The Nature Conservancy Looking for Conservation Trust Fund Advisor, Project Finance For Permanence at Arlington, VA, United States Full Time

Job Description

OFFICE LOCATION

Arlington, Virginia, USA
The location for this position is flexible within countries where The Nature Conservancy is a registered NGO, and has an already established office.
#LI-REMOTE
#PDN

WHO WE ARE

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 working in more than 75 countries and territories. 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 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’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.

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Conservation Trust Fund Advisor supports large innovative conservation transaction structures with a focus on Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) approaches to advance durable and lasting protection for nature while providing community development benefits for people. Working in close partnership with a range of internal and external partners including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, NGOs, local and national governments, and other stakeholders in each project area, the CTF Advisor will help design, develop, establish and operationalize Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) in targeted countries that will source and manage funding for conservation and management actions as a core pillar of PFPs. The work will focus initially on TNC-led PFPs in Gabon, Great Bear Sea (Canada), Kenya and Mongolia; with other geographies to be added in the future.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Conservation Trust Fund Advisor will work primarily with local TNC staff in country and regional programs to lead multi-stakeholder processes to (i) determine the overall objectives and legal structure of CTFs; (ii) create legal founding documents and operational documents (in both common law and civil law countries); (iii) develop appropriate governance structures for CTFs; (iv) support start-up operations of CTFs; (v) advise on sustainable finance mechanisms that could help to capitalize CTFs; and (vi) support the monitoring and evaluation of CTF activities. The Specialist will also support capacity building for local TNC staff and stakeholders, and compile and disseminate best practices across the organization and across PFPs. The Specialist will collaborate closely with other TNC staff working on CTFs outside the PFP Initiative.
The Specialist will also collaborate with TNC Worldwide Office teams (particularly other members of the Durable Protection Strategies -l PFP Team, Global Oceans (Blue Bonds) Team and NatureVest staff), as well as regional and specialist teams. The CTF Advisor will also collaborate with staff from the Enduring Earth partners, other TNC partner organizations, such as multi-lateral and bi-lateral institutions, other conservation organizations, donors, investors, national governments, and local stakeholder and rightsholder groups in countries where we work. The CTF Advisor will bring sophisticated business, financial, legal, and public affairs experience and expertise, including facilitation, cross-cultural communication, conservation finance mechanisms, and project management, to the design and implementation of this work.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Leads on all aspects of the conservation trust fund ‘pillar’ in the PFP program, from design through to operationalization in alignment with the broader strategic timing of each proposed PFP transaction.
• Implements, manages, and trains local and regional TNC staff toward the development of new and existing Conservation Trust Funds.
• Manages and implements multiple CTF projects linked to PFPs, particularly those led by TNC.
• Travel associated with this position is expected to be approximately 35 % of the time.
• Ensures the programmatic work is collaborative and well-integrated across the organization and PFP Program.
• Makes independent decisions frequently based on analysis, experience and judgment.
• Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
• Collaborates with other partner organizations to bring and provide lessons learned and methods related to CTFs linked to PFPs facilitated by TNC and other organizations.
• May direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• May support other TNC teams working on complex, high profile innovative financing mechanisms with a conservation trust fund component.
• Able to travel internationally up to 35% of the time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of experience with conservation trust funds or similar entities, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.
• Experience leading and managing large scale projects, including working with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience communicating with and training staff and a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, non-government organizations, and local community groups.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Experience working effectively across matrix-based teams and time zones and juggle multiple projects at once.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with Conservancy partners. Experience working with governments, multi-lateral, and/or bi-lateral institutions preferred.
• Ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
• Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
• Superior written and oral communications.
• International work experience strongly desirable.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 51200, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact [email protected].
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.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
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 [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.