Director Program Delivery, Africa

Cape Town, South 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 (TNC) 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 Region 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 reaching 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 Director Program Delivery, Africa oversees the implementation of TNC’s programs and projects in countries in alignment with TNC’s Africa conservation strategy and TNC’s global 2030 Goals. Working closely with TNC’s Africa’s Conservation Director, they will ensure alignment between the strategies and plans and TNC’s overall strategic objectives, priorities, and resources available and will apply a diversified knowledge of best practices to lead TNC’s country program efforts within the region and countries where we work.
This is a senior position at TNC and within the Africa Region and is a member of the Africa Leadership Team. The position will report to the Africa Regional Managing Director and will supervise the Country Directors. This position could 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 TNC Africa as the Director Program Delivery. Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives in Africa, but you’ll contribute to conservation goals through many networks!

Responsibilities 
•    Strategic leadership: 
o    Supervise Country Directors and support the development and implementation of country strategies and program/project plans. 
o    Ensure alignment between the strategies and plans and TNC’s overall strategic objectives, pipeline priorities and resources available in country.
o    Apply diversified knowledge of best practices to lead TNC’s country program efforts within the region and countries where we work.
•    Program and project delivery oversight: 
o    Monitor the delivery status of program/projects in line with delivery plans and provide inputs to adapt the plans. 
o    Draw synergies among country programs and projects.
•    TNC strategy input: 
o    Work with the Africa Conservation Director to provide inputs to TNC Africa's conservation strategy and resource allocation based on consolidated insights from countries. 
o    Provide inputs to TNC Africa's science, policy, and fundraising priorities.
•    Budget management: 
o    Develop and administer departmental budgets in country programs.
o    Operates within budget guidelines to ensure sound financial performance.  
•    Partner management and network development: 
o    Support partner capacity development toward achievement of TNC objectives in country. 
o    Oversee the relationship and program and project delivery for strategic partners. 
•    Team development: 
o    Facilitate the transfer of best practices and skill sets among country teams for smooth program/project delivery. 
o    Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development. 
o    Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives.
 

•    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. 
•    Experience developing partnerships with non-profit partners, community groups and/or   government agencies.  
•    Experience in networking with high-level conservation contacts.
•    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.
•    Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
•    Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•    Advanced degree in conservation, natural sceince  international devt., business administration social sciences or other relevant fields.
•    Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in program and project management preferably in INGO context. 
•    Previous oversight of country offices and multi-country programs and projects.
•    Experience delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers.
•    Deep knowledge of conservation issues, preferably with expertise in regions that are TNC Africa's priorities.
•    Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
•    Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
•    Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English. 
•    Ability to persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups including senior government officials, corporate executives, major donors, board members and others who are critical to the organization’s overall prosperity. 
•    Multi-lingual skills, especially French and Portuguese, and multi-cultural experience appreciated. 
•    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 54284, 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.