TNC’s Global Water community includes freshwater scientists, policy experts, economists and on-the-ground conservation practitioners, working across six continents. We collaborate with academia, governments, corporates, other NGOs and communities, and together we are making real progress. In 2017 our Murray-Darling Balanced Water Fund in Australia was awarded the Banskia Capital Award. Our work to help governments achieve energy needs while protecting rivers has been supported by new funding from the Inter-American Development Bank; and we have just launched China’s second Water Fund in Hangzhou – bringing the global total to 30.
The Water Funds Program Manager will serve as lead manager and spokesperson for the capacity building pillar of TNC’s water fund (WF) strategy. The Water Funds Program Manager will be guided by TNC’s global water fund strategy with a near term focus on supporting capacity building of partner organizations in Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin American Region.
The Water Funds Program Manager provides strategic leadership and support for TNC’s global activities related to capacity building, including responsibilities for (i) activation and engagement of an internal coaches network of TNC staff to fill WF expert and mentorship roles, (ii) management of the execution and evaluation of in-person WF training workshops, in close collaboration with TNC regions, including acting as facilitator as needed (iii) build out and refine WF training curriculum and related on-line tools, including creation and operations phase, in close collaboration with regional experts and TIS (iv) establishment of an annual WF summer training program in one or more “signature” sites, (v) scoping and delivery of a related marketing strategy in partnership with TNC communications, (vi) lead an evaluation and proposal of new business models, including a WF accelerator pilot, (vii) secure strategic partnerships in support of the above, including with reputable education partners, (viii) provide expert guidance on water funds best practices to all members TNC’s WF network. The Water Funds Program Manager reports to the Deputy Managing Director, Water Funds.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Inform and refine the goals and objectives of the global Water Funds capacity building work, including refining and tracking of performance metrics and alignment with multiple departments
- tracking prospective Water Fund coaches – internal/external to TNC – to inform strategies for deploying coaching capacity globally and scaling-up the global Water Funds training program.
- collaborate and build cooperation with TNC regional leads to scope, plan, budget and execute virtual and in person training workshops (i.e. uses custom materials and helps modify based on local needs)
- coordinating the periodic updating, maintenance, and refinement of WF knowledge tools, including the WF Training, Toolbox, and Field Guide
- leading the development and implementation of innovative knowledge management practice, that exploits TNC’s portfolio of water funds in a 12 countries
- supervise the development of a coherent marketing strategy that takes advantage of existing KM assets and TNC’s international reach
- support the successful design, deployment and evaluation of pilot delivery business models
- identify and build strategic partnerships with other organizations well positioned to deliver green infrastructure capacity building especially in target geographies where TNC has limited presence
- engaging with the Conservancy’s Global Water Fund Network to exchange experiences, promote learning, and achieve implementation excellence.
- Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff (most likely remotely), with responsibility for performance management, training and career development. Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives. .Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget.
- Makes independently strategic decision based on analysis, ambiguous information and context.
- 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.
- 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience designing source water protection programs from inception to operation.
- Experience organizing training content to adult learners.
- Experience design and delivering consultant work, or other fee for service business models.
- Experience facilitating learning engagements in virtual and in-person environments.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
- Leadership experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance, especially of of non-direct reports.
- New technology experience, including demonstrated interest in developing digital assets that apply across multiple geographies, languages and cultures.
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross cultural experience appreciated.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation strategies
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Politically savvy.