Manager - Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science - Abu Dhabi - Emirates Nature-WWF

Description

Dubai / Abu Dhabi

Full time

December 8, 2025

TYPE OF CONTRACT :

Full time

LOCATION :

Dubai / Abu Dhabi

UNIT :

Conservation

DIRECT REPORTS TO :

Head of Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science

DIRECT REPORTS :

Associate Managers, Coordinators, Officers, Freelance Instructors, Consultants, Interns, Volunteers

CLOSING DATE :

December 30, 2025

COMMENCEMENT DATE :

December 2025

Job Summary

The Manager – Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science leads and advances EN-WWF's outreach, volunteer, citizen science and community engagement programmes, ensuring they are strategically aligned with the organisation's conservation priorities and deliver measurable impact.

The role is responsible for elevating and strengthening existing programmes, improving their design, effectiveness, and reach. This includes developing inspirational, science-based and community-led initiatives, and adapting them for diverse audiences such as rural communities and youth. Programmes are expected to be tightly monitored, evidence-driven, and continuously refined to maximise conservation and behaviour-change outcomes.

The Manager provides strong project and operational leadership across complex initiatives, overseeing logistics, event planning, stakeholder engagement, community management, and coordination with communications and marketing teams. A key expectation of the role is to improve operational efficiency, streamline delivery models, and leverage economies of scale across programmes while maintaining quality and impact.

As a senior lead, the Manager leads and mentors multi-layered teams, including staff, interns, freelance instructors, consultants and volunteers, ensuring effective delivery, capacity building, and full compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
The role works closely with cross-functional teams (including Fundraising, Communications, Strategy & Growth and Programme Delivery) to enable integrated planning, smooth operations, and strategic alignment. The Manager may also hold responsibility for selected partner account management, ensuring strong relationships, clear deliverables, and high standards of stewardship.

Background

Emirates Nature is a UAE environmental non-governmental charity, established in 2001 under theHonorary Founder and PresidentH.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed's vision for the United Arab Emirates. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Ruler's representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) Board of Directors.

We operate with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah and are governed by a local board of directors.

Emirates Nature works in association with WWF, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Emirates Nature-WWF has been active in the UAE for two decades and is renowned for its commitment to biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, sustainable development, and community engagement. Some of our flagship projects include marine conservation initiatives to protect coral reefs and marine species, wildlife conservation programs focusing on endangered species such as Arabian oryx and sea turtles, habitat restoration projects in critical ecosystems, and sustainable development initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change impacts and promoting eco-friendly practices across various sectors.

It is our organizational objective to ensure a high performing workforce within our offices with highly efficient, skilled members all of whom will be unilaterally focused on supporting and delivering conservation activities to our stakeholders within the UAE.

Major Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Implement the vision for transformative community engagement for conservation impact and resilient communities.
• Manage the outreach project deliverables, calendar of events, manning, logistics, and budgets for the successful delivery of our strategies.
• Lead on the development of citizen science and volunteer workplans for the EN-WWF community (including youth and schools). Support with the development of detailed activity plans.
• Implement systems and frameworks that help the team to coordinate admin tasks, correspondence, field-work planning, equipment preparation and permit applications.
• Manage the capacity building process internally and externally, including citizen science, voluntourism, rural community engagement and soft skills. Ensure accurate data collection and adherence to protocol. Support with the compilation and analysis of citizen science and impact data.
• Participate in conservation portfolio activities to ensure immersion on projects and better understanding of project goals.
• Ensure that vendors and project teams are following strict Health and Safety standards and manage the risk and emergency response plans for these activities.
• Develop content and accompanying materials to support operations and the community in their journey.
• Contribute to impact reporting, storytelling and Monitoring & Evaluation.
• Support with the creation of toolkits and with the organisation of workshops, meetings, trainings and majlis'.
• Keep abreast of international best practices and regional activities to ensure that the solutions that EN-WWF offers are always relevant.
• Identify scope of work, create vendor proposals and engage with vendors for contract development and deliverables.
• Support with procurement, keep track of expenses and invoices, and support budget management.
• Effectively train, mentor and supervise team members, freelance instructors, consultants, interns, ambassadors, and volunteers to assist in advocacy and delivery of activities.
• Maintain an effective working relationship and foster collaboration with strategic partners and communities, ensuring effective coordination of all activities in support of joint objectives.
• Support the management of digital tools and their evolution. Work with the Communications and Digital teams to develop messaging and content for outreach initiatives.
• Ensure that the team delivers a seamless chain of communication and support with enquiry handling and communications with the community.
• Analyse and report on volunteer satisfaction and community insights as well as brand sentiment for adaptive management, and contribute to impact reporting and M&E for membership products.
• Represent EN-WWF in meetings and government-led workshops, to the extent possible.
• Identify strategic opportunities and support with fundraising.

