The Global Program for Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Program (IPLC Program) was launched in 2015. The program advances TNC’s vision to help transform the way land and waters decisions are made by strengthening the voice, choice and action of indigenous peoples and local communities to shape and manage natural territory in ways that improve lives and drive conservation. The Global IPLC program focuses on supporting TNC programs on the ground working in the world’s most critical places; making the case for why Indigenous- and community- led conservation is critical to a future of healthy lands and waters; and shifting the paradigm and practice of conservation to be more inclusive of Indigenous and community leadership and knowledge. The Global IPLC program also facilitates a robust network of practitioners that collectively advance TNC’s vision.
The Global IPLC Director provides strategic leadership of the Conservancy’s Global Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Program. In addition to overseeing the broader program, they lead the strategy to make the case for Indigenous- and community-led conservation, which includes building the communications and policy priorities of the work. They represent the Program internally and externally, participating in high-level strategic events and meetings to elevate the profile of our work and serve as a thought leader in this space. They explore and build strategic partnerships through outreach to key thought leaders (including indigenous leaders, investors, corporates, financial institutions, universities, research centers, etc) and build new (or strengthen existing) partnerships to increase the effectiveness of our work. The Global IPLC Director plays a leadership role in fundraising efforts for the Program, in partnership with the program’s leadership team. They will be supported by a leadership team and collaborate with more than 20 business units around the world to build on the strong track record and momentum the program has already established.
The Global IPLC Director establishes the Conservancy as a leading partner in achieving indigenous- and community-led conservation. They will elevate the visibility of and funding for Indigenous- and community-led conservation, including through the the use of global science efforts, communications campaigns and creation of policy mechanisms. The Global IPLC Director serves as the representative of the Global IPLC Program to key external partners and actors, including indigenous leaders, government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community. They identify and develop strategic partnership opportunities, in collaboration with the program’s leadership team. They represent the Conservancy as a thought leader in this space, bringing key lessons and experiences from our work into strategic discussions and decision-making platforms. They facilitate our country program staff and partners working in this space to identify and gain access to high-level opportunities and relationships. They represent the Program in internal prioritization discussions and position this work as a key component of achieving our Shared Conservation Agenda. They support TNC Executive Leadership to effectively talk about and champion this work and facilitate high-level meetings between our leadership and indigenous leaders. They work with the leadership team to advance fundraising, including in developing the overall fundraising goals for the program and working with philanthropy in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program. They regularly meet with donors and develop and maintain strong relationships with our main partners. They lead and manage a large team which implements conservation efforts.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Represents the Global IPLC work internally and externally and serves as a thought leader in this space.
- Develops and maintains relationships with key partners, including indigenous leaders, donors, government representatives, corporate leaders, academics, and other conservation leaders.
- Develops and implements a strategy to make the case for indigenous- and community-led conservation, in coordination with TNC’s science, communications and policy teams.
- Identifies and develops strategic partnerships to further our objectives. Develops and leads strategic global initiatives with partners.
- Develops and disseminates, in coordination with our communications staff, a coherent narrative about this work and its global impact.
- Plays a lead role in fundraising efforts for the Global team, working with leadership team and philanthropy in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program.
- Supports the TNC Executive Council to effectively talk about and champion this work and facilitate high-level meetings between our leadership and indigenous leaders.
- Represents the Program in internal prioritization discussions and position this work as a key component of achieving our Shared Conservation Agenda.
- Manages and oversees a team disbursed globally, with multiple direct reports.
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and context.
- May require frequent travel domestically and internationally and evening and weekend hours.
- Knowledge and experience in working with indigenous peoples and local communities
- Multi-cultural experience; experience working with people of great diversity of thought and background
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience working on conservation in partnership with indigenous peoples and local communities
- Experience in developing strategic, high-level partnerships with indigenous and local communities, non-profit partners, and/or government agencies
- 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 conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives
- Experience negotiating with a variety of actors
- Experience in collaborative leadership and influencing a network of leaders to a common goal
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi- lingual appreciated.
- Master’s degree in related discipline.
- Knowledge of politics and society with respect to indigenous peoples and environmental affairs.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Dedication to deep discussion and co-creation of ideas and strategies.
- Experience with systems leadership and social change.
- Politically savvy.