About the job
Freshwater Policy Expert
(Full-time position, based in Bucharest)
The Freshwater Policy Expert strengthens WWF‑Romania’s influence on freshwater-related public policies by translating technical freshwater expertise into policy positions, advocacy strategies, and institutional engagement. The role ensures that freshwater priorities, including biodiversity protection, river and wetland restoration, Nature-based Solutions, climate adaptation, and integrated water governance, are reflected in national, regional, and EU policy processes.
Reporting to the Public Advocacy Lead and under the functional guidance of the National Freshwater Manager, the position supports WWF’s efforts to improve freshwater governance, integrate conservation principles into sectoral policies (water management, agriculture, fisheries, hydropower, navigation, urban planning), and strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing legislation.
The role contributes to WWF’s organisational objectives by ensuring that freshwater considerations inform broader policy agendas on biodiversity, climate adaptation, restoration, land‑use, and sustainable development.
Your duties will include:
- Conduct analysis of national and EU policies impacting freshwater ecosystems, identify risks and gaps, and develop evidence‑based recommendations to improve governance, implementation, and integration of freshwater conservation and Nature‑based Solutions (NbS).
- Draft policy briefs, position papers, legislative recommendations, amendments, and technical comments on policies and legislation relevant to freshwater priorities.
- Contribute to the freshwater advocacy strategy, including annual influencing priorities, workplans, and the monitoring of advocacy results.
- Advocate with Romanian Government institutions and contribute to EU‑level influencing to promote policy reforms and financing instruments for freshwater conservation, NbS, wetland and floodplain restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable community livelihoods.
- Engage with basin authorities, regional institutions, and administrative bodies, particularly in the Lower Danube and Danube Delta, to advance freshwater policy objectives.
- Support WWF’s participation in policy debates, awareness‑raising and public discussions on freshwater governance and conservation.
- Represent WWF‑Romania in freshwater-related consultations, stakeholder dialogues, working groups and public hearings, as needed.
- Gather and translate freshwater technical inputs into policy-relevant content and advocacy products (briefs, positions, amendments, talking points).
- Provide policy framing, context and advocacy needs for technical analyses and studies developed by the Freshwater Programme.
- Coordinate technical validation of freshwater policy content with the Freshwater Manager and thematic experts; incorporate feedback and track sign‑offs.
- Provide policy framing and advocacy-relevant content for communication materials (key messages, briefing notes, Q&A, public statements).
- Collaborate with the Freshwater Communications Expert on planning visibility and communication moments linked to freshwater policy advocacy, including Lower Danube and Danube Delta.
- Support accurate integration of freshwater policy content into cross-thematic communication products of the Public Advocacy Unit.
- Provide policy arguments for communication on freshwater financing instruments, restoration incentives and community resilience.
- Provide policy inputs for project concepts, proposals and donor submissions, ensuring freshwater priorities and advocacy pathways are clearly reflected.
- Work with project managers to implement policy- and advocacy‑related project deliverables and ensure they are consistent with WWF‑Romania’s influencing priorities.
- Contribute to project implementation by delivering policy‑ and advocacy‑related activities (e.g., policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, advocacy moments).
- Ensure timely delivery of project‑funded policy and advocacy outputs in line with donor requirements and internal standards.
- Contribute to the design of freshwater policy objectives, influencing pathways, and indicators within advocacy strategies and project frameworks.
- Support tracking of policy outcomes, institutional responses, and the effectiveness of freshwater advocacy interventions.
We expect from you:
Adhere to the WWF mission, as well as LIVE in line with the WWF Values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration
Knowledge:
· University degree in public policy, environmental policy, political science, environmental governance, environmental law, or public administration.
· Degrees in freshwater/environmental sciences or natural resource management are acceptable if supplemented by demonstrated experience in policy analysis or advocacy.
· Additional training in EU environmental governance, water policies, NbS, river restoration, or climate adaptation is an advantage.
· Good understanding of Romanian and EU freshwater-related policy frameworks, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Floods Directive, EU Biodiversity Strategy, Nature Restoration Law, CAP, and climate adaptation instruments.
· Familiarity with freshwater ecosystem conservation, hydro morphology, aquatic biodiversity, NbS, river/wetland restoration, and cross‑sector linkages (agriculture, fisheries, energy, navigation, urban planning).
· Understanding of political, socio‑economic, and governance challenges relevant to freshwater systems in Romania.
Experience:
· 3–5 years in public policy, environmental governance, advocacy or institutional engagement, preferably in freshwater‑related, land-use, climate or biodiversity sectors.
· Experience in monitoring, analysing, or contributing to legislative and policy processes (national and/or EU).
· Experience in working with public authorities, river basin institutions, NGOs, or research institutions is an advantage.
· Experience in project development and reporting is a plus.
Skills and Abilities:
- Strong policy analysis, synthesis and writing skills.
- Ability to translate technical content into policy-oriented materials.
- Strong relationship-building skills with institutions and stakeholders.
- Familiarity with advocacy, public affairs, or political engagement.
- Ability to work effectively in a matrix environment with multiple deadlines.
- Fluency in Romanian and English.
- Proficiency in MS Office / Google Workspace.
- Ability to use or learn policy monitoring tools
We offer
The opportunity to make a difference – for Romania and WWF
Challenging and fulfilling work in one of Europe’s most exciting eco-regions
A friendly and highly professional working atmosphere in an international context
Varying tasks and an independent work style
A pleasant working atmosphere and a great learning environment
If you are interested in joining the global WWF team, email your application documents, including your CV and cover letter (in English) to rpoiana@wwf.ro. Application deadline: 13.03.2026. Please understand that we can only reply to short-listed candidates.
