Conservation Director, Africa

Location is flexible in TNC's core countries in Africa (Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Gabon, or South Africa).

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The Nature Conservancy’s 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.
 

The Africa Conservation Director oversees all aspects of TNC’s Africa Conservation Program, reporting to the Africa Regional Managing Director. The Africa Conservation Director is responsible for delivering conservation outcomes and manages regional strategy directors.  This position will serve as the focal point for conservation management with a strong supporting team. TNC has staff in eight African countries and is executing projects in several others currently. The Conservation Director will oversee portfolio management and program reviews with project and strategy teams to ensure we are delivering milestones according to schedule and budget. The Conservation Director will also be responsible for coordination, communication and effective execution between our Strategy leads and our Country, Communication and Policy teams. Conservation planning, priority definition and rigorous monitoring of our impact are key aspects of this position.  This is a senior position at TNC and within the Africa Region. The Conservation Director is a member of the Africa Leadership Team. This position will supervise the deputy Director of conservation, strategy leads and the science director and will be based in any country in Africa where TNC has a registered office (Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Gabon, or South Africa)
 

If you’re looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join our Africa Business Unit as the Conservation Director Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives in Africa, but you’ll contribute to conservation goals through many networks!

Responsibilities 
•    Responsible for executing the TNC Africa conservation strategy and conservation outcomes.  
•    Lead the setting of TNC Africa conservation priorities. 
•    Lead and manage a large multidisciplinary team which implements conservation efforts. 
•    Play a key role in fundraising and reporting to donors by working closely with our private and public fundraising teams. 
•    Help maintain and build partnerships in coordination with Strategy and Country Directors, and work closely with the Global Protect, Provide and Impact, Market and Finance teams. 
•    Liaise closely with the Regional Managing Director to adjust conservation priorities over time.
•    Disseminate best practices to the conservation team in Africa and ensures training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success and helps develop key partnerships. 
•    Incorporate cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.
•    Build strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field, develop key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices, and develop innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the natural system needs. 
•    Negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, partners, and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities, and develop and implement cutting edge conservation strategies in a high-profile geography and major philanthropic market.
•    May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.                                                                                                                                                
•    Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience, and context.
•    May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours.
 

•    BA/BS degree and 15 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•    Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.   
•    Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals, and coordinating the work of various partners while meeting deadlines.     
•    Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation                                                                                     
•    Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
•    Experience developing partnerships with non-profit partners, community groups and/or   government agencies.  
•    Experience in networking with high-level conservation contacts.
•    Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
•    Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives involving multiple countries.
•    Experience negotiating and influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the division and/or global/international level.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Master’s degree.
•    At least 5 years work experience in a similar role and knowledge of conservation in Africa.
•    Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
•    Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
•    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.
•    Politically savvy
 

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 plan including employer match, 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!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.
 

To apply for job ID 54281, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at . Need help applying? Visit our page or contact .

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 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.

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 with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.