Africa Field Programs Director

Africa Field Programs Director

Job ID:

40150

Location:
Kenya

Full/Part Time:

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary:

Regular

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OFFICE LOCATION

Nairobi, Kenya

ABOUT US

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visitwww.nature.org/aboutus to learn more.
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN AFRICA
From the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro to the rich coral reefs off the coast of Mozambique, Africa supports some of the most stunning places and wildlife on Earth. Much remains as it was a millennium ago. But as populations rise and the climate changes, Africa's landscapes have dramatically been altered over the last 50 years. And with increasingly complex challenges comes the need for evolved conservation strategies.
The Nature Conservancy's vision for Africa is rooted in its people - who historically have not always been at the table during planning for their sustainable future. Our success depends on the involvement of local communities to create a conservation agenda that incorporates their needs along with the needs of the lands and wildlife of this vast landscape.
Roughly 60 percent of Africa's lands and almost 100 percent of its waters are community property -- shared resources that sustain some of the most iconic wildlife and the most vulnerable people on Earth.  These communal lands and waters outside of Africa's famed national parks are critical to the continent's wildlife and people, as the majority of the wildlife live or migrate beyond park boundaries. The Nature Conservancy's projects inKenya,Tanzania,Namibia,Zambiaand theWest Indian Oceanfocus on helping local communities, governments and organizations better manage these important shared resources.
TNC

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Africa Field Programs Director manages The Nature Conservancy's work at projects in Africa.  S/he manages the implementation of work and relationship building covering numerous projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.  The Program Director provides strategic leadership and support for the Conservancy's conservation planning work, sustainable financing, and building a strong constituency for support for the Africa Region.  S/he serves as the principle contact to local and regional government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community in Africa. Working with the Africa Regional Director and Director of Philanthropy, s/he may play a key role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program. In coordination with the Conservation Director and Science team, s/he disseminates best practices, provides training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success, and develops key partnerships.   Working with the Africa External Affairs Director, S/he helps facilitate strong working relationships with local, regional and national government, and with public funding agencies to influence critical policy process in the countries where TNC is working.  The position includes the following functions:
* Establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner in Africa and especially in our priority areas
*  Helps identify conservation priorities in Africa. Plays a leading role in managing major public agency and elected official relationships
* Plays a critical role in securing public and private funds for the program
* Leads and manages a large team which implements conservation efforts
* Builds strategic, scientific and technical capacity in the field
* Develops key partnerships with public and private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices
* Leads a team that is able to negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities for the benefit of people and nature
* Leads a team that develops and implements cutting edge conservation strategies in Africa. 
* Maintains relationships with TNC senior management to advance strategic objectives in Africa. 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

* Masters degree or PhD degree and 10 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience with the majority of this in Africa.
* Experience managing a large, diverse and geographically dispersed team.
* Experience with certain aspects of fundraising: identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
* Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners.   
* Experience working with current trends and practices in community based conservation, complex transactions, protected areas management, and freshwater, marine and terrestrial conservation in Africa.
* Experience in partnership development (Africa NGO partners, local communities, national governments, etc.); experience with high-level conservation contacts throughout Africa, the USA, Asia and Europe.
* Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
* Experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives in complex environments in Africa.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
* Minimum Masters degree, PhD preferred, and 10 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience primarily in Africa
* Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the regional and/or country level
* Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation in Africa
* Successful experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects.
* Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiativesand experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
* Strong demonstrated experience motivating team members, setting goals, and leading efforts 
* Delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers
* Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs in Africa
* Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
* Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages
* Demonstrated success as an inspirational manager who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence.
* Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
* Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc) including extensive networking with high-level conservation contacts; political savvy.
* Proven interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. 

BENEFITS

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.
TNC

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your résumé or CV and cover letter of interest by July 31, 2012 toAfrica@tnc.org.  Please include Field Programs Director" in the subject line of your email.
TNC

EOE STATEMENT

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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