World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, seeks a Senior Program Officer for Cause Marketing at our Washington, DC office. This position is responsible for the planning, development, support and management of corporate partnerships to maximize the impact for WWF in alignment with the organization’s conservation goals. The Senior Program Officer is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with companies which could provide resources (funding or in-kind), brand awareness, and/or reduction of environmental threats through improved business practices. Supports and implements strategies to meet goals of the Private Sector Engagement (PSE) team in coordination with the Director, PSE, and other relevant Program and Influence Team Staff.
- Relationship Management Support & Stewardship. Supports and stewards on-going cause marketing and philanthropic partnerships with corporate partners. Continually works to strengthen the relationship through excellent service and communications of relevant materials.
- Ensures that WWF is delivering its outlined responsibilities in the agreed upon partnership such as sustainable business work plan deliverables, grant reporting and deliverables, and/or marketing support. Supports oversight of reporting process and assures compliance with partnership requirements and deadlines.
- Initiates and coordinates meetings with corporate partners. Prepares briefing materials and research summaries in concert with Senior PSE Staff and/or Program Staff.
- Manages assistance from appropriate PSE team members, acknowledgement of contributions from corporate donors, including grant contracts and related correspondence from WWF’s Program and Executive leadership.
- Communicates regularly with Director, PSE, and other Private Sector Engagement team members as well as Development/ Communications / Marketing staff. Interaction with Finance and Accounting and Legal Departments as needed.
- Account Management and Support. Performs functions relating to above mentioned corporate accounts, including tracking the status of all agreements, renewal dates, payment dates, and coordinates activities and communications with all relevant program teams.
- Works with Legal to create partnership agreements from terms to draft form through final version.
- Works with media / communications / marketing team as needed to approve internal, network, and external communications about partnership.
- Provides monthly updates and as needed partnership overviews to PSE management.
- Prospecting/New Business Development. Proactively seeks out corporate partners, researching and making initial contact, utilizing content experts to determine WWF primary interest in partnership with a company, and structuring partnership with companies to generate new corporate relationships in philanthropy, cause marketing or improved business practices.
- Initiates and maintains relationships with corporate partners and prospects.
- Utilizes content experts to identify key areas of opportunity and the desired outcomes of the partnership for WWF.
- Develops and supports strategic approach with companies and prioritizes workload based on alignment with strategy.
- Maintains strong relationships with Program/Goal Staff at all levels of the WWF organization.
- Participates in conferences and other venues to engage representatives from target companies. May need to assume a speaking role at external events.
- Requires 6 to 8 years of experience in developing and managing corporate relationships or philanthropy.
- Agency experience or experience with conservation and corporate philanthropic engagement is a plus as are existing corporate relationships.
- Knowledge of standard partnership practices and techniques, proposal writing, and prospect research.
- Strong commitment to the mission, goals, and values of WWF
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills for internal and external relationships
- Strong organizational, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and pay attention to detail
- Critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills
- Consensus-building and facilitating diverse teams
- Experience working with different teams across an organization
- Flexibility
- Comfortable interacting with corporate personnel at all levels.