Sustainable Finance Expert

The Sustainable Finance Expert strengthens the Coalition Natura 2000’s mission by developing, analyzing and promoting innovative financial mechanisms that support long term financing for protected areas, nature conservation, ecosystem restoration and community stewardship, in line with the principles of Financing Green, Greening Finance, and the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) framework.

The position supports the design of technically sound, feasible and scalable financial models, including conservation trust funds, Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), green fiscal incentives, public–private partnerships (PPPs), blended finance structures, and economic instruments for communities and operators engaged in conservation. The role applies a landscape finance approach, ensuring integrated solutions that align conservation objectives with sustainable local development and the mobilization of public and private capital.

To maximize impact and ensure methodological consistency, the Sustainable Finance Expert will report directly to the Director of the Coalition Natura 2000 and functionally to the Conservation Director of WWF Romania, through whom the role will benefit from continuous access to WWF International’s Sustainable Finance Practice, tools, and knowledge. This positioning ensures strong institutional connection, best practice uptake, and effective transfer of international expertise into national policy and financing reforms.

Your duties will include:

• Analyze national and EU policies relevant to sustainable finance, biodiversity finance, fiscal reform, PA governance, and financial sector regulations (e.g., CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, CSDDD).
• Identify regulatory barriers and opportunities for nature positive financing, including enabling conditions for trust funds, PES schemes, green budget lines, biodiversity financing mechanisms, and blended finance structures.
• Draft technical legal recommendations to strengthen the financial sustainability of protected areas and conservation management in Romania.
• Support WWF’s no harm advocacy by identifying financial flows that negatively impact biodiversity (“greening finance”)
• Design or co design pilot financing models for protected areas and natural landscapes (trust funds, PES, green infrastructure fees, ecosystem service markets).
• Structure scenarios, financial flows, cost benefit analyses, and revenue options for PA administrators and community stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for public–private partnerships, green investment instruments, and incentive mechanisms for conservation compatible businesses.
• Integrate WWF International’s landscape finance methodology into national models, adapting to Romanian legislation and financing ecosystems.
• Engage key national authorities, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Investments and European Projects, territorial and basin administrations, and relevant regulators, to advance policies and enabling conditions for sustainable finance, nature positive investments and long-term financing of protected areas and conservation outcomes.
• Engage financial sector stakeholders, including commercial banks, insurance companies, investor associations, stock exchange representatives and the Romanian
  Banking Association, to promote nature-positive financial practices, biodiversity risk integration and green financing instruments.
• Collaborate with international financial institutions (EIB, EBRD, World Bank/IFC, CEB) and donors to explore blended finance, nature-positive investment pipelines and co financing opportunities for protected areas and conservation landscapes.
• Engage private sector actors from relevant sectors (tourism, agriculture, forestry, water utilities, renewable energy, ecotourism and green SMEs) to promote conservation-compatible business models and financial incentives for nature-positive activities.
• Coordinate with civil society organizations, research institutions, academic partners and think tanks to co-develop policy recommendations, share evidence, and advocate for nature-positive investment and sustainable finance reforms.
• Participate in EU-level policy engagement with DG ENV, DG CLIMA, DG AGRI, DG REGIO, DG FISMA, EEA and relevant European Parliament committees to align national actions with EU sustainable finance and biodiversity frameworks
• Provide sustainable finance inputs to project concepts, proposals, and donor submissions (EU funding, bilateral donors, private foundations).
• Support Coalition’s members in delivering finance related activities within project workplans.
• Contribute to project reporting on finance-related outputs.
  Contribute to finance related objectives, influencing pathways, and indicators in the
• Coalition’s advocacy strategies and project frameworks

We expect from you:
Adhere to the Coalition Natura 2000 Vision as well as WWF mission, and LIVE in line with the WWF Values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

Knowledge:

• University degree in environmental economics, sustainable finance, public policy, finance, environmental governance, law, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred, especially in sustainable finance, conservation finance, environmental economics, public financial management, EU economic governance
• Additional training in ESG frameworks, EU sustainable finance rules, NbS financing, or biodiversity finance is a strong advantage
• Solid understanding of innovative financing mechanisms (trust funds, PES, green taxes, fiscal incentives, PPPs, biodiversity credits, blended finance).
• Knowledge of protected area governance, conservation finance and ecosystem services valuation.
• Strong understanding of EU sustainable finance policy frameworks, including CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, CSDDD and related regulatory developments.
• Familiarity with landscape finance approaches, and the Financing Green / Greening Finance concepts promoted by WWF
• Understanding of Romania’s fiscal and public budgeting systems, environmental funds and sectoral financing schemes.

Experience:

• Minimum 4–5 years of professional experience in one or more of the following: sustainable finance or conservation finance, economics of biodiversity or ecosystem services, public financial policy or fiscal reform, blended finance / public‑private funding mechanisms, working with Ministries (Environment/Finance), IFIs, or EU institutions.
• Experience designing or assessing financial models, cost‑benefit analyses, or investment cases for nature, PAs, or community‑based development.
• Experience in policy engagement or institutional advocacy (Romanian and/or EU level).
• Experience collaborating with financial sector stakeholders (banks, investors, insurers)is a strong advantage.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical capabilities (financial, economic and regulatory).
• Ability to translate technical and economic analyses into policy‑relevant recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, especially with government, financial actors and PA stakeholders.
• Excellent drafting and verbal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation, facilitation and coalition‑building skills.
• Fluency in Romanian and English (written and spoken)
• Proficiency in MS Office / Google Workspace.
• Ability to use financial modelling tools (Excel‑based models, scenario tools) and learn policy monitoring platforms (EUR‑Lex, OEIL, national legislative portals)

We offer

• The opportunity to make a difference – for Romania, The Coalition Natura 2000 and WWF
• Challenging and fulfilling work in one of Europe’s most exciting eco-regions
• Friendly and highly professional working atmosphere in an international context
• Varying tasks and independent work style
• A pleasant working atmosphere and great learning environment

If you are interested in joining both The Coalition Natura 2000 and WWF, 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.