Finance Advocacy Manager

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Location: Living Planet Centre, Woking, Surrey
Contract: Up to 12 months Maternity Cover, full time (35 hours)
Hybrid working: Minimum 40% in person collaboration per month
Salary: £57,986 to £76,387 per annum + excellent benefits
Safeguarding level: Level One

We’re excited to be recruiting an Finance Sector Advocacy Manager to lead WWF-UK’s advocacy with the financial sector and support the transition to a more sustainable economy.

This is a fixed-term role Maternity Cover role (up to 12 months) within our Advocacy Directorate, leading a small, high-performing team working to influence the finance sector and deliver a major partnership with one of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Financial markets have a powerful role to play in shaping the future of our economy and our planet. The decisions made by banks, investors and other financial institutions can either accelerate progress on climate and nature or hold it back. This role will help WWF-UK influence that system and build support for the changes needed.

Reporting to the Head of Business Advocacy, you’ll lead delivery our advocacy aimed at influencing financial sector leaders, building support for WWF’s priorities and helping drive change across the finance sector.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across WWF-UK, the wider WWF network and our corporate partners to develop clear advocacy priorities, identify opportunities for influence and make sure activity is well coordinated across advocacy, public affairs, conservation, communications and policy.

A key part of the role will be building strong relationships with senior stakeholders across business, finance, and civil society. You’ll represent WWF-UK externally, contribute to events and speaking opportunities and help create the conditions for financial institutions and decision-makers to act.

You’ll also be an excellent people manager, able to inspire and motivate your team and play a matrix leadership role across the organisation and wider WWF Network.

We’re looking for someone who combines strong advocacy experience with a deep understanding of the financial sector, developed either by working within or closely with financial institutions. You’ll be confident influencing senior stakeholders, working across complex partnerships and turning ambitious goals into clear, practical action.

• Deep understanding of the finance sector, demonstrated by experience working on climate or nature related risks, structuring financial instruments with climate or nature outcomes, or engagement with clients/portfolio companies on climate and nature risks and opportunities.
• Extensive influencing experience in or targeted at the financial sector, demonstrated by examples of significant impact on policy, political or financial sector change and knowledge of how to use a range of approaches to influence a political, business, and finance agenda;
• Demonstrable experience of exceptional personal influencing skills, including developing and influencing key stakeholders, changing opinions, and creating significant change in a financial or business setting
• Experience of line managing a high-performing team
• A commitment to the mission of WWF
• Superb relationship-building skills – experience with matrix working, building and nurturing relationships and successfully coordinating large, complex projects with multiple stakeholders (internal and external) including experience of influencing without authority
• Ability to represent WWF – regularly presenting to Directors/CEO level and external partners, speaking and negotiating on behalf of…