Africa Oceans Strategy Director

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which include a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we'll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply - we'd love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, "You'll join for our mission, and you'll stay for our people."

Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

TNC Africa Oceans Strategy focuses on securing large-scale ocean protection by supporting effective marine spatial planning and community-based conservation approaches. Our work seeks to establish sustainable financing (e.g. through Blue Bonds - debt conversion-based instruments) to enable conservation outcomes at Large Marine Ecosystem scale, by supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as local capacity, with emphasis on linking science and communities to habitat protection and management. TNC's work on marine fisheries aims to safeguard productive marine fisheries for ecosystem health and as important foundations of food and livelihood security. TNC has established partnerships with several non-government and government agencies to support fisheries and coastal community-based conservation throughout Africa.

Since 1951, TNC 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!

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 cultures. 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 orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Ihre Aufgaben

The Africa Oceans Strategy Director leads design, development, and implementation of ocean protection across TNC's Africa Region. The strategic focus is on securing ocean protection at scale, including through marine spatial planning and improved fisheries management, supported by strong science, technical capacity, and sustainable financing. The current geographic focus is in Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Gabon with ongoing expansion into Namibia, Angola and potentially Mauritius.

The ideal candidate will have experience in conservation, policy and sustainable development programs for oceans and coasts. The candidate will have experience facilitating and leading multiple objective planning processes and working across complex matrixed organizations in the Region. The Africa Oceans Strategy Director will serve as a key liaison and informational contact between the Africa Region, the Global Oceans Team and other TNC staff, and develop relationships with government agencies, local and international NGOs and other groups as needed to advance our ocean protection goals.

This position will report to the Africa Conservation Director and work closely with TNC's Global Oceans Team and Africa Fisheries Team. The Africa Oceans Strategy Director will require strong leadership skills to manage several direct reports and spend significant time building and managing the Africa oceans team in existing and new geographies. This position may involve about 25-35% domestic and international travel and can be based in any of countries in Africa where TNC has an office.,

• Lead the development and implementation of the Africa Oceans Strategy in contribution to TNC's 2030 targets and Oceans goals.

• Ensure the effective coordination and integration of oceans work for all projects and programs across the Africa Business unit.

• Lead the Africa Oceans team and work collaboratively with the Global Oceans Team to deliver the Africa Oceans strategy.

• Advance national-level planning efforts that increase ocean conservation outcomes, including climate mitigation and resilience plans and marine spatial plans.

• Guide reforms for marine fisheries and building local capacity for sustainable and legal fisheries management while supporting policies at national, regional and local levels to enable marine fishery reform.

• Oversee efforts to create and advance community-based strategies for better-managed coastal and marine areas.

• Support TNC Africa leadership by overseeing priority projects and serving as a technical resource on relevant ocean and coastal strategies and/or projects.

• Assess conservation opportunities, governmental policies and decisions, and the practices and views of other stakeholders and their potential impact on organizational conservation goals.

• Assess topics related to African ocean conservation and advise TNC communications, marketing, and philanthropy staff on issues related to oceans work in Africa and help ensure that TNC's internal and external communications accurately reflect the strategy and conservation goals.

• Conduct research and analysis to support the development and implementation of ocean projects and strategies.

• Represent TNC's Africa Oceans Strategy at relevant international and regional conferences and meetings, delivering technical presentations and expert input as needed.

• Support fundraising by developing and contributing to proposals and representing the Africa Ocean Program to public and private donors and seek to integrate sustainable financing mechanisms into the ocean's programs.

• Lead the Africa Ocean Strategy budget development and ensure on time on budget project implementation.

• Assist in developing reports, presentations, and assessments on related topics, as well as internal and external communications materials that reflect the program's objectives and priorities.

• Requires willingness and ability to travel up to 35% both domestically and internationally, and to work occasional weekends and evenings.

  Competencies

  BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS

• Builds productive relationships by interacting with others in ways that enhance mutual trust and commitment.

  COLLABORATION & TEAMWORK

• Works collaboratively with stakeholders across levels, geographies, backgrounds, and cultures to improve decisions, strengthen commitment, and be more effective.

  COMMUNICATES AUTHENTICALLY

• Communicates proactively and in a timely manner to share information, address important issues, persuade, and influence with the appropriate level of detail, tone, and opportunities for feedback.

  DEVELOPS OTHERS

• Takes ownership to help develop others' skills, behaviors, and mindsets to help them strengthen their workplace contributions.

  DRIVES FOR RESULTS

• Sets challenging goals and objectives based on a strong sense of purpose and high-performance standards and steadfastly pushes self and others for tangible results, while ensuring work-life balance.

  LEVERAGES DIFFERENCE

• Demonstrates commitment to harnessing the power of differences strategically consistently sees, learns from, and takes strategic action related to difference; and demonstrates the self-awareness and behaviors to work across differences of identity and power respectfully and effectively with all stakeholders, Actively seeks to build and retain a diverse workforce and fosters an equitable inclusive workplace by drawing upon diverse perspectives.

  SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP

• Thinks and acts from a broad perspective with a long-term view and an understanding of l)the dynamic nature of large-scale challenges and 2) the need for integrating five key practices: skillfully engaging appropriate people: providing a clear process for change; taking a holistic view of situations; focusing on a small number of strategic actions, while learning from and adapting them over time and being aware of how one's own thinking or patterns of behavior may be limiting change.

Ihr Profil

• BA/BS degree in a relevant conservation field and 10 years' experience in marine conservation and management, ocean governance or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of and experience with ocean sector stakeholders and associated management and governance frameworks across Africa.

• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.

• Experience directing a major program or project portfolio of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams.

• Experience working with current international and regional trends and practices in relevant areas of marine and coastal conservation.

• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.

• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.

• A strong sense of diplomacy and experience negotiating.

• Experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at local and country levels.

• International work experience.

• Experience presenting to and/or communicating with government or legislative staff, community or business leaders, program leadership, and/or similar audiences.,

• Master's degree in Conservation Science or related field with over 10 years of experience in a relevant field of marine conservation or ocean affairs, with working knowledge of marine spatial planning practices, ocean governance frameworks, marine industrial and small-scale fisheries, multi-lateral ocean sustainable development and blue economy initiatives or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Fluency in a language other than English, especially as relevant to areas where we work, and experience living and working in Africa.

• Knowledge of politics and society, especially in the African context, with respect to oceans, blue economy and international marine affairs.

• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization, including with senior management and with Conservancy partners.

• Effective public speaker that will represent TNC and the Africa Oceans Strategy internationally at conferences and high-level meetings, including giving presentations and leading technical sessions as relevant.

• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.

• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.

• Politically savvy.

Wir bieten Ihnen

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, pension / gratuity, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

Kontakt

You can find further details on their website www.nature.org.