Department : Conservation, Plastic Unit
Work location : Surat Thani, Thailand
Report to : Program Manager (Plastic Smart Cities)
Technically report to : N/A
Supervises : N/A
Employment duration : 12-month with possibility for extension
Background
The municipal solid waste generated in one household in Surat Thani municipality is at 1.22 kg/cap/day. The upstream waste segregation is at 66.5% and downstream segregation by Saleng, waste picker, and waste truck collector is at 33.5%. Only 13% is managed in controlled facilities. The key challenge in Surat Thani’s waste management system is the collection of waste from river-side communities. Although the fraction of waste generated in some communities without collection service, most of the waste will likely end up in the water or openly burned. These underserved areas have high plastic leakage potential, leaving plastic pollution in nature.
During 2019–2024, WWF Thailand implemented the Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) project in four pilot cities. The PSC project aims to reduce plastic leakage in the cities through interventions at different stages in the waste value chain. Part of the PSC intervention targets consumption reduction, collection and segregation at sources.
WWF Thailand’s Marine Program focuses on implementing solutions to reduce marine plastic pollution, conserve marine biodiversity, and promote sustainable ocean management. The program supports the WWF Marine Strategy and works with stakeholders across government, private sector, and communities to develop and implement conservation solutions that address both local and national marine challenges.
Major Function
The incumbent is responsible for the implementation of field-based activities, fostering collaboration with provincial and local governments, key stakeholders, and complementary initiatives to tackle plastic pollution and promote circular economy solutions. They will oversee project planning, execution, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), donor reporting, and administrative and asset management support. Reporting to the Project Manager, they will provide regular updates on both substantive and administrative aspects, ensuring the project aligns with local and national waste management efforts for impactful and sustainable results.
This position will work closely with local municipalities, NGOs, private sector stakeholders, and communities to develop and implement solutions that contribute to marine biodiversity protection, waste reduction, and sustainable coastal and marine ecosystems.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
A. Stakeholder engagement and Policy Advocacy
- Act as the primary liaison between WWF Thailand and local governments, NGOs, businesses, and academic institutions to foster collaboration on marine conservation.
- Work closely with policymakers and municipal authorities to support the development of sustainable waste management policies and plastic waste reduction regulations.
- Organize and lead stakeholder dialogues, training sessions, and policy discussions to promote conservation-based solutions.
- Advocate for sustainable marine resource management, including coastal and marine biodiversity protection, plastic waste reduction strategies, and responsible tourism initiatives.
- Strengthen engagement with private sector partners to develop and implement circular economy approaches that support conservation efforts.
B. Project planning and implementation
- Develop and oversee project work plans, ensuring alignment with WWF’s Marine Strategy and Circular Economy initiatives.
- Implement field-based activities to enhance waste management, recycling systems, and plastic pollution prevention.
- Coordinate with partners to support the formalization of informal waste workers (e.g., Saleng Associations) and improve local waste collection systems.
- Support community-driven waste management solutions, promoting segregation at source, collection efficiency, and material recovery.
- Identify and promote market-based solutions for handling low-value plastics (LVPs) through recycling innovations and policy mechanisms like EPR frameworks.
- Ensure that conservation projects contribute to marine biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries, and coastal ecosystem resilience.
- Report on the progress of the project to the Project Manager.
- Design and implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to track project impact on marine conservation and waste management.
- Collect and analyze data related to waste collection, recycling rates, biodiversity indicators, and conservation effectiveness.
- Prepare technical and financial reports for donors and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and compliance with funding requirements.
- Identify and document best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to improve conservation outcomes.
D. Community Engagement and Capacity Building
- Support awareness campaigns and educational initiatives on marine conservation, responsible tourism, and waste reduction.
- Facilitate training workshops for local communities, municipal officials, and waste collectors to enhance knowledge and implementation capacity.
- Work with local partners to improve public participation in waste management and conservation efforts.
- Promote behavioral change communication strategies to encourage sustainable waste disposal practices.
E. Administrative support and assets management
- Manage project-related documentation, including agreements, financial records, and progress reports.
- Support logistical planning for workshops, stakeholder meetings, and field visits.
- Ensure that all project activities align with WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF).
- Work closely with the Finance, M&E, and Communication teams to streamline project reporting and knowledge-sharing.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum five years of professional experience in international and/or local development work.
- Strong background in marine conservation, waste management, circular economy, or environmental policy.
- Demonstrated success in project management, stakeholder coordination, and policy advocacy.
- Academic qualification in conservation, ecology, environmental science, waste management, or related fields.
- Experience in multi-cultural environments and working with international organizations.
- Familiarity with municipal waste management, recycling industry, EPR frameworks, and informal waste worker engagement is an asset.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Strong project management and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills in Thai and English.
- Ability to work independently and proactively engage stakeholders at different levels.
- Strong analytical skills, including experience with monitoring and evaluation of conservation projects.
- Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making abilities.
- High adaptability and resilience in multi-stakeholder environments.
- Adherence to WWF’s values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
Working Relationships
- Internal – Works closely with Project Manager and Marine Program Lead, Project staffs, and relevant conservation teams. Work with the organization’s support team (Finance, M&E, ESSF, and Communication)
- External – Coordinate with Surat Thani Municipality, Saleng Association, local junkshops, MRFs, EPR stakeholders, governmental agencies, policy advocacy groups, specialists/consultants, CSOs, businesses, and other relevant stakeholders.
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 organizational needs.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.
To apply the position, please send updated CV to hr.th@wwf.or.th
