Description
What We Can Achieve Together:
At The Nature Conservancy (TNC), we recognize that the quality of the water we use is intricately linked to the health of the landscapes through which it flows. Our watersheds—the vital areas surrounding rivers, lakes, and streams—are essential yet often undervalued ecosystems. Unfortunately, nearly half of the world’s drinking water sources are significantly degraded, posing a serious threat to the quality and quantity of water accessible to communities and cities. However, the restoration of healthy and resilient watersheds is not only possible but imperative. By investing in Nature-based solutions, such as reforestation and regenerative agriculture, we can bolster water security, restore biodiversity, enhance resilience to climate change, and foster equitable development.
The Freshwater Specialist will provide essential technical support to TNC Mongolian Business Unit (BU), with a focus on planning, directing, and implementing conservation projects related to freshwater ecosystems. This role will be instrumental in developing and executing freshwater conservation strategies, utilizing a range of sustainable natural resource management tools to address varying degrees of policy and practical interests, while also securing public and private support for TNC’s conservation priorities.
We’re Looking for You:
The Freshwater Specialist will contribute to the development, management, and implementation of conservation project plans and methodologies across small to medium-scale geographic areas, emphasizing freshwater ecosystems. Reporting to the Mongolia Freshwater Protection Project Lead, this role will oversee the execution of diverse conservation initiatives aimed at mitigating critical threats to ecosystems and biodiversity in Mongolia.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Strategic Development and Implementation: Collaborate in creating comprehensive strategies for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of freshwater protection projects, utilizing diverse conservation methods to make significant progress in ecosystem preservation within protected areas, river protection zones, and community-managed regions.
- Monitoring and Evaluation Leadership: Lead the monitoring, evaluation, and learning initiatives related to freshwater conservation priorities, coordinating achievements across multiple TNC projects in Mongolia while providing training and consulting services as necessary.
- Ecosystem Assessment: Conduct assessments of ecosystem conditions and identify innovative Nature-based Solutions principles that align with sustainable management practices benefiting local herder communities and the economy.
- Governance Action Plan Development: Formulate and implement a comprehensive government relations action plan to secure necessary policy and legislative conditions for achieving conservation outcomes.
- Partnership Coordination: Build and maintain partnerships with public, private, and community organizations to enhance conservation outcomes, providing training and facilitating collaborative workshops as required.
- Cross-Site Learning Coordination: Promote cross-site learning within the international conservation community, offering essential conservation insights to support effective planning and implementation processes.
- Funding and Communication: Coordinate and disseminate project successes, lessons learned, and vital messages internally and externally to leverage funding and promote collaboration.
- Innovation and Research Application: Identify and implement cutting-edge scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address challenges in the protection and sustainable management of natural resources.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree and 3 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads, and finances under deadlines.
- 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.
Desired Qualifications
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 3-5 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Politically savvy.
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.”
What We Bring:
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into 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 and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.
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 applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
