Country Director, WCS-India

Join WCS-India as a leader in India's frontier of wildlife conservation.

WCS-India is seeking a Country Director with proven expertise in navigating complex conservation landscapes across diverse ecosystems. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with tactical expertise, transforming conservation challenges into sustainable solutions. Your experience managing complex natural resource programs and building partnerships across government, NGOs, and communities will drive meaningful impact across India's most critical habitats.

This role offers the rare opportunity to shape the future of conservation in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. Bring your passion for nature, leadership acumen, and collaborative approach to an organization where your expertise directly contributes to preserving India's extraordinary natural heritage.

Position: Country Director

Reports to: Board of WCS-India and Regional Director, WCS

Location: Bangalore

Position Type: Full-time

Coordinates with: WCS Regional team (Regional Business Manager, HR, technical leads)

Expected travel: Up to 30-35% of time, to WCS-India field sites, and internationally, when required.

Organizational Background

Wildlife Conservation Society-India (WCS-India) is a Section 25 non-profit company incorporated in India and compliant with all Indian regulations. WCS-India's overarching goal is to retain, recover, and restore wildlife and ecosystems through inclusive, evidence-based action, sustained engagement, and creative communication. WCS-India combines wildlife conservation action and strategic policy interventions with rigorous principles of conservation science to forge long-lasting, productive partnerships with governmental and non-governmental partners as well as with local communities. WCS India’s conservation action addresses the threats of habitat fragmentation, poaching and wildlife trade, and human-wildlife interactions. WCS-India has 160 employees (Inclusive of Fixed Term Employees, Consultants and Interns) and works in 15 states across India.

Job Purpose

The Country Director will oversee the implementation and has oversight of WCS-India. The Director will lead the development and management of WCS India’s conservation activities in line with WCS India and WCS global strategies. The WCS-India Country Director will be responsible for: leading on the establishment of priorities, strategy, and approaches for terrestrial (and marine) conservation and climate adaptation initiatives; supporting conservation project development and implementation; fundraising and grants oversight; coordination with government and non-government partners; directing national and international attention to India for conservation; influencing policies that promote preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development, while reducing vulnerability to future climate and environmental change.

Major Responsibilities

• Coordinating and supervising the implementation of all WCS-India projects and activities, including ensuring financial and administrative support for field and office activities.
• Establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with partners and donors. Meeting regularly with project partners, relevant government agencies, and community leaders. Serving as a liaison between WCS-India and other scientific and conservation bodies in India and elsewhere.
• Ensuring WCS-India’s community engagement protocols follow best international and nationally recommended practice for free, prior, and informed consent, and allowing this process to be guided by national staff.
• Raising the profile of WCS-India’s conservation efforts through the dissemination of project results widely in the peer-reviewed and popular literature. Writing and publishing documents, reports, books and papers and/or supporting staff to do so. Maintaining active roles in professional societies. Attending relevant meetings, workshops, and strategy sessions in India and the region (where required).
• Collaborating with the WCS Regional Director, Global Conservation thematic programs and Global Resources to secure funding for WCS-India. Working to maintain a diversified funding base at a sustainable level to support WCS-India activities.
• Overseeing grant and financial reporting and ensuring that draft reports are submitted with adequate time for internal review.
• Hiring, managing and contributing to capacity building of WCS-India staff, while contributing to, enlarging and upholding policies, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, towards equal employment opportunities for women, minorities, veterans, the handicapped and other protected groups.
• Acting as the formal representative of WCS-India, ensuring all activities are in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.
• Participating in and contributing to cross-cutting and global conservation initiatives of WCS, both in the region and globally.
• Liaising with other parts of WCS where appropriate, including but not limited to communications, international policy, Global Resources, Grants Management and Compliance, and Global Conservation Program thematic program staff.

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:

• Applicants should have a minimum of 5-10 years’ relevant experience with non-profit leadership, management and governance in India.
• Applicants should have a PhD, MBA, or a Master’s degree with commensurate experience managing complex institutions, with expertise in the conservation, natural resource management and/or development sectors.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience managing terrestrial and/or marine field conservation projects, project budgets, and staff, particularly in remote and/or developing country settings.
• Demonstrated success working with diverse partners to achieve common objectives.
• Ability to train and build capacity in field research, community-based natural resource management, conservation advocacy, and project management.
• Commitment to uphold transparency and accountability in overseeing compliance with all relevant policies and procedures.
• Familiar with conservation issues in India and committed to the mission of WCS-India and WCS globally.
• Applicants should be willing to travel extensively in remote locations, have excellent problem-solving skills and be flexible to local constraints.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience managing multilateral and bilateral funded projects.
• Professional proficiency in other languages of India.

How to apply:

Interested parties should submit a motivation letter and CV with references to hrgmksa@wcs.org by 22:00 UTC+7 Thursday1st May 2025

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

WCS-India is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS-India sponsored recreational activities and facilities.

The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies globally.