At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful design and evaluation projects for conservation and sustainability.
- Company: Join WWF-UK, a global leader in conservation with a mission to restore nature.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26+ days of annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Work in a beautiful office surrounded by nature and collaborate with passionate teams.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the world while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in programme design and strong people leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 64000 £ per year.
We’re excited to be recruiting a Head of Design and Impact to lead WWF-UK’s work on programme design, impact measurement and learning, ensuring our strategies, programmes and projects deliver meaningful outcomes for people and nature.
In this role, you’ll lead a specialist team providing expert advice and quality assurance across the organisation, supporting strong programme design, effective monitoring and evaluation, and the embedding of WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, portfolio leads and teams across conservation, policy, advocacy and fundraising, helping ensure impact is clearly evidenced and learning is embedded in how we work.
You’ll also play a senior advisory role, providing assurance to the Executive Group and Trustees on the quality of programme design and impact reporting, and working with the wider WWF network to strengthen approaches to impact, learning and accountability. This is a senior leadership role for someone with deep expertise in design, monitoring and evaluation, strong people leadership skills, and the confidence to influence across complex programmes and stakeholders in a global context.
Skills and experience
- Essential
- Significant experience leading the design, monitoring, evaluation and learning of strategies, programmes or projects in a conservation, development or policy context
- Proven experience leading and developing specialist teams, including performance management and creating a strong learning culture
- Strong expertise in programme and project design, quality assurance and evidence of impact
- Experience embedding environmental and social safeguards, including safeguarding and ethical standards, into programme design and delivery
- Experience advising and influencing senior stakeholders, including Directors, Executive leadership or Trustees
- Strong facilitation and communication skills, able to translate technical concepts into clear, practical guidance
- Experience working collaboratively across multiple teams and disciplines, including with fundraising and partnerships
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to make data and evidence meaningful for different audiences
- Excellent organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deliver to deadlines
- Strong alignment with WWF-UK’s mission, values and purpose
- Desirable
- Experience working within international conservation or development programmes, including with partners or offices in multiple countries
- Experience supporting fundraising bids through programme design, monitoring or reporting
- Experience with outcome monitoring linked to performance-based funding or finance mechanisms
- Understanding of global monitoring or reporting frameworks
- Experience working with or influencing global networks or multi-country organisations
- Competency in an additional language relevant to WWF’s global work
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.
How to apply
Click the apply now button to apply via our website. You’ll be asked to complete an application form and upload your CV and a supporting statement that tells us why you’ll be a great addition to WWF-UK. Application closing date: 01/03/2026
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 via our website.
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.
Head of Design and Impact in Woking employer: WWF
WWF-UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the conservation sector. With generous benefits including 26 days of annual leave, flexible working options, and a commitment to employee development, you will thrive in a supportive environment that values your contributions to meaningful outcomes for both people and nature. Located at the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, you will enjoy a unique workspace surrounded by nature, enhancing your work-life balance while making a significant impact on global conservation efforts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design and Impact in Woking
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by WWF.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like WWF.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at WWF.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at WWF. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design and Impact in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of WWF. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Design and Impact, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at WWF
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of WWF. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
