Deputy Director Of Conservation The Nature Conservancy

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, TNC’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities, governments, and private sector across more than 22 million hectares on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with key stakeholders to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the countries we operate. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stand to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

What We Can Achieve Together:

TNC is investing in a systematic and structured approach to conceptualize, design, and implement large landscape-level conservation frameworks that are durable and equitable, and link community-based conservation, protected area management and national level biodiversity conservation and climate ambitions. TNC pursues conservation finance and funding options for these scenarios across freshwater, ocean and terrestrial ecosystems to protect and sustainable manage critical habitats for species, ecosystems, and carbon stocks.

TNC works with communities, governments and non-governmental partners to design mechanisms that provide long term support to large landscape conservation programs. These programs are designed to significantly contribute to lasting protection of important natural ecosystems to achieve biodiversity, climate change, and human well-being objectives.

The Deputy Conservation Director provides strategic leadership and coordinates long-term protection strategies across the region, combining science, finance, policy and governance solutions to scale conservation results, leveraging existing and future investments and ultimately conservation impact in Africa.

Building on TNC’s conservation strategies, the Deputy Director will leverage science, finance, policy and governance tools to design and deploy long-term conservation outcomes across Africa. The role will provide strategic leadership to large-landscape protection efforts in Africa using amongst others innovative financial models and equitable governance structures that will help scale to TNC’s global 2030 goals. The Deputy Director will be guided by priorities of the Africa conservation programs and work in close partnership with the TNC Global Protect team, to build a regional program for protection that benefits people and nature on the continent for the foreseeable future. They will work closely with Africa Strategy and Country Programs leads as well as amongst others the Impact Finance and Market teams to ensure coordination and alignment to deliver TNC’s conservation outcomes.

The Deputy Conservation Director will represent TNC Africa with donors and partners to build support for TNCs long-term sustainable protection and conservation strategies. They will develop and coordinate implementation of protection transactions such as the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) in Kenya and Gabon and work to elevate lessons learned across the region and from Africa into the wider organization. This position may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.

The Deputy Conservation Director will report to the Africa Conservation Director and will supervise the Africa Durable Finance Director, and the Kenya and Gabon PFP Directors. This position can be based at any location in Africa where TNC has an office.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking to further your career in support of nature and people? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative and durable solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate, creative and a problem-solver. By joining our regional Africa team, you will become part of a group that is a force to be reckoned with: a force for nature, a force for people, and a force for our planet. Our team consists of a dedicated group who are leading the conservation effort on multiple fronts and who expertly bring strategy and action together. Join us!

Role Scope and Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the successful delivery and high-quality sustainable outcomes of TNC-led long-term protection initiatives in Africa.
• Building partnerships across NGO, government, private sector and community actors to achieve a set of targeted, collaborative and equitable protection goals.
• Facilitate coordination, communication and effective execution of protection deals between program, country, regional and global TNC leads.
• Provide strategic leadership and support conservation planning that brings together conservation priorities, policy, governance and financial modeling into blueprints to scale conservation outcomes.
• Provide oversight to the Planning and Implementation Phases of the Kenya and Gabon Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) deals and future deals that are currently still being scoped.
• Provide leadership to the implementation of the Kenya Focal Place Phase 2, and mobilization of global support.
• Serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community as far as long-term sustainable protection strategies are concerned.
• Work with the regional finance team in annual budgeting and ensure conservation program objectives and costing are aligned.
• Lead and manage a team that focuses on scaling proven conservation efforts by establishing long-term sustainable and equitable mechanisms in the countries that TNC has prioritized in Africa.
• Play a leading role in donor and investor identification, cultivation, and stewardship for durable protection.
• Responsible for the dissemination of best practices and development of key partnerships.
• Build strategic, financial, and technical capacity in the field, develop key partnerships with public and private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices, and develop innovative durable financing mechanisms, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address ecosystem needs.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and 12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 5 years project management experience.
• Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals, and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) especially conservation finance, biodiversity, climate mitigation, and community development in Africa.
• Experience in partnership development with overseas development agencies, investors, non-profit partners, community groups and government departments.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
• Experience networking with high level conservation contacts.
• Experience conceiving and implementing strategic, durable, and creative initiatives.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Experience working in an organizational matrix setting.
• Strong English and French communications skills, including ability to communicate clearly via written, oral, and graphical forms, and ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• Strong strategic development skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Master’s degree and 12-15 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience developing long-term sustainable protection mechanisms in Africa.
• Knowledge of current trends in conservation practice in Africa.
• A passion for wildlife, wild places and the people that inhabit these.
• Politically savvy.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, Pension/ Gratuity , parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line