Job ID: 54495
Location: Africa
Full/Part Time:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
OFFICE LOCATION
Kenya, Africa
The position will be based in Kenya and will involve regular travel to the field. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labour employment requirements.
WHO WE ARE
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 Programme in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.
Our work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. 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 stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.
Since its establishment in Kenya in 2006, TNC is working collaboratively in support of the country’s ambitious biodiversity and community conservation goals. Our work transcends across a suite of conservation strategies and projects operating across Kenya’s landscape focusing on community-led wildlife conservation, freshwater, oceans, fisheries, climate, carbon, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable financing mechanisms anchored under Kenya’s Project Financing for Permanence (PFP) and work toward the 30×30 initiative. At the core of these strategies are community benefits and improved livelihoods. In addition, Kenya is one of four key geographies selected by TNC as a Focal Place due to the critical importance of both biodiversity and climate in the country and plays a pivotal role in reaching the ambitious 2030 goals of the organisation.
WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
A major goal for this position is to strengthen integration across strategies and projects for greater effectiveness, impact, and equity. The Kenya Conservation Director oversees all conservation program aspects of the Kenya program in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, providing technical, scientific and programmatic leadership to successfully execute the Kenya Strategic Plan. They provide strategic leadership and support for TNC’s conservation planning work and establish overall conservation priorities for Kenya program initiatives. The Kenya Conservation Director serves as the principle contact to conservation organizations, foundations, and the academic community within their area of responsibility. They will engage with key stakeholders to amplify conservation developments in Kenya come up with innovative solutions to improve conservation efforts in line with TNCs 2030 Goals and the Kenya Strategic Plan. They disseminate best practices, oversee trainings and analysis to best implement organizational measures of success. They will work closely with the Africa regional IPLC, terrestrial, freshwater, marine and climate strategies as well as with the regional fundraising team to ensure that all programs are well coordinated.
This position will report to the Kenya Country Program Director, supervise a team and work closely with the TNC Kenya and regional conservation teams. The position will be based in Kenya and will involve regular travel to the field. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labour employment requirements.
WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We’re looking for someone who is passionate, and a motivated problem-solver.
This is an exciting new position within the Kenya conservation team, responsible for leading a body of integrated terrestrial, freshwater and marine conservation work across Kenya ensuring durable outcomes for nature and people.
The responsibilities and scope for this position are:
- Provide technical, strategic, and scientific leadership to TNC Kenya’s conservation programs under the terrestrial (including agriculture), freshwater, and oceans workstreams ensuring alignment with the Kenya Conservation Strategic Plan, while incorporating cross-disciplinary knowledge to support landscape-scale program objectives.
- Oversee the coordination and implementation of conservation actions as articulated in the Kenya Strategy
- Coordinate workstream design and implementation in northern Kenya, which includes conservation planning under the larger goal of achieving 30×30 and geography specific deliverables under the PFP.
- Cultivate and develop new and existing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including government agencies, public and private partners, implementing partners, collaborating partners and communities to achieve strategic goals and objectives.
- Identify and resolve technical issues and widely communicate solutions, innovative scientific methods, analysis, tools and frameworks to address the natural system needs.
- Facilitate stakeholder engagement and provide technical support to the TNC staff and partners in Kenya in the identification and strengthening of linkages and collaborations between organizations working on community based natural resource management, community development, species protection and wildlife security.
- Support fundraising efforts for Kenya conservation priorities.
- Identify and design how to effectively leverage partnerships and build their capacity to develop and implement risk management protocols to reduce and mitigate risk and improve quality controls of projects.
- Support efforts to strengthen community land rights and land use planning in community conservancies.
- Be accountable for tracking progress, reporting to donors and stakeholders on progress and impact of integrated landscape initiatives – terrestrial, freshwater and oceans.
- Leverage the relationships between community and private conservation efforts by building strategic scientific and technical capacity amongst conservation partners to build landscape connectivity.
- Improve quality controls and coordination of interventions across the different strategic programs touching down in northern Kenya, including but not limited to, rangelands (including carbon projects), holistic grazing, source water management and regenerative agriculture.
- Working with the leading team members, coordinate and integrate the conservation programs into the Kenya Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), 30×30 and Focal Place workstreams.
- Manage the performance of direct reports.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- BA/BS degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management /supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
- Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
- Experience in conservation planning and systems thinking.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
- Experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the country level.
- Experience with financial management of a large program.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated with excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of Maasai and/or Samburu language would be beneficial.
- Over 12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A master’s degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences or a related field will be an added advantage.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, environmental policy, land management, and natural resource preservation in Kenya.
- Knowledge of the Kenya ecosystem and community-based natural resource management principles and the legislative provisions that facilitate a co-management approach.
- Knowledge of ecosystem and landscape scale management conservation practices and conservation science in Kenya.
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong organizational and communications skills.
- Completing tasks with minimal supervision with respect to timeline(s).
- Sensitivity in handling confidential information with respect to project activities and outcomes.
- Politically savvy.
WHAT WE BRING
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, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) 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!
APPLY NOW
To apply for job ID 54495, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
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 applyhelp@tnc.org 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.
