Kenya Program Director

Nairobi, Kenya

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 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 Kenya Program Director is responsible for implementing strategic activities and working with numerous partners to achieve program objectives in Kenya. 

She / He works closely with the Africa Region staff, other divisions of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), government agencies, regional institutions, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral agencies, land and water managers, communities and the private sector to develop, coordinate and implement conservation strategies.  The current program involves a large community conservation focus in northern Kenya and the north Coast region of Lamu, Tana delta, the Upper Tana and national policy engagement with numerous partners.  The Kenya Program Director will develop and manage annual work plans with these partners to clearly define TNC’s technical and financial contribution to joint conservation and livelihood objectives.  Monitoring project outcomes through an adaptive management approach is a critical TNC process that will need to be managed by this position with support from the TNC Africa Conservation Director.

The Kenya Program Director is charged to grow the existing program by gaining Government support and by securing additional funding.  This will require the Kenya Program Director to meet frequently with Government of Kenya officials, Overseas Development Agencies, and private donors.  Both government and private fundraising will be supported and coordinated by existing TNC fundraising staff in Kenya and America. The Kenya Program Director represents TNC in relationships and negotiations with government agencies, regional institutions, multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and multi-stakeholder working groups in Kenya.

A key aspect of the position will be to develop and implement a sustainable conservation business model for this program.  This may include sustainable financing, tourism development, additional partnerships and creative thinking.

Essential functions include:

• Maintain and establish key partnerships with international, regional, national and local governmental, multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental organizations that can help advance TNC’s conservation objectives in Kenya. Raise awareness of TNC’s mission, goals and capacity among key government, multilateral, bilateral, NGO and local authority officials.
• Lead and coordinate the development and implementation of practical, innovative strategies by TNC and our partners to conserve priority places, species, ecosystem services and improve benefits for local people. 
• Provide oversight for the management and coordination of principle projects and programs including: Northern Rangelands Trust, North Coast Conservation, Marsabit Conservation Project, Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association and the Laikipia Unity and Land Initiative.
• Dialogue with and advice to policy makers on progressive evidence-based, effective and equitable policies, measures and strategies supportive of community/landowners conservation programs in Kenya.
• Ensure technical, financial and contractual monitoring as well as the management of program staff and conduct technical or organizational support.
• Help TNC Africa Region raise private and public funds for the program by helping write and edit grant proposals and conducting donor visits.
• Develop policy statements and documents for conferences and coordinate TNC participation in priority conferences.

The Kenya Program Director works closely with staff of the Africa Region, as well as TNC’s Conservation Lands Program, Freshwater, Development by Design, Marine and Climate Change teams.

• MA/MSc degree and 8 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
• Experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.).
• Must be fluent in Kiswahili.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in natural resources management, natural resources policy or a related field and 8 years of work experience in natural resources conservation and/or government relations.
• Experience in conservation area management, in particular with regards to the setup and implementation of co-management agreements and public private partnerships for management of these areas.
• Ability to lead a complex program, consisting of several subprograms, that is accountable in achieving TNC’s objectives, including the ability to define priorities, set long- and short-term goals, formulate innovative strategies, define and obtain needed personnel and fiscal resources, monitor work, and ensure its completion in pursuit of the TNC’s mission.
• Knowledge of the institutional and policy frameworks of conservation area management, climate change management, water resources conservation, land tenure in Kenya and development strategies including Vision 2030 programs.
• Experience working with a diverse set of stakeholders (e.g., government, private sector, NGOs, academic community); experience coordinating complex inter-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and international multi-stakeholder processes of institutional development at multiple levels (e.g. local, national, multi-national).
• Experience in partnership development (partners, community and government) including extensive networking with high-level government and NGO contacts.  This position requires a politically acute and high energy individual to drive results with partners.  Must have knowledge of and experience interacting with operations of multilateral and bilateral institutions.
• Proven project management skills (preferably international project management), including the ability to develop long-term goals, set clear and measurable objectives, establish and meet deadlines, and work within teams to complete deliverables on time and within budget.
• Ability to work smoothly and simultaneously as a team member with people at various organizational levels and to work with partners to build positive relationships and build the recognition of TNC across the region.
• Knowledge of current trends in conservation, integrated water resources management, protected areas management, and community-based conservation in Kenya and east Africa.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.  The Kenya Program Director must have demonstrated flexibility to changing situations and priorities.
• Excellent English written and oral communications skills, with the ability to speak and write clearly and concisely to a broad range of audiences, including the general public, elected officials, public agency professionals, conservationists, scientists and attorneys.
• Must be fluent in Kiswahili.
• Familiarity with standard office software for e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations.
• Proven ability to build organizational capacity through fund-raising, partnership development, hiring and supervision.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently within Kenya, East Africa, and to the US and Europe as needed.

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.

To apply to position number 41257, 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 July 16, 2013.

Failure to complete all of the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

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