The World Economic Forum brings together leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society to address global challenges and improve the state of the world.
Within the Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate, the Forest Future Alliance (FFA) mobilises private-sector and philanthropic action to advance the conservation, restoration, and stewardship of forest landscapes in a way that is socially, economically and ecologically responsible.
Why we are hiring
FFA is expanding its finance and innovation portfolio and seeks a Finance & Innovation Lead to identify, assess and profile an expanding portfolio of investment opportunities, engage private and philanthropic stakeholders, and help create the enabling conditions to mobilize investment and innovation for forest conservation, restoration and stewardship in landscapes worldwide.
Critical forest landscapes face an investment paradox: despite their planetary importance, many lack the conditions to attract capital, specifically return-seeking investment. Resolving this requires patient capital, trusted intermediaries, an enabling policy environment and place-based approaches rooted in local ecology, culture and social trust.
Reporting line
The Finance and Innovation Lead will report to the Program & Partner Engagement Manager and work closely with FFA colleagues responsible for partnerships, philanthropy and communications, while interacting with staff at the Tropical Forest Alliance, Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) and the Forum’s Finance for Nature team.
Responsibilities include
- Identify and advance scalable and replicable innovative business models and financial mechanisms that unlock private and philanthropic capital and further responsible conservation, restoration and stewardship in forest landscapes.
- Profile, amplify and showcase investment opportunities through the FFA Hub, convenings and other Forum communications channels.
- Participate in the development of thought leaderships and synthesis products designed to build awareness and support for forest finance and innovation.
- Convene and manage the engagement of corporates, asset owners/managers, insurers, philanthropies, to understand primary on challenges, needs, and opportunities in the financing or forest landscapes and innovation. Calibrate these with the needs of civil society, NGOs and governments.
- Build optimism and momentum through strategic communications that translate complex opportunities into compelling narratives and progress updates that attract new partners and sustain engagement.
Requirements and experience
- 7–10 years of relevant experience across finance, investment, banking, nature finance, innovation and/or related fields.
- Understanding of capital structures and blended finance instruments to support capital mobilization for complex multi-stakeholder initiatives (public-private-philanthropy).
- Strong stakeholder engagement and management skills with a focus on investors, corporates, philanthropy, and government counterparts.
- Strong project management skills including demonstrated ability to drive progress and prioritize and deliver on key activities such as convenings, partnerships and content curation.
- Ability to synthesize complexity and present compelling narratives in both written and oral communications.
- Excellent written and spoken English. French, Spanish and/or Portuguese would be considered a plus.
- Outstanding team player and collaborator.
To be successful, you should
- Be solutions-oriented, proactive, responsive to feedback, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
- Thrive in a convening role, facilitating alignment across actors with different incentives and timelines.
Why work at the Forum:
The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!