Partnership Research & Development Executive in Woking

Location: Living Planet Centre, Woking, Surrey

Contract: Fixed term, full time (35 hours)

Hybrid working: Minimum 40% in person collaboration per month

Safeguarding level: One

Please note that this is an 18-month fixed term contract. We may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of strong applications, so we’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

About the role

We are excited to be recruiting for a Partnership Research & Development Executive to join our Corporate Partnerships team and help develop the strategic partnerships WWF needs to protect and restore nature. Working with business is an important part of WWF’s mission to halt and reverse nature’s decline. We know we cannot achieve the scale of change needed alone, which is why we work with corporate partners to influence business practice, support action for nature and climate, raise awareness and grow support for our mission.

This role sits within our Partnership Development Unit, which focuses on identifying and securing new strategic partnerships. You will play a key role in supporting this work through high-quality research, due diligence, risk analysis and horizon scanning. Your insight will help the team understand prospective partners, assess opportunities and make informed decisions throughout the partnership development process.

You will produce clear and accurate written outputs, including research reports, risk matrices, Q&A documents, meeting briefings and decision-making papers. You will also help the team stay informed about emerging trends across business, sustainability and stakeholder engagement that could influence our partnership strategy. Alongside this, you will contribute directly to new partnership development activity. This will include prospect research, pipeline building, supporting outreach, helping to develop proposals and responding to inbound partnership enquiries. You may also manage a small portfolio of prospective partners, supporting early relationship-building and engagement.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is organised, analytical and intellectually curious, with strong writing skills and an interest in how business can help drive positive change for nature.

Skills and experience

• Experience in a research, project coordination, project management, fundraising, partnerships or commercial role
• Strong written communication skills, with experience producing high-quality reports, briefings or similar written outputs
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills
• Ability to review information from a range of sources and draw out clear findings and recommendations
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects or workstreams
• Proactive approach, with the ability to work on your own initiative
• Strong collaboration skills and confidence working across teams
• Clear and effective communication skills
• Knowledge, awareness or interest in environmental and sustainability issues
• Interest in how businesses, charities and NGOs can work together to create positive change
• Commitment to the values of WWF and passion for meeting WWF objectives
• Experience or exposure to new business development, fundraising or partnership engagement activity
• Experience of prospect research, pipeline building, outreach or proposal development
• Understanding of how companies work with charities or NGOs
• Understanding of corporate sustainability, ESG or responsible business issues
• Confidence contributing to external engagement with corporate stakeholders
• High level of corporate awareness or business acumen

What we offer

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options, to support your work life balance
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow
• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

About WWF-UK

We’re a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world. At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help. We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.

Our Diversity Promise to You

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself. We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout.

Safeguarding Commitment

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter. Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent. We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting. If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.