Africa Science Director at Nature Conservancy

Specific functions include:

• Undertakes and leads applied scientific research to assist Africa leadership in determining priority areas and geographies for the Conservancy’s work in Africa – in alignment with TNC’s 30 by 30 Goals, including by designing and testing conservation interventions, and predicting the impact of potential strategies for nature, climate, and people.
• Works with regional and country teams in Africa to address science capacity gaps and identify opportunities for strengthening evidence-based decision-making and ways to optimize resources and impacts to support program implementation. They will work to further share knowledge and synergies across teams in Africa.
• Facilitates the deployment of global and regional science resources and expertise for the development, execution, and integration of work streams in connection with the Africa Program strategy, ensuring that there is a good flow of communication between functions and assisting, as necessary, in making relevant connections others across Africa and TNC more broadly.
• Collaborates with a wide range of conservation partners (in TNC at local, regional, and global levels) to identify research needs, present technical concepts, and support fieldwork.
• Support TNC Africa’s partners in co-developing scientific strategies, including but not limited to capacity building.
• Builds solid collaborative networks within and outside TNC in support of conservation strategies. Works with country and regional teams to establish partnerships with universities and institutions to support and advance a research agenda to support African conservation strategies.
• Communicates with scientists and non-scientist conservation practitioners, philanthropy, government relations, and marketing/communications staff, and serves as a spokesperson and advocate for Conservancy initiatives in coordination with the Africa Conservation and Policy Directors.
• Advocates for and raises the visibility of TNC.
• Pursues public and private grant funding to support mission-critical science needs.
• Coordinates, advises and coaches African staff to ensure that science tools, methods, and metrics capabilities are available to all African countries. Provides training and mentoring to African staff on ecological and conservation scientific principles.
• Promotes inclusion, a diverse workforce, diversity of thought, and shared ownership and commitment to the organization’s highest priorities.
• Actively supports a culture of accountability for execution and results.
• Requires frequent domestic and international travel and may work in variable weather conditions at remote locations, hazardous terrain and/or under physically demanding circumstances.

We’re Looking for You:

If you’re looking for a career where you can find purpose, come join our region as the Director of Science – Africa. Not only will you fulfil conservation objectives across Africa, but you’ll contribute to conservation goals through many networks! We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to lead project teams and support our work. Communication, creativity, scientific mindset and relationship building are key in this role. Come join TNC and apply today!

What You’ll Bring:

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in science related field and 8 years’ experience in Conservation Science or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, coaching, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
• Experience in building and maintaining internal and external relationships across Africa region.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems thinking to complex projects and challenging partnerships.
• Experience conducting original research and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
• Experience communicating and presenting the following steps and strategy to senior management.
• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience, especially related to Africa.

Desired qualifications

• Multi-language skills experience appreciated.
• Ability to make independent decisions based on incomplete or ambiguous information and accepts associated risks.
• Strong strategic thinker and advanced analytical ability.
• Ability to develop work plans and project budgets.
• Ability to network extensively in scientific and conservation communities and maintain strong relationships.
• An active member of highly regarded professional groups and networks
• Experience developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Experience delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers.
• Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
• Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with all levels of management and staff.
• A passion for conservation and wild places across Africa.