The Corporate Engagement Project Manager leads high profile globally strategic collaborations for The Nature Conservancy. The Collaboration Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of a strategic corporate engagement to increase conservation benefit and business value in key geographies around the world, including North America, Latin America, China, Africa, and Europe.
This position reports to the Director, Corporate Engagement, and will work closely with the Managing Director Agriculture & Food Systems in Global Lands.
The Corporate Engagement Collaboration Manager must develop strong relationships across all parties internally and externally (members of project teams will include Conservancy staff and staff from companies that the Conservancy collaborates with), and ensure impeccable project management, high quality deliverables and on-time delivery. S/he coordinates with TNC’s Communications team on internal and external communications related to Conservancy collaborations with companies. Finally, s/he represents the Conservancy collaborations with companies internally and externally, including giving presentations.
The position works collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team and communicates effectively, particularly with senior executives, global colleagues and scientists. The Corporate Engagement Collaboration Manager leads and coordinates a cross-organizational and cross-functional team with colleagues from science, field conservation, corporate engagement, communications and legal, and interfaces at all levels of the organization up to and including the CEO. S/he identifies, presents and obtains go/no-go decisions at project decision points, often work with a collaboration steering committee made up of Conservancy and company members. This position reports to the Director, Corporate Engagement, and may eventually supervise other professional staff, but will not have any direct reports immediately.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Ensure the success of collaborations, as they move from concept to implementation
- Hold the vision, set direction for teams, develop collaborative workplans representing work of team members in multiple global geographies, coordinate and integrate all aspects and team members of the workplans.
- Work closely with company counterparts, ensure transparent progress towards goals, anticipate and manage for delays or disruptions.
- Track achievement of goals and objectives, and lead collaboration teams to successfully achieve goals
- Develop and manage budgets and create and manage contracts with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members
- Significant travel expected; 20-30% of time (global)
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic programs, including long-term relationship management and coordinating the work of other professionals inside and outside an organization.
- Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including developing project goals, project plans and budgets, managing finances, leading/supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners.
- Experience in partnership development (corporate, community, or government).
- Experience preparing and presenting project proposals and negotiating complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Fluency in English.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required; MA or MBA preferred.
- Deep experience in and knowledge of the agriculture sector, including understanding of the Rio Convention, as well as other European and American policies affecting the sector
- Demonstrated experience cultivating senior corporate leaders to pursue transformative change
- Demonstrated experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
- Demonstrated impeccable project management capabilities; experience leading complex projects with scientific and policy attributes preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
- Experience leading a complex multi-year global program or project and leading a team to collaboratively set goals, projects plans and budgets.
- 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, partners, donors, volunteers, and all levels of staff.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Consummate presentation skills.
- Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a complex, matrixed, decentralized and geographically dispersed organizational environment.
- Proven interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Commitment to the mission and values of The Nature Conservancy, although no prior experience in environmental conservation is required.
- Languages needed: Must be fluent in English. Additional languages desirable.
Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women 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.