Partnerships Officer

Job Advert Summary

(This is a permanent position based in Newlands or Braamfontein)

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is for nature, for you.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Background:

The Partnerships funding is an integral part of WWF South Africa’s fundraising mix, building relationships with key international aid agencies, embassies and Trusts and Foundations (Local and International) to enable the achievement of WWF South Africa’s strategic outcomes.

The Partnerships Officer will support the Strategic Partnership Specialist and the Public Sector Partnerships Manager to mobilise resources from the international development sector to contribute to WWF-SA’s Strategy, and to strengthen partnerships with the international development sector relevant to South Africa.

Minimum Requirements

• Appropriate Honours Degree or higher, preferably in biological, conservation or environmental sciences, international relations, or a similar field.
• Proven track record of at least 5 – 8 years’ experience in proposal writing and fundraising applications. Specific preference will be given to candidates with experience in engaging with trusts and foundations, public sector, finance institutions, or fundraising.
• Excellent writing skills and technical capacity to translate conservation and sustainability approaches and complex funding needs into appealing donor proposals.
• Ability to lead proposal development process with strict adherence to deadlines.
• Strong understanding of trusts and foundations funding mechanisms and donor requirements.
• Experience in managing administrative and financial data, and reporting requirements for donors
• Proficient in contract coordination and compliance processes.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is a prerequisite and fluency in another African language would be an advantage.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate cross-functional inputs.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to conduct prospect research, funder and market landscape analysis and funder mapping.
• Excellent planning and organising skills, and outstanding attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills both internally (staff) and externally (partners)
• Proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to learn and interest in further development
• You recognise yourself in the values of WWF: Courage, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration and Inclusion

To apply, please submit a detailed CV and cover letter combined into a single document, fully motivating the relevant skills, experience, and creativity you can bring to the role. Kindly include the names, current email addresses, and telephone numbers of three relevant references.

Duties and Responsibilities

Resource Mobilization:

• Lead and co-create the development of funding proposals for trusts and foundation and the public sector as required, build and manage proposal development timelines and strategies, ensuring that the proposal development team meets strict deadlines. Revise timelines as necessary in line with priorities.
• Building partnerships and exploring further opportunities with existing WWF partners, in collaboration with the Strategic Partnerships Specialist, PSP Manager, and environmental technical teams
• Maintain the database of funders (existing and potential) for trusts and foundations.
• Monitor funding opportunities and calls, building up a project proposal pipeline database.
• Liaise with Environmental teams and Strategy Delivery Lead to develop projects and proposals in response to funding calls whilst collaborating with legal and finance as required for trusts and foundations and where required for public sector partners.
• Assist the team with intelligence gathering research, data collection, and competitive analyses related to funding opportunities for trusts and foundations
• Raise funding for WWF-SA’s highest priority conservation work in collaboration with environmental team giving particular focus to Priority Projects and Systemic Interventions.
• Liaise and collaborate with WWF network offices globally.

Partnership Development:

• Align, influence and strengthen WWF-SA’s agenda with key trusts and foundation and public sector partners.
• Support the Strategic Partnership Specialist to establish and nurture relationships with funders and prospective funders.
• Manage processes and requirements for specific donors/funders, and oversee teams/consultants developing/writing the proposal.
• Keep track of delivery of trusts and foundations and public sector projects with environmental teams, including supporting on reporting, reviewing progress, and ensuring timely delivery as per contracts.
• Provide a coordination role and manage relationship between the partner funder and the Environmental teams implementing the project.
• Ensuring and developing, where necessary, effective and efficient admin and financial systems for financial and technical reporting, and liaising with the Finance and Business Teams to do this.
• Connecting proposals in development, and reporting on project delivery, to MEL framework and systems, and liaising with the MEL team to do this.
• Manage and ensure the quality of applications and contract delivery working with the environmental teams and Finance and Business Support teams.
• Manage external processes and requirements for specific donors/funders and oversee teams/consultants developing/writing the proposal.
• Play a supporting role in meeting internal process requirements.
• Facilitate an improved understanding of the trusts and foundations and public sector environments within WWF-SA in order to grow opportunities and partnerships in this area.