Requirements

• Experience and background in project management, event operations, environmental outreach, sustainability, ecology, nature conservation or similar.
• Interest and knowledge of local biodiversity and its conservation.
• At least 8 years of experience and a strong working background in project management, outreach activities, citizen science, field volunteering or similar.
• Data literate and reliable with accuracy of data.

Education:

• Degree in Environmental Science, Ecology or a relevant field.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; Arabic is highly desirable.

Education/Skills

• Ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, generating innovative ways to drive nature conservation.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to perform under pressure.
• Ability to influence, persuade and obtain consensus to achieve results.
• Energetic, creative, and confident public speaker.
• Proven stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrable ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Proactive and proficient at multitasking and analytical skills.
• Produce high quality products/services with attention to detail.
• Supportive, constructive, and open to influence when dealing with others.
• Friendly, open, and sensitive to the satisfaction of others.
• Experience of multidisciplinary communications approaches.

Emirates Nature-WWF Focus: Acts as a member of Emirates Nature-WWF, placing higher priority on Emirates Nature-WWF goals than own goals and anticipating the effects of own area's actions on others to ensure holistic Emirates Nature-WWF outcomes.

External Orientation: Looks outward to ensure EN–WWF remains relevant, anticipates environmental and societal trends, and aligns its programmes to emerging opportunities in the UAE and region.

Delivering Quality Outcomes: Establishes stretch goals, plans, using best judgment and takes responsibility for planning to and delivering on outcomes.

Building Working Relationships: Builds collaborative relationships across internal teams and with external partners through mutual trust, cultural understanding, and open communication.

Communicating Effectively: Conveys complex ideas clearly and concisely, tailors communication to diverse audiences, and actively listens to ensure mutual understanding.

Leading Change: Encourages innovation, embraces new ideas, and brings stakeholders on board constructively and empathetically to adapt to evolving circumstances.

Managing Resources: Makes the right judgments based on financial and resource availability.

Analytical mindset: Champions data-driven marketing.Understands the significance of key digital marketing metrics and has the ability to translate data into actionable insights to optimize digital marketing practices and identify trends.

Pragmatic approach : Approaches interpersonal communication as well as strategy in a sensible manor. Has the ability to utilize existing resources to deliver impact making sure plans are feasible and prioritize the achievement of agreed KPIs within timelines and resource limitations.

Value

Behaviors

Impact Driven

• Results oriented and focused
• We passionately seek impactful solutions to overcome the planets greatest challenges
• Uses a science-based approach and applies facts, logic and professional knowledge to create impact, displaying a strong understanding of the issues
• Demonstrates focus, determination, efficiency and accountability
• Consistently delivers high-quality work

Integrity

• Acts and communicates openly, constructively and ethically, and is sensitive to other people and cultures
• Treats others fairly and respects others points of view, creating an environment of trust
• Is consistent, honest and transparent in what one does and says
• Demonstrates self-awareness, manages own emotional response, and is aware of the impact of own behavior on others
• Demonstrates professionalism and upholds a high regard for the reputation of the organization
• We live the principles and standards we call on others to meet, and hold each other accountable

Together We're Stronger

• Shows empathy, listens, asks questions and shows consideration and understanding for others
• Is approachable, empowers others, provides trust and mutual respect
• We remain optimistic, light-hearted and participates in celebrating success together
• Recognizes the value that each individual brings to the collective impact of the organization
• Embraces diversity and inclusion
• Speaking with one voice, unified by one mission, shared values and common priorities
• Seeks to build powerful and aligned networks with government, organizations and communities

Courage

• Demonstrates perseverance and commitment to the Mission and Vision of the organization
• Acts with confidence and from a position of strength
• Takes measured risks and encourages action
• Inspires hope and optimism

Adaptable

• Stays informed of external developments and trends and adapts accordingly
• Pursues avenues for continuous learning and development
• Stays open-minded, seeks innovative and creative solutions
• Flexible and open to change and others view-points, remains calm and confident during change
• Embraces feedback

Working Relationships

Internal – Works closely with the Fundraising, Marketing & Engagement, Communications, Programme Delivery and Conservation units to ensure coordinated planning, efficient implementation and alignment with organisational priorities.

External – Works with community stakeholders, volunteers, consultants, suppliers, corporates, schools, academic institutions and relevant government entities to support programme delivery, partnerships and outreach objectives.

Additional Information

Emirates Nature-WWF is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and offer a flexible and diverse place of employment.

Emirates Nature staff participate wholeheartedly in general activities and events that require the full support and participation of all staff members, whether the focus of any particular event or activity has any bearing on the job description and assigned project objectives and activities.

How to Apply

Please send your application consisting of a cover letter explaining why you are the right candidate to work with EN-WWF and your CV with the subject 'Application: Manager – Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science' to the attention of MsMagdalena Tayoun on before 30 th December 2025.

Emirates Nature reserves the right to appoint a candidate prior this date.