Senior Specialist, Sustainable Debt

Major Function

Situated within WWFs Nature Finance and Investment (NFI) team the Senior Specialist Sustainable Debt supports the design development and implementation of WWFs sustainable debt work to mobilize financing from debt markets for nature and conservation priorities. Reporting to the Senior Director the Senior Specialist provides technical analytical coordination and relationship management support across sovereign and corporate sustainable debt opportunities including debt conversions sustainability-linked loans sustainability-linked bonds and related instruments. The role helps advance transaction pipelines supports due diligence and stakeholder engagement contributes to the development of science-based conservation and financing frameworks and coordinates across WWF teams Country Offices financial institutions donors and external partners to ensure high-quality execution aligned with WWF priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Support and Implementation : Supports the development and implementation of WWFs sustainable debt portfolio to mobilize capital for conservation outcomes. Contributes to transaction origination structuring due diligence preparation and implementation of WWF-supported sustainable debt initiatives including debt conversions sustainability-linked bonds sustainability-linked loans and related instruments in close collaboration with NFI colleagues WWF US teams external partners and Country Offices across the global network.
• Corporate Debt and KPI Support : Supports WWFs ability to provide credible science-based key performance indicators (KPIs) and conservation guidance for corporate debt instruments that advance high-priority sustainability outcomes. Conducts research prepares analyses supports engagement with private sector firms in relevant sectors and helps coordinate inputs from WWF technical teams and external advisors.
• Transaction Execution Support : Supports the parallel execution of multiple sustainable debt opportunities by coordinating workplans tracking milestones preparing materials and synthesizing technical and financial information.
• Project Coordination : Maintains project management tools pipeline trackers budgets meeting notes and internal reporting products for the Sustainable Debt pillar. Coordinates across internal teams and external partners to support timely delivery of agreed activities deliverables and follow-up actions.
• External Engagement : Supports WWFs engagement with governments corporates financial institutions multilateral and bilateral partners donors legal advisors technical experts and civil society organizations. Prepares briefing materials talking points presentations and follow-up documents for meetings and external engagements led by senior team members.
• Resource Mobilization Support : Supports donor and investor engagement by preparing concept notes proposals pitch materials background research and reporting inputs related to sustainable debt transaction development and implementation.
• Other Duties : Performs other duties as assigned consistent with the roles and responsibilities of the position.

Qualifications :

Key Competencies

• Financial and Analytical Acumen: Understands the basic features of debt instruments and applies strong analytical skills to support transaction development financial analysis due diligence and partner engagement.
• Professional Presence and Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders and prepares high-quality written materials presentations and briefings for senior audiences.
• Partnership Engagement and Support: Supports coordination with governments financial institutions MDBs DFIs private sector actors technical experts donors and civil society organizations.
• Resource Mobilization Support: Contributes to fundraising and investor-engagement materials donor reporting and business development products that support sustainable debt initiatives.
• Global Collaboration: Works effectively across cultures geographies and a highly matrixed global organization including coordination with WWF teams Country Offices and international partners.

Skills and Abilities

• A bachelors degree with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in management consulting finance conservation finance international development debt capital markets development finance sustainable finance project finance or related field is required; or an advance degree with 3 years of experience is preferred.
• Experience in fields such as finance economics international relations public policy environmental economics conservation or related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in sustainability with at least a basic understanding of global environmental commitments/agreements as well as of corporate sustainability challenges.
• Working knowledge of debt instruments and markets; basic understanding of sustainable debt instruments such as debt-for-nature swaps sustainability-linked bonds sustainability-linked loans blended finance structures or related mechanisms is required.
• Demonstrated ability to support complex projects involving multiple institutions and partners including public sector private sector financial institution multilateral bilateral donor and civil society stakeholders is preferred.
• Strong research writing financial analysis project coordination and presentation skills with the ability to synthesize complex technical financial and conservation information for different audiences is required.
• Ability to work independently manage competing priorities exercise sound judgment and follow through on tasks in a complex fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.
• Experience working in international or cross-cultural settings including experience with or interest in working with teams and partners in the Global South.
• Experience supporting fundraising donor engagement or resource mobilization is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ability to develop clear workplans trackers presentations briefing notes and other project management products.
• Fluency in English is required as well as strong written verbal and presentation skills; Spanish and/or additional languages are highly desirable but not required.
• Ability to travel domestically; mostly internationally no more the 25%
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWFs core values:
  • COURAGE We demonstrate courage through our actions we work for change where its needed and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity accountability and transparency and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Additional Information :

This is a 2-year Limited Term position.

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa 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.

Relocation is not provided for this position.

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.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time