Director of Business Development & Communications at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya

The Director of Business Development & Communications will provide visionary leadership in the development and execution of integrated strategies to secure financial and in-kind resources, elevate WWF-Kenya’s brand, and deepen engagement with key stakeholders. This role is pivotal in driving sustainable growth by positioning WWF-Kenya as a trusted and influential conservation partner. The Director will be accountable for meeting ambitious revenue and engagement goals, forging and nurturing strategic partnerships, and delivering compelling communications that enhance the organization’s visibility, credibility, and long-term impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for all external engagement areas including fundraising, strategic partnerships, marketing and communications
• Lead the development and execution of a performance-based resource mobilization plan aligned with organizational strategy and financial targets
• Ensure internal integration of brand, communications, marketing, donor and stakeholder engagement for coherence and strategic impact
• Directly engage and influence high-level stakeholders, build and maintain high-level outcomes-focused relationships and support the CEO and board in strategic, impact-driving relationship management
• Establish and oversee workplans, KPIs and deliverables for the team, using data and market insights to drive decision-making at all levels and junctures

Resource Mobilization & Donor Engagement

• Achieve defined revenue and sustainability targets by securing funding from institutional donors, corporates, high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and the public
• Lead donor cultivation, proposal development, reporting, and relationship management to maintain and grow donor engagement, prospects data and successful fundraising outcomes
• Develop and grow unrestricted funding streams including but not limited to legacy giving, regular and community giving, corporate sponsorships and in-house income streams.
• Design and oversee CRM-driven strategies for donor segmentation, retention, and upgrade as well as data-driven fundraising and stakeholder engagement dashboards

Strategic Partnerships

• Identify, build, and manage output-driven partnerships with government, corporates, bilateral and multilateral donors, and philanthropic actors
• Collaborate with conservation teams to design partnership models that are strategically aligned with conservation and fundraising goals, while avoiding role overlap and maximizing effective internal collaboration
• Drive representation of WWF-Kenya in key platforms, donor forums, and policy dialogues

Brand and Marketing

• Lead the ongoing design and implementation of a national brand strategy aligned with WWF's global identity and local resonance
• Oversee development, management and execution of media campaigns, digital activations, and flagship initiatives to grow public support and brand awareness.
• Use data including but not limited to insights and audience segmentation, prospect dashboards and externally available demographics and reports to engage diverse audiences (children, youth, adults, corporates) to advance strategic and brand objectives

Communications

• Oversee the strategic direction of all communication functions, including content planning and development as well as internal and external communications.
• Oversee development and streamlining of key messaging content for public, donor, partner and other audiences across platforms and sectors.
• Ensure alignment between internal brand behaviors and external communications
• Provide leadership on communications for conservation, fundraising, and impact reporting
• Position WWF-Kenya as a thought leader and trustworthy brand in conservation.

Team Leadership & Management

• Inspire and manage a multidisciplinary team through effective performance management, coaching, and talent development
• Lead the planning and achievement of team deliverables with a clear focus on KPIs and organizational impact and outcomes
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across functions and drive organizational values and brand advocacy across all internal stakeholder groups

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least Master’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communication, Environmental Management, International Relations, or related fields
• Additional certifications in fundraising, communication, or brand management are an added advantage

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 12 years’ progressive experience in resource mobilization, partnerships, brand and communications; with at least 5 years in senior leadership. Demonstrate relevant experience ideally in marketing, resource mobilisation and communication portfolios.
• Demonstrated success in securing funding from bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic, and corporate sources or appropriate strategic fundraising experience 
• Proven track record in leading brand campaigns and communication initiatives. Experience in the non-profit or conservation sector is an added advantage. 
• Experience in managing strategic stakeholder relationships at senior levels; own network an added advantage
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage performance effectively