About WWF-Canada

WWF-Canada is a national conservation organization with an instantly recognizable brand and hundreds of thousands of supporters as well as Indigenous, academic, community and corporate partners from all regions of the country. As part of a global network, we have a half century history of fighting to strengthen and protect Canadian nature. Our vision is: A Canada with abundant wildlife, where nature and people thrive.

With our ambitious new 10-year strategic plan WWF-Canada commits fearlessly and determinedly to protect and conserve Canada’s nature and wildlife and the people that draw meaning and life from it. The global nature crisis, playing out at an unprecedented rate and intensified by the climate crisis, demand it. Our strategic approach includes:

• Setting ten-year goals to allow for systematic, multi-year partnerships and actions to increase understanding and impact.
• Learning from and partnering with Indigenous communities including supporting Indigenous-led conservation.
• Basing our actions on evidence-based information and analysis, including our on-going leadership within the conservation sector in providing foundational scientific analysis.
• Taking actions that maximize return on investment, consistent with conservation goals, such as addressing biodiversity loss and climate breakdown at the same time. (e.g. targeting our work to areas of species at risk where improving habitat will improve natural carbon storage and the ability of the area to adapt to climate change over time).
• Establishing measurable and timed targets along with development and implementation of an impact tracking tool.

WWF-Canada has a long history of conservation success in Canada, none of which would have been possible without Indigenous and local communities, all orders of government, corporate, donor, academic and research institutions support. In the Arctic, our work with Inuit communities along with scientific analysis allowed us to define “The Last Ice Area”, an ecologically rich and culturally significant region in the eastern Arctic that scientists project sea ice will persist the longest in the face of a warming world. In 2019, The Qikiqtani Inuit Association, working with the governments of Canada and Nunavut, led the charge to make Tuvaijuittuq an interim Marine Protected Area with an impact benefit agreement that delivers on their promise of a conservation economy. This will ensure that communities will benefit culturally and economically from protecting this marine area, a significant part of the Last Ice Area.

Position Description

The Associate Specialist, Arctic Ecosystems is a highly motivated individual that supports WWF-Canada's partnership building in the North towards community-led conservation of terrestrial and marine habitats. The conservation of Arctic habitats and wildlife is a key aspect of WWF-Canada's Strategic Plan, targeted to deliver by 2030. 

The incumbent will play a part in the organizational efforts to promote community conservation priorities, advocate the creation of resilient protected areas, reduce impacts of industrial development on wildlife populations, increase collective knowledge of the threats that face Arctic ecosystems, and prioritize opportunities to invest in successful conservation efforts.  This role will play an integral part with the conservation team as we successfully implement WWF-Canada’s Arctic Species Conservation Fund, to ensure an impactful granting process with positive conservation outcomes.

This role is a blend of partnership, organizational, and technical expertise to assist the Senior Specialist, Arctic Species and Ecosystems and the Resilient Habitats team in conservation planning with Northern partners, including communities, industry, academia and governments. Travel will be required less than 20% of the time for this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with members of the Resilient Habitats team to co-create and manage implementation (including contract development) of conservation projects with northern communities.
• Travel to northern communities for wildlife management meetings and public hearings to promote local priorities and community voices in co-developed conservation projects.
• Support WWF-Canada’s Arctic Species Conservation Fund process with the call for proposals, application pipeline coordination, candidate/recipient communications, contribution agreements, report reviews of current and former grant projects, and impact assessments of WWF-Canada’s grants.
• Broad research, analysis, and reporting on academic articles, scientific publications, news, and other key documentation to inform WWF-Canada’s engagement strategy in Nunavut and across Canada on topics including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, habitat resiliency and protected area networks.  
• Work with Northern community partners to develop communication materials that amplify community viewpoints and stories; further encouraging and supporting international and global Indigenous-led communication opportunities.
• Increase the number of community partnerships and advocating voices in the North through the development of trusting relationship between WWF-Canada and local community organizations.

What We Are Looking For

• • 2-4 years of relevant experience working in an environmental field AND/OR a degree or certificate in environmental studies, environmental technology, environmental sciences, ecology, or other relevant field of study.
  • 2+ years’ experience working in collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities.
  • 2+ years’ experience working in project management and/or administration, preferred.
  • 1+ year experience working or volunteering in the not-for-profit/charitable sector, an asset.
  • An adaptable self-starter with strong organizational and project management skills.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills; proven ability to work in multi-lingual environments.
  • Sound judgement in decision-making, considering impacts for people and relationships.
  • A collaborative relationship builder capable of working in a multi-stakeholder project environment.
  • Optimistic approach to identify and highlight project opportunities while maintain a realistic perspective to manage expectations of partners.

Other Information:

• This is a full-time permanent position that will require safe travel in Canada. Note that safe travel will be determined by following the guidelines of Federal, Territorial and Provincial governments and following consultation with Indigenous communities.

Deadline to Apply: 

Please ensure that your application is received on or before April 9,2021 at 5pm EST. 

Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility

WWF-Canada is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and aboriginal peoples.

WWF-Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise the Human Resources Representative in a timely fashion of any accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We thank all applicants for their interest in joining WWF-Canada. Given the volume of applications received, we request that you do not follow up your application with a phone call or email.  We will contact only those candidates selected for interviews and thank you for your understanding.