Head of Wilder Nature

At Rewilding Europe, we have set ambitious targets for demonstrating large-scale rewilding in our current 10 (soon to be 15) landscapes across the continent. From these showcases we aim to scale up rewilding all over Europe, guided by a shared vision, mission and strategy that we have all committed to. With a fantastic and diverse team of experts and passionate colleagues from all over Europe, we are working together to make this a reality. We have already made great headways, but there is so much more to do!

As a result of internal changes, we now have a fantastic and exciting leadership position available in Rewilding Europe’s central team. Are you a passionate rewilder, a go-getter, someone who can both think strategically and act pragmatically? Self-motivated, result- and impact-oriented and not risk averse? Do you have extensive experience in practical conservation, ecological restoration or rewilding in an international setting? Then we invite you to apply for the position of: Head of Wilder Nature.

As a member of our diverse and dedicated team, you’ll be at the forefront of rewilding impact on the ground. This leadership role offers a chance to contribute meaningfully to rewilding at scale, shaping the future of Europe’s landscapes. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of our mission to make Europe a wilder place!

Role

The Head of Wilder Nature oversees, leads, develops and ensures delivery of the ‘Wilder Nature’ component of Rewilding Europe’s Strategic Plan for 2030. This component includes two main objectives, related to Functional Ecosystems and Wildlife Comeback. The Head of Wilder Nature is responsible for the development and implementation of this component in an integrated way with the other three main components within Rewilding Europe’s Strategy 2030, both at a central level  and in the rewilding landscapes. The position is both strategic and operational and very result oriented. The Head of Wilder Nature leads the Wilder Nature team and reports to the Executive Director.

The position is preferably based in the Netherlands and will require regular travel within Europe.

Main responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the Head of Wilder Nature are:

a) Wilder Nature

• Focus on the practical delivery of ‘Functioning Ecosystems’ and ‘Wildlife Comeback’ as the prime areas of intervention for the Wilder Nature component.
• Under ‘Functional Ecosystems’, ensure achieving targets on land under rewilding regime, including leading the Task Force Land – a concerted effort to access land for demonstration of rewilding at scale. This includes overseeing key tools, such as the Land Fund, Natural Grazing Facility, and the application of rewilding models and tools.
• Under ‘Wildlife Comeback’, ensure achieving targets on recovery of wildlife species and human-wildlife coexistence, and oversee the European Wildlife Comeback Fund and applications of rewilding principles, models and tools on wildlife comeback.
• Supervise feasibility studies and practical implementation of all reintroductions and population re-enforcement initiatives on selected priority species.
• Govern and coordinate partnership agreements with strategic rewilding partners and organisations.
• Help develop rewilding business models and support their application in the rewilding landscapes, and a member of the Investment Committee of Rewilding Europe Capital (REC).
• Provide support to rewilding landscapes and provide input in scoping and exploring new rewilding landscapes – in close cooperation with the Executive Director and the Heads of Landscapes.
• Visit the rewilding landscapes regularly, in close cooperation with the Heads of Landscapes.
• Actively contribute to the communication on Wilder Nature, represent Rewilding Europe at symposia and be a spokesperson on Wider Nature.
• Assists in developing, maintaining and content feed of the ‘Wilder Nature’ sections of the website www.rewildingeurope.com and other communication tools.

b) Strategic planning and management

• Lead, supervise and direct the work of the Wilder Nature team, including the Heads of Landscapes.
• As a member of the Leadership Team (LT), participate in strategic planning and budgeting initiatives that set the directions, strategy, and objectives.
• Contributes to the overall development and operations of the initiative, such as fundraising, LT meetings, Supervisory Board meetings, planning, budgeting, reporting and others.
• Explore possible fundraising opportunities and take an active role in planning, developing and submitting funding proposals to potential donors and financial partners.
• Responsible and accountable for the Wilder Nature component, based on operational plans, annual work plans and budgets.
• Coordinates and manages Wilder Nature related partnerships and contracts with external organisations and partners, consultants, strategic and donor organisations.
• Supervise and provide technical and strategic support to the Heads of Landscapes on all Wilder Nature related matters.

Key qualifications

• Master’s degree in nature conservation, wildlife biology or related.
• At least 8 years of strategic and operational experience in (preferably international) nature conservation and/or rewilding.
• Extensive international nature and rewilding network.
• Good social and communication skills (both in writing and speaking) and experience in intercultural communication.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, hands-on attitude, a ‘can-do’ mentality, solution and resultoriented.
• A real go-getter with a proactive attitude and ability to work independently.
• Full proficiency in English (read, written, and spoken) is required.

Remuneration

• Rewilding Europe is a professional and dynamic organisation with a friendly working culture.
• We offer competitive salaries, commensurate with background, expertise, level of experience, and country of residence.
• This position is graded in salary scale 10 with the salary structure of Rewilding Europe ranging from scale 4 to scale 11.