Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program Director

Office location is flexible depending on applicant, Coral Gables, Florida (FL) or Arlington, Virginia (VA)

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 35 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus  to learn more.                                                   

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.
 

The anticipated USAID-funded $10 million Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Activity (CMBA) will be implemented throughout the Caribbean region by a consortium led by The Nature Conservancy.  The overall objective of the CMBA is to reduce threats to marine-coastal biodiversity in priority areas in the Caribbean, including high biodiversity ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.  This objective will be achieved by working in the following lines of work over a five-year period:

• Strengthening community organization and participation in marine protected area (MPA) management, awareness of sustainable livelihoods, and fisheries management capacity such that human impacts on MPAs and surrounding areas are minimized or eliminated;
• Establishing effective MPA management structures such that there is improved capacity for enforcement, monitoring, and adaptive management;
• Developing the financial systems and human capacity necessary to strengthen MPA financial management and sustainability;
• Increasing dialogue and technical assistance among MPAs to promote the adoption of best practices and innovative approaches to managing MPAs and associated fisheries across targeted sites; and
• Enhancing harmonization among projects throughout the region to strengthen capacity for MPA and fisheries management.

The Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program Director (Chief of Party) provides dynamic and effective leadership covering all aspects of the CMBA.  This may include one or more of the following functions:

• Oversee and direct multi-disciplinary teams consisting of Conservancy staff, consortium members, sub-award partners and/or contractors to analyze and adopt innovative approaches to solving marine biodiversity conservation problems
• Support the development of innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address marine biodiversity conservation problems
• Provide strategic insight and appropriate high-level support and interface for activities with elected officials, governments, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector
• Serve as the principal institutional liaison with USAID
• Ensure compliance with USAID’s and other donors’ requirements and regulations, including branding and marking
• Lead and direct the preparation of work plans, quarterly, mid-year and annual reports to USAID and TNC for the CMBA
• Direct the development and implementation of the program’s performance monitoring and evaluation framework in coordination with USAID
• Develop and maintain institutional relationships among partners and donors
• Play a leading role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program
• Coordinate efforts to communicate solutions and best practices
• Supervise and motivate staff, providing guidance and support activities
• Work with TNC human resources staff and CMBA program staff on hiring related to the program
• Provide management and quality control oversight for individual program activities
• Coordinate with TNC program directors and other staff to provide the required support, guidance and direction to successfully implement the program activities and achieve targets
• Facilitate the development of project proposals together with TNC’s proposal development specialists in order to comply with cost-share and leverage commitments
• Represent TNC and CMBA at public and private events, sharing lessons learned and building partnerships
• Coordinate with other USAID and US government environmental projects in the Caribbean and beyond
• Ensure that program activities promote gender equality and avoid adverse gender impacts
• Other duties as assigned

• BA/BS degree and 12 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with certain aspects of fundraising: identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners.  
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
• Experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.); experience with high-level conservation contacts.
• Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
• Experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 12-15 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five to seven years of experience in senior management roles within similar organizations in the Caribbean with direct supervision of professional and support staff, and technical assistance in fields related to the subject matter of the program, such as marine biodiversity conservation, marine protected areas management, adaptation to global climate change, etc.
• Proven leadership in the administration of USAID (preferred) or similar international donor support programs in the Caribbean with skills in strategic planning, supervision and budgeting.
• Knowledge of key marine conservation and development issues, protected areas management, as well as climate change policies, institutional development and management issues in the Caribbean.
• History of productive involvement with a wide range and levels of organizations and stakeholders (community organizations, government, NGOs, private sector, research institutions).
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Problem solving skills, creativity, collaboration and willingness to innovate.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
• Motivating team members, setting goals, and leading efforts.
• Delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers.
• Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs; politically savvy.
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, Spanish and French (preferred).
• Demonstrated success as an inspirational manager who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence.
• Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
• Proven interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. 

• Employment duration is through September 31, 2019.
• This position is contingent on TNC’s receipt of the award for the USAID-funded $10 million Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Activity (CMBA). The successful candidate will be asked to sign a letter of exclusivity and a letter of commitment to TNC and the project.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

The Program Director may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions may:

• require occasional physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• present occasional possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings

This position may also:

• require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally
• require evening and weekend hours

This position is contingent on TNC’s receipt of the award for the USAID-funded $10 million Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Activity (CMBA).

To apply to position number 42159, submit resume and cover letter as one document. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 10, 2014.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide 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 men and women 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.