Director at Nature Conservancy

Job description

Africa Regional Office, Kenya (will consider other Africa region offices: locations in Tanzania, Kenya and Seychelles currently include Arusha, Dares Salaam, Nairobi, Lamu, and Victoria)

KEN01

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Africa Oceans Strategy Director assists in the design, development and implementation of oceans and coastal strategies across TNC Africa Region. The strategic focus will be bottom up and top down and designed to build on existing successes with artisanal fishers in Kenya and National Marine Spatial Planning and policy outcomes in Seychelles. Sustainable financing and strategic national partnerships with the industrial fishing sector will be also be a key focus. Simultaneously in key geographies, we plan to build local capacity to better manager coastal habitats, reefs and fisheries using FishPath and our community based management methodologies.

S/He will work to develop and deliver outcomes across our Ocean Protection, Resilience and Coastal Fisheries priorities at TNC in countries across the Western Indian Ocean, including Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania and through partnerships and capacity building in Mozambique, Mauritius and Madagascar. The ideal candidate will have experience in conservation, policy and sustainable programs for oceans and/or coasts. They will have experience navigating in communities using multi-cultural/cross cultural competencies and experience/knowledge of implementing strategies within developing world countries.

This position will be located in one of our region offices: locations in Tanzania, Kenya and Seychelles currently include Arusha, Dares Salaam, Nairobi, Lamu, and Victoria. The Director of Oceans Strategy for Africa will report to the Africa Conservation Director and work closely with TNC’s Global Oceans Team.

Essential Functions

The Africa Oceans Strategy Director supports strategy leadership by managing priority projects and serves as a technical resource on relevant ocean and coastal strategies and/or projects. They serve as a key liaison and informational contact between the Africa Region, Global Oceans Team and other TNC staff, and develop relationships with government agencies, local and international NGOs and other groups as needed to advance our oceans goals. They assess conservation opportunities, governmental policies and decisions, or the practices and views of other stakeholders and their potential impact on organizational conservation goals. The Director assist in developing reports, presentations and assessments on topics related to the Africa ocean conservation strategy and projects, including progress, finances, successes and challenges. They advise TNC communications, marketing and philanthropy staff on issues related to oceans work in Africa and help ensure that TNC’s internal and external communications accurately reflect the strategy and conservation goals.

Strategies And Projects May Include

• Advancing national level planning efforts that increases conservation outcomes, including climate mitigation and resilience plans, marine spatial plans and coastal zone plans in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius.
• Reforming fisheries and building local capacity for sustainable and legal fisheries management while supporting policies at national, regional and local levels to enable fishery reform.
• Creating and advancing community-based strategies for better managed coastal and marine areas, including demonstrating the benefits mangroves, coral reefs and other coastal habitats provide for local communities.
• Help identify and establish alternative income schemes to reduce overharvesting and pressure on natural resources and habitats.

Responsibilities And Scope

• Conducts research and analysis to support development and implementation of oceans projects and strategies.
• Assists in developing reports, presentations and assessments on related topics, as well as internal and external communications materials that reflect the program’s objectives and priorities.
• Coordinates learning exchanges and conferences.
• Serve as a team leader for Africa oceans; may require gaining cooperation of team over whom there is no direct supervisory authority.
• Works within a budget to complete projects, negotiates and contracts with vendors and assists with budget development.
• Supports fundraising by contributing to proposals and representing the Africa Ocean Program to public and private donors.
• Explores and creates long-term revenue streams to ensure effective management of coastal habitats.
• May involve domestic and international travel (about 30%).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ocean or conservation science, political science, public policy, international relations, international development, social science, natural science, ecology or related field and at least 5 years related experience, or equivalent combination.
• Experience in research, critical analysis, and evaluating information from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports.
• Experience writing and editing promotional and informational material.
• Experience presenting to and/or communicating with government or legislative staff, community or business leaders, program leadership and/or similar audiences.
• Excellent time management skills.

DESIRED QUALIFCATIONS

• Experience in conservation, policy and sustainable programs for oceans and/or coasts.
• Demonstrated experience navigating in communities using multi-cultural/cross cultural competencies and experience/knowledge of implementing strategies within developing world countries.
• Master’s degree in ocean or conservation science, political science, public policy, international relations, international development, social science, natural science, ecology or related field.

To apply to this position, please visit www.nature.org/careers and click on Current Job Opportunities. Please submit your resume (required) and cover letter separately using the upload buttons.

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 men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. 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 orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.