Africa Freshwater Protection Specialist
Who We Are:
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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s 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.”
Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries where we operate.
The Nature Conservancy has a growing freshwater ecosystem protection portfolio across the African continent. TNC’s proposed actions to protect freshwater ecosystems are grounded in the recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which adopted a 30% target for protection of inland waters, as well as African countries’ specific commitments and goals on inland waters. TNC Africa is stepping up to this opportunity to advance freshwater ecosystem protection through coordinated and collaborative approaches designed to build upon our existing investments in Africa and strength of the Conservancy around the world.
What We Can Achieve Together:
The Africa Freshwater Protection Specialist leads the development of freshwater ecosystem protection projects and implements them in collaboration with TNC staff and partners in the respective countries. The Specialist will be guided by the priorities of the Africa Freshwater Protection Strategy, and work in partnership with the TNC Global Freshwater Protection team, building a regional program for advancing freshwater ecosystem protection to benefit people and nature on the continent. The Africa Freshwater Protection Specialist provides technical and policy support to Conservancy freshwater field programs, particularly on Lake Tanganyika, Gabon, the Cubango-Okavango Basin, and the Upper Kafue River Basin. They will serve as the principal contact on freshwater ecosystem protection at the regional level to international finance organizations, other conservation organizations, private foundations, and the academic community. They establish the Conservancy as a leader within freshwater ecosystem protection, building strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field directly and through partners.
The Africa Freshwater Protection Specialist develops key partnerships with public & private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices.
The Specialist also helps ensure that community support for freshwater ecosystem protection efforts is in place, using Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and other key approaches, or is developed over time before protection actions are pursued.
Frequent travel internationally, and occasional evening and weekend hours are required. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain.
We’re Looking for You:
Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together.
We’re looking for someone who is passionate, motivated problem-solver. Our team in Africa is dedicated to healthy freshwater ecosystems supporting people and nature. Join us!
The Africa Freshwater Protection Specialist is someone that has experience with freshwater ecosystem conservation on the African continent and is interested in a mission-driven approach to accelerating the protection of a set of freshwater ecosystem priorities across the continent. The position requires understanding of what keeps a freshwater ecosystem healthy as well as skills in linking to marine and terrestrial protection priorities and actions of TNC and its partners, so that adequate funding can be brought to African freshwater ecosystem priority conservation on a long-term basis. In this way, moving across sector, cultures and habitat realms is as critical to success as a knowledge of freshwater ecosystems themselves. The position reports to the Africa Freshwater Protection Strategy Director and can be based in any of TNC Africa’s offices in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, or Gabon.
The key roles and responsibilities shall include.
- Provide technical support on freshwater ecosystem protection to staff in priority Conservancy project areas including Lake Tanganyika, Gabon, the Cubango-Okavango Basin, and the Upper Kafue River Basin.
- Work with selected African governments in helping them improve their understanding, and fulfill their commitments, under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- Advance community and government-supported freshwater ecosystem protection projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, and/or Gabon.
- Building partnerships across the NGO, government, and private sectors to achieve a set of targeted, but collaborative, freshwater ecosystem protection goals.
- Assist in fundraising for freshwater ecosystem protection projects led by TNC or partners.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
- Experience working in conservation on the African continent
- Experience in protected area and/or community-based conservation area planning and implementation
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and ideally Portuguese and/or French.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Over 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and/or implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge and/or experience of current trends and practices in freshwater ecosystem protection.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Politically savvy.
What We Bring:
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy 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!
The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!
This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.
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 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.
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
