Senior Advisor, Global Conservation Strategy

Individual must be based out of existing TNC office ideally in the Worldwide Office in Arlington, Virginia (VA), the Denver Office, or a regional hub office.
TNC

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.
TNC

The Conservation Strategy Senior Advisor improves conservation strategies and management across The Nature Conservancy’s Global Strategies and Regional units. The Senior Advisor role also plays a critical role on the Conservation Strategies Team (CST) to help guide and lead the other Strategy Advisors and Associate Strategy Advisors in their work while providing overall upward management and advice to the Managing Director for Conservation Strategy and coordination with the Chief Conservation Officer. The primary responsibilities of this position are to:

• Advise a significant portfolio of Global Strategies and regionson the development, implementation, and active management of their conservation business plans and strategies (e.g., 3 or more strategies, 1 or more regions).
• Support the development of business plans for the Global Strategy and core regional strategies/ projectsacross all aspects of the business planning and management cycle through leading and/or coaching goal setting; outcomes and metrics, strategy development; work planning; financial analysis; funding approaches; capacity assessment; functional integration with external affairs, marketing, science, and philanthropy; integration of social issues; and structured ideation processes to develop new strategies.
• Advise the regional and Global teams on active strategy managementand building capacity throughout their teams through the development of planning tools and processes, designing training programs that maximize learning opportunities on business planning, facilitation of peer review and audits, and by providing direct coaching and analytical support to Conservancy management and field staff.
• Act as a strategy management advisor to the Global Strategy and regional management leads,including their operations and planning leads to identify key strategy management issues, help upward manage, prepare for management and Executive Team reviews and bridge to the Chief Conservation Office (CCO), the CCO Director of Conservation Operations, and the Managing Director of Conservation Strategy to assure effective strategy and operational management of The Nature Conservancy’s programs.
• Develop key topical expertise that is valued within The Nature Conservancy leadership.Beyond general strategy management, each conservation strategy senior advisor will be expected to become a topical or regional expert that supports cross-functional or cross-regional strategy development and management. Particularly tied to this responsibility, the senior advisor may play an externally facing leadership role representing the Conservancy and related strategies with the potential for leading and managing key issues, including strategy development, fundraising, and recruiting on a short-term basis.
• Advise the Managing Director of Conservation Strategy on strategy and management issues that should be more effectively coordinated across the CCO portfolio and with the Chief Conservation Officer, including new strategies that should be considered by The Nature Conservancy.
• Support the Conservation Strategies team on the development of tools and practices to expand capacityof The Nature Conservancy’s staff to implement pragmatic business planning and strategy development.
• Expand the capacity of the Conservation Strategies teamthrough developing a dotted line network of managed strategy advisors in the field through active collaboration with strategy-oriented field staff, including supporting the development and management of the Conservation Coaches Network.
• Support the development and uptake of technology-based productivity and management toolsincluding the Hub, Connect, use of term sheets, annual plans, and conservation business plans.
• Support the Managing Director of Conservation Strategy and the CCO on key strategic and management issuesfacing The Nature Conservancy.
• Support ad hoc business assessments of large-scale strategy expansion. From time to time, the CCO, Executive Team (ET), and OOP need quick, internally-developed assessments of the potential to expand to new countries, mergers and acquisitions, or new strategies. As a senior advisor, there may be opportunities to work on specific issues directly with the Chief Conservation Officer, in coordination with the Managing Director of Conservation Strategy.
• Support preparation of strategy and management materials for ET, Board, and CCO meetings including creating slide decks and other syntheses of strategy issues facing global strategies and regions.
• Advise on critical professional development and human resource challengesfacing global strategies and regional programs that may deter from the successful delivery of outcomes to our funders.
• Take on leadership of critical strategic organizational issues. Opportunities may also arise for the senior advisor to take project leadership over specific strategic organizational issues (e.g., philanthropy coordination) of critical importance to the Conservancy.

The Conservation Strategy and Management Advisor reports to The Nature Conservancy’s Managing Director for Conservation Strategy. Preferred location for this position is at the Conservancy’s Worldwide Office in Arlington, VA, the office of the Chief Operating Officer in Denver, CO, or a major regional hub that houses regional leadership.
TNC

• Masters’s degree in Business, Finance, Resource Management or related and 10 years of related experience or equivalent combination in a private sector environment, such as management consulting and investment banking, or a strategic and business planning role in a conservation organization or government entity.
• International work experience.
• Experience leading and managing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Self-driven with clear ability to generate own work plan in line with the overall Conservation Strategy Team outcomes, goals, strategies, and plans; including upward management of the Managing Director of Conservation Strategy to most effectively implement across the entire CS portfolio.
• High degree of comfort working in and developing end products with modern professional tools including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, cloud and web based tools including SharePoint, WebEx/conferencing software, Skype, Google Hangouts, and DropBox.
• Demonstrated success in not for profit or private sector business environment, preferably including experience in management consulting, investment banking, or strategic planning.
• Experience developing business plans, in particular in conservation.
• Experience in valuation, deal structuring, negotiations support, financial modeling and analysis, business planning. Ideal candidates will have an M.B.A, or related experience.
• Significant international work experience and language skills (e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese).
• Experience delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers.
• Possesses knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
• Eagerness to learn and develop expertise in new conservation strategies, economic drivers, management tools, and global affairs.
• Manages time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization, including senior management, and with Conservancy partners.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
• Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Nature Conservancy, although no prior experience in environmental conservation is required.

• Employment term of this position is one year.

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.
TNC

To apply to position number 41229, 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 9, 2013.

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

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If you are experiencing technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contactapplyhelp@tnc.org.
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The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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