The Corporate Affairs Director is a member of the Nature Conservancy’s Africa Program. S/he develops, coordinates and implements corporate engagements that will deliver against the Conservancy’s water, agriculture and energy goals with an emphasis on source water protection using the Water Fund model. The preferred location is Nairobi, Kenya or Cape Town, South Africa,
The Corporate Affairs Director develops and implements strategy for engaging corporate partners and governments and non-government organizations to further the Conservancy’s Africa program goals, with an emphasis on source water protection using the Water Fund public-private partnership model (https://waterfundstoolbox.org). The Director coordinates and integrates all aspects of corporate outreach in service of the Conservancy’s Africa program priorities. This role is responsible for prioritization, strategy building, stewardship, and serving as the Relationship Manager for the key corporate relationships of the Africa program’s strategy. The Director will focus most of her/his time (e.g. 80%) on Water Funds and source water protection strategy but will also support other TNC Africa strategies, such as agriculture and energy.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manage relationships and deliverables with minimal supervision.
- Develop relationships and works effectively with corporate, government, and non-governmental organization partners.
- Guide collaboration and coordination with several multinational companies across industries.
- With a team, design and manage major meetings, including gatherings of corporate, government, and non-governmental representatives.
- Conduct research, with minimum support, to identify highest priority companies with which to work.
- Ability to communicate professionally with a wide variety of people from different cultures.
- Ability to prepare and present project proposals and negotiate with multilateral agencies and/or the business and corporate sector, to achieve program goals.
- Persuasively conveys the mission of TNC to diverse groups who are critical to the Conservancy’s overall strategies.
- Works in partnership with other organizations in a collaborative and advisory capacity.
- Develops and implements multi-year fundraising strategies, and goals. Effectively directs and or participates in complex negotiations.
- Develops constructive and effective working relationships inside and outside the Conservancy.
- Responsible for relevant corporate fundraising and reporting, with support from philanthropy and other TNC functions
- May supervise administrative and professional staff with responsibility for performance management, training and development.
- Ability to do market research of the corporate sector to identify prospective partners and develop tailored engagement strategies
- 6 years of senior management level experience in government relations, corporate sector, or equivalent combination of education/experience.
- Supervisory experience.
- Fluency in English. International work experience across multiple African countries.
- Experience in a corporate environment with business development, banking, corporate social responsibility, or corporate sustainability.
- Direct experience working with partners and government agencies.
- Project management experience including coordinating the work of other professionals inside and outside an organization.
- Proven experience in strategy development and implementation.
- Demonstrated relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrates strong communications and presentation skills.
- Experience negotiating complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Proven written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s or Professional degree (MBA or other).
- Experience advancing solutions to protect water quality and/or quantity, ideally with companies.
- Track record of success negotiating complex partnerships.
- Track record of success serving as a project manager on diverse, international, virtual teams.
- Experience preparing analyses to inform strategy decision making.
- Experience presenting to and communicating with executive levels in a corporate setting. Excellent presentation skills.
- Excellent team player with experience working in multi-disciplinary groups, using influence and interpersonal skills, listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with corporations, governments, partners, and all levels of staff.
- Experience working with partners/government agencies.
- Outstanding written and oral communication, negotiating and organizational skills.
- International experience and language skills (Swahili, French, Portuguese).
- Strong basic computer skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint or the equivalent programs).
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.