| Description |
Location: China (Beijing)
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Travel: Up to 40% on average
About Rare
Rare is an international conservation organization looking for an experienced, entrepreneurial leader to grow our programs in China and to lead our organization in achieving exponential impact. In the past five years, Rare has tripled its staff, budget, and number of projects throughout the world. This growth is a result of demand throughout the field of conservation for more innovative methods of engaging communities who rely upon scarce environmental resources, and changing the way they relate to nature. To that end, Rare searches the globe for replicable, sustainable environmental success stories, and then we train conservation leaders to develop and promote these proven practices to benefit both community livelihoods and biodiversity.
Rare’s record of conservation success rests on its Pride program, a powerful blend of environmental conservation outreach, social marketing, behavior change promotion, and local capacity-building that has been empowering local conservation leaders since 1988 at more than 200 sites around the world. Rare Pride focuses on building support for conservation at the community level and is centered on 2-year intensive social marketing campaigns launched in collaboration with partners around the world. Some of the world’s most important sites for biological diversity are threatened by a lack of awareness and local community support. By catalyzing in-country private and public sector funding, shifting public behavior toward more sustainable practices, and focusing attention on critically threatened ecosystems and species, Rare’s Pride campaigns dramatically build momentum for conservation – ultimately creating the constituencies necessary for initiating legislative reform, creating new protected areas, and saving the habitats of those species on the brink of extinction.
Candidate Profile
As a key member of Rare’s global Leadership Team, the Vice President, China, is responsible for Rare’s strategy formulation and execution in China to achieve maximum impact for the benefit of China’s environment and the communities that depend upon it. As such, the Vice President is responsible for all programmatic, operational, and financial outputs in China, including meeting revenue and expense (P&L) targets. In line with Rare’s business plan, this position will manage and expand Rare’s training and support of, as well as communications among, a growing portfolio of partners working on critically important environmental conservation issues throughout the country.
The Vice President should be a seasoned leader with a record of success in China and among large existing networks, who shares Rare’s vision, has tremendous managerial capacity, business acumen, and is dedicated to helping the organization achieve ambitious objectives for growth and impact.
Key Areas of Responsibility
China Strategy and Program Development
- Develop Rare’s strategy for growth and impact in China within the context of Rare’s global methodology (Pride), which includes the training of partners in formal and informal settings, building a local constituency for the environment, and changing destructive behaviors of communities living in and around areas of important biodiversity.
- Expand Rare’s Pride program by engaging partner organizations in jointly-funded projects to achieve lasting conservation outcomes. Responsibilities to include: identification of key international and regional partners, key focal geographies, and replicable strategies for conservation and social impact; as well as the marketing, business development, revenue generation, recruitment, and contracting needed to establish critical partnerships to move a joint vision forward
- Develop and lead Rare China’s growing Advisory Board, engaging China’s top luminaries in business, government, and society to assist in Rare’s growth
- Design, plan, and the manage the implementation of new programs focusing on the promotion of sustainable behaviours for local communities
Business/Partnership Development
- Develop and cultivate networks with Chinese and global partners and supporters, including the applicable branches of the Chinese government.
- Establish deep and lasting alliances with the China offices of key local and international NGOs
- Write, review, and manage proposals to prospective supporters, lead trips, and plan and host events. Proposals likely to include segments such as local and pan-Asian business leaders, corporations, foundations, governments, and multi-lateral agencies
Leadership Team Involvement
- Serve as a member as Rare’s global leadership team reporting to the COO though active, creative, committed participation in all Leadership Team meetings
- Attend Rare board meetings (primarily in the USA) and present effectively and compellingly to the Rare board of trustees
Regional Operations and Management
- Lead and inspire the Rare team in China (in Kunming and Beijing offices) and ensure that staff are fully conversant and supportive of Rare’s business goals
- Hire and supervise key staff in China as applicable
- Facilitate effective communication between the China team and Rare’s US-based team and the Leadership Team
Qualifications, Skills & Knowledge Requirements
- Minimum of 15 years professional experience, including at least 10 years as a senior manager or team leader
- Graduate degree, (e.g. MBA or equivalent), preferably in economics, business management, marketing, natural resources, environmental or development economics, community development or a similar field
- Demonstrated ability to generate multi-million dollar business and/or funding from foundations, individuals, corporations and governments, and to conceive and implement complex partnerships
- Passion for environmental conservation, supporting rural communities, and/or a recognition of the role of human behavior in achieving a positive impact
- Work in conservation and environmental issues in or with developing countries a major plus but not required
- Willingness to travel internationally and locally sometimes in uncomfortable circumstances, for up to 40% of the time on average
- Fluency in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese and English required
- Strong public speaking skills, along with excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong information technology skills and commitment to using on-line social networking and related tools
Qualities and Personal Attributes
Rare seeks a Vice President, China who inspires others as a:
- Passionate, authentic advocate and champion: Deep belief in and commitment to Rare’s mission to strengthen, connect, and amplify the potential of local leaders to create transformative and sustainable environmental change in China
- Visionary: Mission-oriented; sees problems from a place of vision and purpose and envisions dynamic solutions
- Entrepreneurial manager and skilled operator: Creative and innovative, grows ideas to scale, skilled problem-solver
- Effective fundraiser: Ability to develop, close and steward large revenue opportunities
- Charismatic ambassador: Serves as an ambassador and liaison internally and externally; can bring a vision and Rare’s success stories to life through in-person engagement and written materials; has strong empathy with local people, the rural poor, and the development challenges facing local communities
- Data-driven and results-oriented performer: Deliberate, analytical ability with an unrelenting focus on detail, data, and results
- Leader with sound judgment: Seasoned ability to weigh risk and opportunity; voices opinion in the face of challenge; optimistic; leads people to accomplish results that result and pride and engagement; takes responsibility of the development and success of his/her staff
- Trusted, valued partner to the Leadership Team and Board of Trustees: Possesses drive and gravitas; a grounded and engaging presence; leader with upmost integrity and productive work ethic
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