Sustainability Expert

The Sustainability Expert supports WWF Romania in shifting key economic sectors toward climate-resilient, nature-positive models by driving business transformation across biodiversity, climate, freshwater, forestry, food & agriculture. The role helps strengthen strategic expertise, tools, and capacity within WWF-Romania and its partners to engage companies, investors, and value-chain actors in driving systemic change.
The WWF Romania 2030 Strategy aims to scale Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation & disaster risk reduction, transform food, forestry, energy, and finance systems to internalize nature’s value & align investments, business models, and market incentives with ecological resilience.
While positioned within the WWF Romania Conservation team, the role works closely with the Engagement and Resource Mobilisation team, and maintains direct links with WWFCEE thematic leads, reflecting WWF’s regional and global business engagement frameworks.

Your duties will include:

• Serve as a core member of the Living Danube Partnership in Romania promoting business action for green transformation in a wider context of corporate target groups (collective actions).
• Contribute to and support the preparation and follow-up of workshops, stakeholder dialogues, and events (e.g., water risk mitigation, climate adaptation pathways, Nature-Based Solutions in corporate operations)
• Conduct background research and data analysis, prepare presentations, summaries, and concept notes for strategic discussions.
• Codevelop and deliver Living Danube Partnership outputs (reports, case studies, tools) with a focus on climate-resilient freshwater management, circular water use, and nature positive business models.
• Coordinate with WWF Romania, WWFCEE, and global Living Danube Partnership teams to ensure alignment and high-quality delivery.
• Offer input for finalising the annual corporate priority list of companies, based on environmental impact, leverage potential, and alignment with transformation objectives.
• Develop the Transformation Portfolio (themes, pitches, impact pathways) in close collaboration with conservation and public engagement teams, presenting WWF conservation and climate priorities in clear, business relevant messages, focusing on water, carbon, biodiversity, and supply chain resilience.
• Help identify opportunities for collective action platforms (multi-company, cross-sector) to restore freshwater ecosystems and reduce shared climate-water risks.
• Maintain and grow relationships with assigned corporate prospects
• Co-design partnership structure, main activities, KPIs, and impact frameworks with conservation and corporate engagement teams.
• Contribute to the preparation of concept notes, proposals, budgets, and technical inputs for projects with corporate partners.
• Contribute to the preparation of concept notes, proposals, budgets, and technical inputs for projects with corporate partners.
• Support implementation, in coordination with the relevant WWF Romania team

We expect from you:

• Adhere to the WWF mission, as well as LIVE in line with the WWF Values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

Knowledge:

• University degree in business administration, economics, finance, sustainability management, environmental economics, corporate sustainability, or another field directly related to business transformation and market systems.
• A degree in public policy, social sciences, environmental studies, natural resources management, or agriculture can also be acceptable if combined with demonstrated experience in corporate sustainability, business engagement, or market transformation.
• Strong understanding of corporate sustainability frameworks, ESG standards, nature positive strategies, and climate risk integration.
• Familiarity with EU Green Deal policies, EU Taxonomy, climate adaptation, Nature-Based Solutions, freshwater stewardship, climate mitigation, biodiversity, and sustainable value chains is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in the private sector or corporate sustainability roles is an advantage.
• Experience in working with private sector partners, proposal development and project implementation and reporting
• Experience working in multicultural and virtual teams is an asset.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong coordination and organizational skills with an analytical mindset
• Ability to read and interpret data (basic data analysis is a plus),
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to produce clear summaries and business-focused material
• Intercultural awareness and team-oriented mindset
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple deadlines, and operate with limited supervision.
• Commitment to WWF’s mission and values; strong motivation for nature conservation
• Excellent command of written and spoken Romanian and English
• Strong command of MS Office/Google Workspace.
• Advantage: GIS, Canva/design tools, data visualisation platforms.

We offer

• The opportunity to make a difference – for Romania and WWF
• Challenging and fulfilling work in one of Europe’s most exciting eco-regions
• A friendly and highly professional working atmosphere in an international context
• Varying tasks and an independent work style
• A pleasant working atmosphere and a great learning environment

If you are interested in joining the global WWF team, email your application documents, including your CV and cover letter (in English) to [email protected]. Application deadline: 23.02.2026. Please understand that we can only reply to short-listed candidates.