TNC seeks a Deputy Chief of Party and Indigenous Rights Lead for an anticipated $18 million project entitled “Amazonian Indigenous Rights and Resources (AIRR)” funded by the South America Regional Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/SAR). The purpose of this five-year project will be to improve representation of indigenous peoples in the sustainable economic development of the Amazon, while conserving biodiversity and reducing emissions from forest loss. This will be achieved through two objectives: 1) Indigenous rights and economic interests incorporated into private and public sector development planning; and 2) indigenous enterprises equitably and sustainably scaled to regional and global markets. AIRR will be a regional activity as part of USAID/SAR’s Amazon Regional Environment Program (AREP), implemented across the Amazon region in with potential activities in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Suriname and Guyana. AIRR is focused on capacity strengthening and skills building for indigenous groups including activities with the private sector, governments and the civil society (including academia), in raising awareness on indigenous people’s rights and responsibilities and management of indigenous enterprises, especially in those communities facing planned large-scale development projects. Final hiring of this position is contingent upon success of proposal.
The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Indigenous Rights Manager will have a dual role of working with the Chief of Party (COP) to manage the project’s implementation and oversee performance, management, and operations, as well as providing technical leadership on the Indigenous Rights component of the project. S/he shall support the COP with the overall responsibility for technical and administrative leadership of the project, focusing on the Rights objective of the project. S/he shall manage quality control, ensuring the appropriateness and overall responsiveness of all assistance provided to this objective under the agreement, whether by long- or short-term advisors or others. In the COP’s absence, s/he serves as the liaison with USAID and other organizations, and as the contact with government agencies, other conservation organizations, the private sector, and indigenous stakeholders. S/he maintains the program operations necessary to establish the Conservancy as a major conservation partner for conservation on indigenous lands, and builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity of indigenous populations and the private sector.
S/he provides technical leadership on the Indigenous Rights component of the project to ensure: private sector firms adopt best management practices with indigenous partners on projects that may impact indigenous lands; consultations increase between the private sector, public sector, and indigenous partners on project design, implementation, and monitoring; and conflicts over infrastructure and extractives projects are reduced. S/he shall be responsible for overseeing all activities related to prioritizing, planning, implementing, monitoring, scaling up and ensuring long-term sustainability of the Indigenous Rights component of the project.
The AIRR Deputy Chief of Party and Indigenous Rights Manager will be located in Brazil or Peru.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Coordinate project activities for the Rights Objective with USAID, project implementers, host country governments, private sector, and indigenous organizations.
- Coordinates program activities with implementers of other projects under USAID’s Amazon Regional Environmental Program, with USAID, and with relevant projects of other donors.
- Manages daily financial and technical operation according to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan, coordinating with staff in and implementing partners in project countries.
- Manage strategy development and project leadership for the Rights objective within budget, consistent with TNC’s Mission and Values.
- Coordinates annual planning and development of workplans.
- Supports COP to ensure quality and timeliness of technical and financial reporting to USAID.
- Serve as Acting Chief of Party during periods of his/her absence.
- Provides technical leadership on the Indigenous Rights component of the project to ensure: private sector firms adopt best management practices with indigenous partners on projects that may impact their lands; consultations increase between the private sector, public sector, and indigenous partners on project design, implementation, and monitoring; and conflicts over infrastructure and extractives projects are reduced.
- Oversees all technical activities related to prioritizing, planning, implementing, monitoring, scaling up, and ensuring long-term sustainability of the Indigenous Rights component of the project.
- Frequently travels domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- 7 years’ experience implementing natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, or climate change adaptation or mitigation projects in developing countries, including previous experience in Latin America.
- Proven leadership and organizational skills, successfully managing and coordinating large, complex, and disparate teams.
- Knowledge of management processes and systems, such as human resources management and development, financial management, and management of employee compensation systems.
- Extensive experience working with international donors.
- Experience working with indigenous peoples or organizations in the Amazon region to resolve rights, manage land, and/or negotiate agreements with private sector or government entities.
- Fluent in written and spoken English, as well as in professional proficiency in Portuguese and/or Spanish.
- Prior experience implementing and managing programs in Latin America;
- Strong interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- A Master’s degree and 10 years’ experience in natural resource management, environmental management, ecology, environmental science, economics, business administration, or other relevant field, or a combination of relevant academic backgrounds between undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge and experience of current trends and practices in indigenous issues, conservation, and development in Latin America.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Fluency in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- Multi-cultural experience involving government agencies, private sector, and indigenous populations in multiple countries.
- Prior experience managing programs specifically in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and/or Ecuador.
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.