The Director of Climate Adaptation, Caribbean, oversees the The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Division’s climate adaptation-related pillar. This includes leadership of all regional-level climate adaptation projects, including strategic leadership oversight for all aspects of the Resilient Islands by Design: Integrating Ecosystem- and Community-based Approaches to Enhance Climate Change Adaptation Program, which includes activities that focus on assisting governments and communities in Grenada, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica to incorporate ecosystem-based adaptation in their local, national and regional scale decisions to prioritize and invest in approaches to reduce vulnerability and boost adaptive capacity to climate change. The Director of Climate Adaptation, Caribbean, serves as primary internal/external liaison for climate adaptation-related themes and fundraising. This position reports to the Deputy Director of the Caribbean Division.
Areas of Responsibility:
- The Director of Climate Adaptation, Caribbean, is responsible overall oversight and strategic leadership of the Caribbean Division’s Climate Adaptation portfolio and regional-level climate adaptation projects, in particular the project management, reporting, partner relations and staff supervision for the four-year, €5 Million Resilient Islands by Design: Integrating Ecosystem- and Community-based Approaches to Enhance Climate Change Adaptation in the Caribbean project. S/he also serves as the principle contact to implementing partners and, where appropriate, other key stakeholders, including governments, communities, and civil society, such as NGOs, community-based organizations, and the private sector.
- The Director of Climate Adaptation, Caribbean, works alongside project teams to support the: development of innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the natural system needs, engagement of local community support for the project and local conservation efforts; development/strengthening of key partnerships with public and private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues, communication of solutions and best practices; and the development of a broad regional coalition for ecosystem-based adaptation.
- The Director of Climate Adaptation, Caribbean, will collaborate closely with the Caribbean Division’s Director of External Affairs and Director of Philanthropy to develop public and private fundraising strategies and support fundraising efforts for the Conservancy’s Climate Adaptation work in the Caribbean.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Geographic size and scope is that of a larger, complex business unit and/or a program that requires cross-boundary work and relationships.
- Designs, implements, and directs complex and diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization. Incorporates cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.
- Highly diversified work involves participation in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs, or making decisions, which typically have broad organizational impact.
- Directs major program of strategic importance to the Conservancy through management of multi-disciplinary teams.
- High-level management and leadership responsibility for 10+ staff members, including both direct and indirect reports, internal and external to the organization, and at remote locations.
- Builds and steward internal relationships with other TNC networks or teams working on climate and coastal resilience
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
- With the Caribbean Director of External Affairs, adaptively manages policy priorities for regional climate adaptation projects.
- Leads reporting efforts to granting agents and budgeting and work-planning efforts regional climate adaptation projects.
- Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget for regional climate adaptation projects.
- Supports promotion of climate adaptation activities (including public relations, donor relations, and marketing/communications)
- Writes requests for proposal (RFPs) for grant/contract funding for program and Caribbean Division Climate Adaptation work as a whole.
- Negotiates complex and innovative solutions outlined in the project, with government agencies and partners for successful implementation
- Frequently makes independently strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and judgment.
- Negotiates complex agreements, in political environment.
- Frequent travel 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.
Educational Background:
BA/BS degree and 12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Skills/Experience:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.
- Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience developing partnerships (partners, community, government).
- Networking skills with high level conservation contacts.
- Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives.
- Negotiation skills.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 12-15 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Master’s or Doctorate degree.
- A minimum of five to seven years of experience in senior management roles within similar organizations in the Caribbean with direct supervision of professional and support staff, and technical assistance in fields related to the subject matter of the program, such as adaptation to global climate change.
- Proven leadership in the administration of international donor support programs in the Caribbean, particularly with the German Government, with skills in strategic planning, supervision and budgeting.
- Knowledge of key climate adaptation policies and development issues, institutional development and management issues in the Caribbean.
- History of productive involvement with a wide range and levels of organizations and stakeholders (community organizations, government, NGOs, private sector, research institutions) preferably in the Caribbean.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs; politically savvy.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and Spanish (preferred).
- Politically savvy and experienced in partnership development (partners, community, government).
- Problem solving skills, creativity, collaboration and willingness to innovate.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Motivating team members, setting goals, and leading efforts.
- Delivering practical, adaptable products and services to customers.
- Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
- Demonstrated success as an inspirational manager who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence.
- Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
- Proven interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Dec 11 2017
Active Until:
Jan 10 2018
Hiring Organization:
Nature Conservancy
industry:
Nonprofit