The World Wide Fund for Nature seeks a Head of Finance and Operations for its Zambia Country Office

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime. All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system and that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.

What we do

We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable. WWF Zambia is looking for a dynamic and experienced Head of Finance and Operations to provide strategic leadership of WWF Zambia’s Finance and Operations function, ensuring strong financial stewardship, compliance, risk management, financial sustainability, and decision support to enable effective delivery of conservation objectives.

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Contract type: fixed term two (02) years subject to successful probation

Mission:

As a member of the Country Leadership Team and a strategic business partner to the Country Director, the Head of Finance and Operations will provide integrated leadership across finance, grants management, procurement, administration, ICT, asset management, internal controls, compliance, risk management and business support services. The role will ensure that WWF Zambia’s financial and operational systems effectively support conservation delivery while safeguarding organizational resources, maintaining donor and statutory compliance, and strengthening institutional sustainability.

Main responsibilities:

A. Strategic Leadership and Stewardship

• Lead implementation of the country office financial strategy: translating strategic priorities into operational and financial plans
• Advise senior leadership on financial performance, resource allocation, and sustainability.
• Support organizational decision-making through financial analysis, forecasting, and scenario planning.
• Contribute to governance, risk management, and business continuity initiatives.
• Support organizational restructuring.
• Promote accountability and value-for-money.
• Representing WWF Zambia within WWF finance and operations communities of practice.

B. Financial Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead annual budgeting and multi-year financial planning.
• Coordinate budget development across programs and departments.
• Monitor budget performance and conduct forecasting and variance analysis.
• Support proposal development through budget review, cost recovery planning mechanisms, and financial risks.
• Build the financial management capacity of budget holders.

C. Financial Reporting and Performance Management

• Oversee timely preparation of management, donor, and statutory financial reports.
• Develop financial dashboards and performance analyses.
• Monitor organizational financial health, expenditure trends, and cost recovery.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records and reconciliations
• Provide management with analytical insight regarding budget utilization, funding gaps, liquidity, cost recovery, organizational financial health and program financial performance.

D. Grants Management and Donor Compliance

The role provides strategic oversight of grants management and donor compliance by ensuring compliance with donor regulations, financial stewardship throughout the grant lifecycle, timely donor reporting, appropriate budget monitoring, successful grants audits and closeouts. Emphasis is placed on strengthening organizational capacity in donor compliance and integrated grant management.

E. Treasury and Financial Operations

The position manages treasury functions including banking relationships, cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, foreign exchange risk oversight, payment controls, payroll oversight and working capital management. The role ensures adequate funding availability while safeguarding financial resources through robust controls and segregation of duties.

F. Audit and Continuous Improvement

The role coordinates: statutory audits, donor audits, internal audits and compliance reviews. It is accountable for ensuring timely resolution of audit findings and promoting continuous improvement across financial and operational processes. The position also supports organizational resilience through business continuity planning and maintenance of critical operational systems.

G. Procurement and Supply Chain Management

The position oversees procurement governance and supply chain management to ensure that procurement activities are transparent, competitive, cost-effective and compliant with WWF and donor requirements. Responsibilities include high-value procurement review, supplier management, procurement planning, value-for-money promotion, conflict-of-interest management, and strengthening procurement tracking systems.

H. Administration, Facilities and Asset Management

The role is responsible for ensuring efficient operational support through oversight of office administration, fleet, asset and facilities management, logistics services and Inventory controls. The objective is to provide reliable operational infrastructure that enables effective program implementation across WWF Zambia’s landscapes and field offices.

I. IT and Digital Systems

The role oversees IT governance and business systems to ensure data security, cybersecurity compliance, reliable connectivity, effective user support, business continuity arrangements. The position also supports adoption of digital solutions, enterprise systems, reporting tools, and business intelligence platforms that enhance organizational oversight and decision-making.

J. Risk, Internal Controls and Compliance

A central component of the role is ownership of WWF Zambia’s control environment. Responsibilities include internal control assessments, compliance monitoring, risk assessments, fraud prevention, Anti-corruption measures, whistleblowing awareness, conflict-of-interest management. The role also ensures that significant risks and compliance breaches are appropriately escalated to management and governance structures.

K. Program Operations and Operational Excellence

The role plays a critical role in promoting effective communication, coordination, and operational excellence across WWF Zambia. As such, the incumbent will:

• Lead operational functions to ensure efficient program delivery, compliance, procurement, logistics, administration, and risk management.
• Oversee contracts, legal agreements, insurance, systems, infrastructure, and organizational governance.
• Lead integrated planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring across Conservation, Finance, and Operations.
• Support delivery of strategic objectives, donor commitments, and organizational targets.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration, service excellence, efficiency improvements, and removal of operational bottlenecks.
• Support the Country Director in strengthening organizational performance and continuous improvement.

L. Leadership Responsibilities

The role provides leadership and supervision across the finance and operations function, including grants, procurement, administration, ICT, and support services teams. Responsibilities include staff supervision and performance management, coaching and mentoring, capacity building, succession planning and team development and promoting cross-functional collaboration. The role is expected to build a high-performing finance and operations team aligned with WWF’s values of Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.

What you need:

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in finance, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration, Economics or related field.
• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CA or equivalent).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in finance, grants or operations management.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership or function-head role.
• Experience managing donor-funded programs.

Required skills and competences:

• Strong financial and operational management experience.
• Strong knowledge and experience in audits, compliance, procurement and enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated experience in change management and organizational improvement.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent leadership, people management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

How to apply?

Interested candidates should prepare: a cover letter and a curriculum vitae in PDF format, both documents put together not exceeding 5 pages and submit to the following e-mail address: recruitafrica@wwfint.org The subject should read “ZCO-HOFO” Deadline for applications: 25th September 2026 We would like to thank you in advance for your interest in this vacancy. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding the next stage of the process. If you have not been contacted within four (4) weeks of the application deadline, please assume that your application has not been successful. WWF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce

How to Apply

Apply by emailing: recruitafrica@wwfint.org