Project Manager and Business Engagement Lead – GFCR Coral Reef Resilience (CRR) Project Solomon Islands

Position Details

• Reports to: WWF-SI Country Manager (line management); Project Steering Committee (technical).
• Supervises: Project Staff, Consultants.
• Duration/Type of contract: GFCR Funding Period, 4 years.
• Level: IPE 54.
• Date: October 2026.

Background

About WWF-Pacific

WWF-Pacific’s Pacific Pathway 2030 Strategic Plan sets a bold course toward a People and Nature Positive Pacific, where communities and ecosystems thrive together. Operating across Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and the wider Pacific region, WWF-Pacific advances locally led conservation, climate resilience, blue-green economies and resource management to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing environmental pressures.

Grounded in Indigenous knowledge and community-led conservation, WWF-Pacific works with partners to deliver nature-based solutions, strengthen community governance, and promote inclusive blue-green economies. By 2030, all Pacific peoples and nations are empowered, climate resilient and prosperous, with nature thriving and visibly and measurably recovering - a People and Nature Positive Pacific.

WWF-Pacific, through the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) funded Coral Reef Resilience (CRR) Project Solomon Islands will support reef-positive climate resilient business to meet investment requirements while UNCDF, a co-implementing entity on the project, will deploy a credit guarantee facility with local financial institution(s) to support enhanced access to affordable capital for these and other enterprises in the wider sustainable blue economy.

Project Summary

WWF is seeking an exceptional, highly motivated, and mission driven candidate to lead the new high-visibility Solomon Islands CRR Project funded by the GFCR. This Project will support reef-positive enterprises with technical assistance and funding to meet investment requirements and improve their business models, strengthen capacity, enhance their market strategies, and enhance their productive practices to bolster reef and coastal ecosystem health. The Project will screen businesses with operations and supply chains in the Central, Malaita, Isabel, and Western Provinces where the Solomon Islands’ reefs most capable of withstanding future climate scenarios are located. The Project will then select priority areas in 1-2 of these provinces based on the business pipeline and level of opportunity for coral reef health impacts.

The Project will strengthen the supply side of finance for reef-positive enterprises by (i) contributing to de-risking instruments (reduce perceived investment risks), and (ii) enhancing the capacity of local financial institutions (FIs) to extend finance to these businesses while increasing their capacity to absorb the de-risking instruments. The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), a Co-Recipient under the Project, will structure, deploy, and administer guarantees to reduce perceived risks for businesses operating in sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and forestry that are linked to coral reef and coastal ecosystems. To complement the de-risking instruments, technical assistance will be provided to local FIs to help them develop frameworks for identifying, assessing, and financing reef-positive enterprises. This support will enable institutions to evaluate potential investments with a focus on environmental sustainability and ensure that financing contributes positively to reef ecosystems. While the Project will contribute only to the de-risking instruments, the technical assistance will be delivered by UNCDF through co-financing from its EU-funded initiative, the Sustainable Pacific Blue Circle Fund.

Major Functions

The position is a full-time member of the WWF Solomon Islands Country Programme and is responsible for effective leadership for the delivery of the four-year GFCR Solomon Islands CRR Project.

The Project Manager and Business Engagement Lead will be responsible for leading the Project Management Unit and the daily implementation and management of the project. This will include ensuring that the project achieves the targets set out in the Logical Framework to the required quality standards, and within the specified time and budget allocations.

The position will oversee the implementation of project activities to achieve the three outputs under the major outcome: “Private investments and business activities which address the threats to coral reefs are increased”. This will be achieved through the following outputs and associated activities:

• Output 1: Baseline and endline assessment of coral reef health, paired with localized threat analysis, to support the definition of impact targets, selection criteria for reef-positive enterprises, and evaluation of intervention effectiveness.
• Output 2: Direct technical assistance and small grants provided to five reef-positive enterprises to strengthen the environmental and business performance of the enterprises and their supply chains, and ultimately their readiness to absorb commercial capital.
• Output 3: Capacity of local Financial Institutions strengthened to absorb de-risking instruments and further extend finance to reef-positive enterprises in a sustainable manner. (This output is to be implemented by UNCDF).

The position will be a member of the WWF-SI Senior Management Team and will be required to maintain effective communications and liaison with WWF network partners and external stakeholders on relevant matters to the major functions of the role.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will:

1. Lead and manage the project in accordance with the specified workplans and allocated budget; in accordance with GFCR and WWF Network rules, policies and standards.
2. Coordinate with WWF-US, the convening agent for the project, staff including the project manager for this project and other relevant WWF-US staff assigned to support the implementation of the project.
3. Coordinate with UNCDF in Honiara to align three project outputs, and collaborate with national & local authorities to ensure effective management, and address the needs of all beneficiaries.
4. Oversee project risk management, GEDSI compliance, and adherence to environmental/social safeguards, as well as ensure effective knowledge and information sharing with partners.
5. Communicate project progress updates to the PSC at biannual PSC meetings.

