DATE PUBLISHED: 17 December 2021
LOCATION: Flexible within countries where The Nature Conservancy is a registered NGO and has a presence. United States of America
COMPANY: The Nature Conservancy
MORE INFORMATION: Visit the company website
About us
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. 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. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. Whether it’s career development, work/life balance, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all of our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued.
Although you’ll see requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Passion, innovation, and diversity are all key components to advancing our Mission and we encourage you to apply.
Position summary
We are looking for an experienced protected areas policy specialist to work with The Nature Conservancy’s country-level science and policy teams, the Global Protect Team and conservation finance specialists to implement the 30 percent by 2030 (“30 x 30”) area-based conservation target of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) /Global Biodiversity Framework. This is a new position that reports to the Director for Biodiversity & Infrastructure Policy within the Global Policies, Institutions and Finance (GPIF) unit in the Policy and Government Relations Division. The overall objective of the position is to advance The Nature Conservancy’s 2030 Goals related to area-based conservation, working closely with The Conservancy’s global priority and regional programs, by helping TNC partner countries implement their global conservation, biodiversity and sustainable development commitments.
The Senior Policy Advisor for ABCM works with TNC country programs, other relevant TNC units, and partner governments to design and encourage the adoption of policies at the national level to help those countries meet their commitment to the area-based conservation target under the CBD. It is anticipated that this position will focus support for 30 x 30 implementation in 5–10 priority countries globally in the first 3 years. Duties include daily contact with in-country TNC staff; as well as frequent engagement with other TNC units; and government and multilateral agency officials relating to administrative, legislative, and policy actions to ensure coherence with internationally negotiated agreements. The Senior Policy Advisor will also be responsible for identifying, developing, and supporting the execution of public funding opportunities to support conservation action in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries. This will include developing and executing engagement strategies that target select public funders (e.g. GEF, Germany), with the aim of stimulating new funding programs specifically designed to support achievement of the 30-by-30 goals across multiple countries. The work will also include developing and supporting strategies to leverage key international policy events, such as CBD and Climate COPs and UN-sponsored meetings. S/he helps build and facilitates internal networks across multiple TNC divisions to ensure coordination between TNC conservation planning science, public and private protection finance strategies, and national policy development. S/he develops strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, conservation organizations, and other stakeholders to advance 30 x 30 within the scope of TNC’s conservation agenda. S/he will travel extensively (30%+) and may be required to participate in occasional off-hours teleconferencing.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
The Senior Advisor for Area-Based Conservation Policy is part of the Global Policy and Government Relations team but will coordinate across multiple units within TNC to implement area-based conservation measures in accordance with global targets to protect a representative 30% of the most important areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2030 (“30 x 30”).
- Lead the policy workstream within TNC’s 30×30 Initiative, in close coordination with the 30×30 Initiative Director (Global Protect Team).
- Work with TNC country, science, regional and global programs to advance 30 x 30 in key partner countries, by supporting the identification and development of key policies to expand and strengthen the management of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in an equitable, financially sustainable and ecologically representative manner. This will build on policy-related efforts already underway, such as Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), blue bonds and other types of debt conversions, etc.
- Ensure coherence of TNC work on 30 x 30 with the protection targets and metrics of the CBD and area-based measures policy guidance from IUCN and other relevant institutions;
- Support the full integration of Indigenous People and Local Communities, and gender and equity concerns, in the expansion of ABCMs, through a rights-based approach that supports legal recognition and land tenure for those communities, and provides for their leadership in managing their territories, resources and Traditional Knowledge.
- Working with the Global Protect Team, help target countries develop sustainable finance mechanisms requiring policy action in accordance with the CBD Resource Mobilization strategy and domestic resource mobilization targets;
- Support country programs to access international public funding from bilateral and multilateral sources; support proposal development and related reporting as needed;
- Working with science teams (global, regional and in-country), ensure target governments understand TNC’s conservation planning recommendations and integrate them as appropriate to guide decision-making;
- Assist countries with national reporting on 30 x 30 to the World Database on Protected Areas and other relevant indicators under the CBD’s monitoring and reporting framework;
- Represent TNC research and policy positions and partner country achievements on 30 x 30 in international forums.
- Support TNC country programs and thematic programs to implement national biodiversity commitments and the emerging Post-2020 CBD framework though engagement with international institutions, public donors and partners.
- Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice on ABCM.
Skills & experience
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental or political science, environmental policy, protected areas or other relevant field and 6 years of government relations or management experience, or equivalent combination education/experience.
- Experience working with a geographically dispersed team
- Experience with the role of policy in achieving conservation outcomes.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience with the CBD, IUCN/World Commission on Protected Areas and related protected areas/OECM policy guidance and metrics.
- Direct experience working with public funding agencies, host country government agencies, and other partners.
- Project management experience including coordinating the work of other professionals inside and outside an organization.
- Proven experience in policy achievements and extensive experience in strategy development and implementation.
- Demonstrated relationship building skills.
- Experience with time management.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Experience negotiating complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Proven written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Apply now
To apply for job ID 50702, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
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 culture. 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 orientation, gender identity, 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.
