Africa Climate Director

The position can be based in any country in Africa where TNC has an office - Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our   to hear stories from staff or visit  .

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program 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 where we operate.

The Africa Climate Director will lead the development and execution of TNC’s Africa climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. This entails the development of a robust and scientifically sound theory of change to accelerate and scale the deployment of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to help realize TNC Africa’s 2030 Climate Mitigation goals (via Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) – sustainably managing, restoring, and protecting ecosystems – and a Clean Energy Transition) as well as designing and implementing TNC’s Africa Climate Adaptation strategy. They will provide thought leadership and guidance on prioritizations and scaling (policy and finance) of NCS pathways in Africa including avoided deforestation, improved forest management, reforestation, regenerative agriculture, improved rangeland management and coastal wetland protection and restoration. They will liaise with counterparts within the organization including TNC’s global strategy teams particularly the Global Climate team, Science and Field Conservation staff, External Affairs departments and TNC’s Operating Units to provide and extract lessons and coordinate joint policy/practice approaches. They will partner with the Africa Indigenous Landscapes Director and team to build an equitable, inclusive, positive, collaborative, and integrated approach to achieve climate impact at a scale and pace that matter and to ensure that the Africa team’s climate and environmental work contributes to climate justice and equitable conservation outcomes. They will disseminate best practices, provide training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success, and develop key partnerships with public & private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions, innovative scientific methods, analysis, tools and frameworks to address the natural and social system needs. 

The Climate Director is part of TNC Africa regional team and works closely with country teams as well as the global TNC Climate Change team. They will grow TNC’s climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in the region, including in Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. The strategies will focus on forest, freshwater, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems and will deliver risk reduction, well-being and equitable adaptation outcomes for human populations.

This position will report to the Africa Conservation Director and will supervise the Africa Forest Carbon Catalyst as well the carbon markets and climate adaptation teams. The position can be based in any country in Africa where TNC has an office.  

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 motivated problem-solver. Our team in Africa is dedicated to resolving issues pertaining to climate change in creative and innovative ways. Come join us!

Specific roles and key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for all of TNC Africa’s climate work – both on adaptation and mitigation.
• Design and implement TNC Africa’s Climate Strategy including a robust and scientifically sound theory of change, to accelerate and scale the deployment of NBS solutions.
• Build and manage a regional climate team to provide high-level support and coordination for climate work through science, partnerships, and other policy and finance mechanisms – including forest and restoration economies, and other financial, market and policy incentives.
• Design, fundraise for, coordinate, collaborate, implement, support and/or direct complex and diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization. Incorporate cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.
• Prepare and present project proposals and negotiate with governmental, bilateral, and multilateral agencies and/or the business and corporate sector, to achieve program goals.
• Develop and implement, in conjunction with the Africa policy and government relations team, a policy engagement strategy for each country program around UNFCCC and other country and regional climate policy.
• Provide thought leadership and guidance on TNC Africa’s engagement in advancing carbon markets (including jurisdictional-level work and compliance markets).
• Engage closely with TNC Africa’s philanthropy team to engage partners and donors in fundraising discussions to support our NCS work in Africa. Articulate a vision with colleagues, peers, donors, and partners resulting in dedication to NCS work.
• Maintain and build on TNC’s role as a major conservation partner within the Region’s NCS community.
• Serve as the principal climate contact and coordinate closely with TNC’s External Affairs and other regional teams, in establishing productive collaborations with governments, other conservation organizations, and foundations.
• Collaborate with platforms such as Nature4Climate to build regional awareness and momentum for NCS implementation and develop, service, and maintain a strong network of global colleagues in regions where NCS projects are deployed.
• Build capacity internally and externally for NBS (adaptation and mitigation) implementation, including strategies for understanding and addressing barriers, and support the build out of extensive outreach and training opportunities.
• Build capacity internally and externally for climate adaptation and mitigation implementation.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive understanding of the science of and experience in designing and implementing nature-based climate change adaptation and mitigation projects (natural climate solutions and nature-based solutions in general).
• Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals from diverse backgrounds and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in climate science, nature-based solutions and how this touch down in Africa.
• Experience leading high-performance teams including, motivating, supervising, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
• Experience networking with high level conservation contacts.
• Strong English language communications skills, including ability to communicate clearly via written, oral, and graphical forms, and ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• Strong strategic development skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in conservation, Natural Resource Management, forestry, and 10-12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of climate and natural climate solutions policies (UNFCCC, REDD+, NDCs, NAPAs) and international initiatives (AFR100, Bonn Challenge, Nature4Climate) and substantial networks and experience in the UNFCCC process.
• Multi-lingual skills (Kiswahili, French and/or Portuguese) and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of non-carbon markets-based financing mechanisms such as green supply chains product certification.
• Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and French.
• Experienced in working well in a highly matrixed, decentralized, and collaborative organization.
• 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, flexible spending accounts, retirement pension stipend, 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 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!

To apply for job ID 53470, 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.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

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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.