosystems and landscape integrity.

Establish credible science‑based targets, environmental safeguards, and nature‑positive approaches for mineral supply chains supporting clean energy deployment. Establish or influence metrics and reporting frameworks to track nature impacts, compliance with safeguards, and performance across partner sites and supply chains.

Develop white papers, policy briefs, sustainability standards, and evidence‑based guidelines for governments, companies, and finance institutions on responsible mineral sourcing, principles of circularity, and reduced material demand.

### Innovation, Circularity & Impact Reduction

Champion solutions such as recycled material sourcing, mineral substitution, improved material efficiency, and new technology pathways to reduce pressure on ecosystems.

Promote circular economy approaches that reduce primary mineral extraction and align with global calls to rethink mobility, energy, and industrial systems to reduce demand.

### Resource Mobilization, Program Management & Communications

Work with WWF development and public/private sector engagement teams to identify funding opportunities to secure programmatic and operational support for CPET.

Manage the annual budget for CPET, program activities, and staffing. Ensure timely reporting to program donors.

Work with WWF communicators to elevate visibility of CPET and its impact.

Serve as a member of WWF’s climate management team.

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## Key Competencies

**Collaboration & Communication** — Ability to deliver successful results in highly matrixed environments requiring deft management of people and communication of ideas. Policy work and coalition management demand the ability to work with a wide range of parties with varying motivations. This position will interface with Climate teams, other Goal and Influence teams, and the WWF Network.

**Initiative & Partnership Engagement** — Requires staying current with the range of sentiments and positions within the broader climate community. The role demands adaptability as legislative cycles and current events create new opportunities. The ability to develop ideas, take initiative, and leverage professional networks is essential. Ability to foster collaborative relationships with governments, industry, communities, and NGOs is paramount.

**Strategic Thinking** — The candidate must be a strategic thinker who can align this program with the overall WWF‑US strategy and priorities. The Sr. Director will develop a theory of change that can be tested through programmatic work and demonstrate that the program is solutions‑focused and high‑impact.

**Program Management** — Demonstrated ability to develop, build, and manage successful programs, particularly those aimed at securing policy change and industry practice. This position will be responsible for securing funds and should have experience in proposal writing. The ideal candidate can develop creative ideas, understand pathways to execution, and build sustainable programs that deliver meaningful results.

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## Qualifications

– Advanced degree in environmental science, natural resource management, sustainability, international development, or related field is required.
– 12+ years of experience in sustainable mining practices and policies, including extensive experience in programmatic design, management, and coalition building.
– Demonstrated commitment to conservation and climate change.
– Proven self‑starter who can take initiative and deliver results.
– Ability to work against deadlines and under frequently changing circumstances.
– Proven experience in fundraising and donor engagement.
– Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
– Extensive experience working across diverse cultures and geographies.
– Experience creating and managing programs within a highly matrixed organization preferred.
– Ability to travel internationally and domestically up to 25% of the time.

**Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration**

– Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when difficult or unpopular.
– Builds trust by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
– Welcomes other points of view with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
– Promotes cooperative practices and ways of working across groups and individuals.

### Preferred Qualifications

– Experience with relevant international policy processes and diverse stakeholders.
– Experience designing and implementing environmental safeguards or certification standards in mining or industry.
– Expertise working with Indigenous communities, civil society, and local governments in mineral‑producing regions.

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## To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume through the Careers Page, Requisition #26066.
Due to high application volume, inquiries via phone cannot be answered.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Apply for this job online