Deputy Director of Conservation- Africa at Nature Conservancy

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.