WWF Pacific

 WWF’s work in the Pacific spans nearly three decades with offices in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji with a regional hub in Suva. Since the mid-1990s, WWF has delivered community-led conservation to protect the region's astonishing natural heritage, relied upon by millions of people for food, water and livelihoods. Striving to positively influence conservation and climate resilience agendas, WWF and the people of the region are co-creating a future where all Pacific peoples and nations are empowered, climate resilient and prosperous, with nature thriving and recovering ensuring the long-term health of Pacific ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Client:  WWF Pacific

Service:  Exclusive Executive Search

Role:  Various executive roles

Placement:  2020 onwards

Challenge

Due to long-term staff attrition, WWF needed to replace country heads in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. They also required a Pacific Director to manage both country heads and their Fiji program.


The vacancies occurred almost simultaneously. The Papua New Guinea position had initially remained vacant for many months. Following a previously unsuccessful executive search process, WWF engaged NGO Recruitment to take over.



Solution

NGO Recruitment mapped candidates throughout the Pacific region and beyond to find Pacific nationals, and conservation program leaders with Pacific region experience, who could be suitable for all three positions. This was a complex exercise which required a deep search and demanded significant regional experience to understand the cultural nuances and challenges of the various country recruitment assignments.



 In all, over 600 applications were received and NGO Recruitment mapped, identified, and approached over 500 potential candidates for this challenging recruitment, ensuring qualified, highly motivated, and technically competent candidates were presented for all positions. WWF were impressed with the broad, deep and highly competitive searches for all positions, and that a female, Solomon Island national candidate, who was residing outside of the country elsewhere in the Pacific was appointed.


Results

The Country Manager, Solomon Islands and the Pacific Director, Papua New Guinea for WWF Pacific placed by NGO Recruitment

Over 600 applications were received and evaluated by our team

Due to the success of the three recruitment campaigns, WWF has engaged NGO Recruitment for five further positions

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