In addition, the Project Manager will be required to fulfill the role until project completion (2029) and the submission of the final evaluation report as well as any other required documentation required by the GFCR.

Project Planning and Implementation

1. Lead quarterly and annual project planning with team participation, and take overall responsibility for final work plans and budgets for submission to the Project Steering Committee and senior management.
2. Provide technical support and advice to the project team, ensuring progress reporting and accountability for resource use.
3. Work closely with national, provincial and local government authorities for lobbying, advocacy and policy support in addition to support in implementation of field interventions.
4. Work closely with Manager ESSF and Gender to ensure successful development and compliance with Gender Action plan (GAP) and Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESSF) and funding partners for effective integration and complementary of the GFCR project.

Technical

1. Lead the identification, screening, and selection of reef-positive SMEs across target provinces; manage a transparent pipeline development and due diligence process aligned with project investment criteria.
2. Oversee and coordinate delivery of investment readiness support to selected enterprises through consultants and partners; provide technical guidance to strengthen business models, financial management, governance, and investor preparedness.
3. Manage enterprise capacity-building activities, including mentorship and market linkages; ensure support improves commercial viability while reinforcing sustainable production practices.
4. Facilitate engagement between supported enterprises and financial institutions and investors; coordinate transaction preparation and ensure enterprises meet due diligence and compliance requirements.
5. Monitor enterprise financial and conservation performance; ensure data systems support reporting, adaptive management, and GFCR compliance.

Financial

1. Efficiently manage project finances and resources, including budgeting, revisions, expenditure tracking, and maintaining records of activities, issues, and risks.
2. Collaborate with the Project Finance team to prepare timely financial reports to support quarterly and annual work plans and reports.

Communications

1. Advocate within the broader international, national, sub-national and local government systems as well as create and foster a good working relationship with the media (print, radio and television) and local communities.
2. Ensure execution and supervision of project communications strategy and contribute to the production and publication of public information material.

Administrative/Management

1. Oversee all project personnel funded by the project (staff, consultants, contractors) and those engaged through implementing partners, including drafting and reviewing ToRs, scopes of work, and contracts in line with the project Procurement Plan.
2. Collaborate with WWF-SI focal points and functional heads to align with WWF standards, engage with WWF Global Practices to share knowledge and build capacity, foster strong collaboration among implementing partners through regular meetings, and conduct annual performance assessments for project personnel.

Profile

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and Master’s degree preferred in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development, Environmental Management, Marine Resource Management, or a related field relevant to enterprise development and conservation finance.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in projects related to sustainable enterprise development, blended and innovative finance, conservation or natural resource–based value chains, and private sector engagement.
• Experience of working in a multicultural / multinational environment.
• Sound knowledge of nature-based solutions / ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Specialization in working with communities on natural resource related issues established through relevant work experience.
• Specialization in developing log frames, work plans, and monitoring frameworks established through relevant work experience.
• Proven experience and leadership ability in achieving project outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability in development, management and delivery of nature conservation projects; (ability to effectively manage and supervise people and projects and to plan, schedule and budget projects / initiatives).
• Experience working in Solomon Islands and a solid understanding and knowledge of the operating environment for conservation and business and financing sectors.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong commitment to conservation and development issues.
• Excellent diplomatic and communication skills, including an ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals within and outside the WWF Network.
• Demonstrated ability in leading both field and office-based team(s).
• Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Proficiency in local languages (Solomon Islands Pidgin) will be preferred.
• Exceptional Presentation Skills; attention to detail, diplomacy and discretion.
• Ability to handle change and uncertainty.
• Proficiency in the use of computer office applications on word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentation.
• Demonstrates WWF behaviors in the way of working: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly, Innovate Fearlessly.
• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

Working Relationships

Internal

• Maintain close working relationships with Network partners principally WWF-US; WWF Asia Pacific; and WWF Pacific.
• Coordinate and regularly communicate with the WWF US based Project Manager regularly.
• Ensure close collaboration and coordination with WWF-SI Conservation and Operations teams.

External

• Manage the relationship with UNCDF in implementation of Output 3 of the GFCR SI CRR project.
• Closely engage with the GEF 7: Resilient Coral Reefs, Resilient Communities project.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with potential businesses and local enterprises.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with Provincial and National level government agencies including but not limited to Ministry for Agriculture and Livestock; Ministry for Fisheries and Marine Resources; Ministry for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and Meteorology.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with external business development agencies e.g. Strongim Bisinis, PHAMA Plus; Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organisational needs.

How to Apply

Vacancies and application information: https://www.wwfpacific.org/latest/vacancies/