WWF South Africa Recruiting Partnerships Officer to Strengthen Conservation Funding and Strategic Partnerships – Apply By 8 July 2026
WWF South Africa has announced a vacancy for a Partnerships Officer, offering an opportunity for experienced fundraising and partnership development professionals to contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable development initiatives across the country.
The permanent position is available in either Newlands, Cape Town, or Braamfontein, Johannesburg, operating under a hybrid work model. Applications close on 8 July 2026.
Supporting Conservation Through Strategic Funding Partnerships
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, supported by more than six million people and operating in over 100 countries.
For over 50 years, WWF South Africa has worked to inspire sustainable living and environmental stewardship while advancing conservation efforts that benefit both nature and communities.
The Partnerships Officer role is situated within WWF South Africa’s fundraising and partnership portfolio, which focuses on building relationships with:
- International aid agencies
- Government institutions
- Embassies
- Trusts and foundations
- Development finance institutions
- International conservation partners
The successful candidate will help mobilise resources needed to implement WWF South Africa’s strategic conservation priorities and long-term environmental goals.
Key Role in Resource Mobilisation
The Partnerships Officer will support both the Strategic Partnership Specialist and the Public Sector Partnerships Manager in identifying and securing funding opportunities.
Core responsibilities include:
- Leading and co-developing funding proposals
- Managing proposal development timelines and submission processes
- Coordinating proposal teams to meet strict deadlines
- Monitoring funding opportunities and donor calls
- Maintaining donor and funder databases
- Building project proposal pipelines
- Conducting prospect research and competitive funding analysis
- Supporting fundraising efforts for priority conservation projects
The role also requires close collaboration with WWF’s environmental and strategy teams to align project concepts with donor priorities and funding requirements.
Driving Proposal Development and Fundraising Success
A significant aspect of the position involves translating complex conservation initiatives into compelling funding proposals that resonate with donors and funding institutions.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing high-quality grant applications
- Coordinating proposal writing processes
- Working with legal and finance teams during proposal development
- Aligning project concepts with donor expectations
- Supporting intelligence gathering and market research
- Raising funds for WWF South Africa’s priority projects and systemic interventions
The Partnerships Officer will also collaborate with WWF offices globally to leverage international partnerships and funding opportunities.
Building and Managing Strategic Relationships
Beyond fundraising, the role places strong emphasis on partnership development and donor stewardship.
The successful candidate will:
- Strengthen relationships with existing funding partners
- Support engagement with prospective donors
- Coordinate communication between funders and project teams
- Facilitate collaboration across WWF departments
- Monitor project implementation and reporting obligations
- Ensure compliance with donor contracts and requirements
This work is essential in maintaining trust and accountability with funding partners while ensuring successful delivery of conservation programmes.
Supporting Reporting, Compliance and Monitoring
The Partnerships Officer will play an important role in ensuring donor-funded projects remain compliant and well-managed.
Responsibilities include:
- Monitoring project progress against contractual obligations
- Coordinating technical and financial reporting
- Supporting grant compliance requirements
- Managing donor reporting timelines
- Working closely with finance and business support teams
- Linking project reporting to monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems
The role requires strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and reporting deadlines simultaneously.
Qualifications and Experience Requirements
WWF South Africa is seeking candidates with strong academic credentials and demonstrated fundraising expertise.
Applicants should possess:
- An Honours degree or higher qualification
- Backgrounds in environmental sciences, conservation, biological sciences, international relations, or related fields
Candidates must also demonstrate:
- Five to eight years of fundraising and proposal writing experience
- Experience working with trusts and foundations
- Experience engaging public sector institutions or development finance organisations
- Strong donor relationship management skills
- Excellent grant writing capabilities
- Knowledge of donor compliance and reporting processes
Essential Skills and Competencies
The organisation is looking for professionals capable of managing complex funding processes while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
Key competencies include:
- Exceptional writing and communication skills
- Strong project coordination abilities
- Research and donor mapping expertise
- Financial and administrative reporting knowledge
- Contract management experience
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Planning and organisational excellence
Fluency in English is required, while proficiency in an additional African language will be considered an advantage.
WWF Values and Organisational Culture
WWF South Africa is seeking candidates who align with its core values:
- Courage
- Integrity
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Inclusion
The organisation highlights the importance of professionalism, teamwork, innovation, and a solutions-oriented mindset in achieving conservation outcomes.
Opportunity to Advance Environmental Impact
As global environmental challenges continue to grow, strategic fundraising and partnership development remain essential for conservation organisations seeking to scale impact.
This position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of environmental sustainability, donor engagement, conservation finance, and international development while contributing to WWF South Africa’s mission of protecting biodiversity and promoting a sustainable future.
Application Details
Position: Partnerships Officer
Organisation: WWF South Africa
Location: Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Employment Type: Permanent
Application Deadline: 8 July 2026
Applicants are required to submit:
- A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
- A cover letter outlining relevant skills and experience
- Three professional references, including contact details
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
