WWF: Lead Specialist, Azure Data Solutions Washington DC

JOB DESCRIPTION

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Lead Specialist, Azure Data Solutions.

The Lead Specialist, Azure Data Solutions is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining data solutions using Azure services. This role involves collaborating with others to develop data models and pipelines, integrating various data sources, and ensuring data quality and integrity. The specialist also creates and manages Power BI reports and dashboards to provide actionable insights, optimizes data solutions for performance and reliability, and stays updated with the latest Azure data services and best practices.

Salary Range: $126,600 to $181,900

Please note:

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

All applicants must submit a cover letter.

This position is NOT eligible for relocation.

This position is hybrid – 2 days per week at our DC office.

• Design, implement, and maintain solutions leveraging Microsoft Fabric’s data experiences (Data Factory, Data Engineering, Data Science, Real‑Time Analytics, and Power BI) integrated with Azure Data Services.
• Collaborate with architects and engineers to develop Fabric lakehouse architectures and semantic models that support scalable pipelines and analytics.
• Integrate diverse sources into One Lake, Azure Data Lake, and Azure SQL Database to create a single source of truth.
• Develop and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines using Fabric Data Factory and Azure Data Factory.
• Build Power BI and Fabric‑native dashboards to deliver actionable insights to executives and program teams.
• Ensure data quality, lineage visibility, and governance through validation, cleansing, and metadata management.
• Continuously monitor and optimize Fabric and Azure solutions for performance, scalability, cost‑efficiency, and reliability.
• Apply AI‑assisted coding practices (e.g., Git Hub Copilot, Fabric Copilot, Azure AI tools) to accelerate development, improve code quality, and enhance automation.
• Act as an evangelist for Fabric‑first adoption, ensuring WWF capitalizes on Microsoft’s unified platform strategy while staying current with Azure service innovations.

Core capabilities for this role include analytical thinking, problem solving, communication skills, and business knowledge. Specifically, the following competencies are essential:

Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration – collaborate effectively with colleagues, and receive and incorporate feedback well.

Technical Adaptability – embraces new technologies, adjusts to workflow modifications, and thrives in dynamic environments.

Data analysis/Analytical Thinking – Ability to investigate a problem and find the ideal solution in a timely, efficient manner;
Ability to read, understand, and interpret data to solve business challenges or create a compelling narrative to inform business decisions.

Big Picture Thinking – the ability to solve complex problems with a “big picture” perspective and a sensitivity to many moving parts.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

MUST HAVE:

• Minimum 8 years of relevant data experience.
• Expertise in Microsoft Fabric (One Lake, Data Factory, Data Engineering, Real‑Time Analytics, Power BI) and Azure services (Data Lake, SQL Database, Synapse, Databricks).
• Strong applied experience in SQL development and optimization.
• Proficiency in Python for automation, advanced analytics, and AI‑assisted solutions.
• Demonstrated experience with AI‑assisted coding tools and AI‑powered data solutions to enhance efficiency, governance, and insights.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization; ability to communicate difficult concepts, new technology, and new ways of working.
• Willing…