The Conservation Financial Specialist provides highly specialized and sophisticated business, financial and economic expertise to address conservation challenges. The Conservation Finance Specialist will be a position within MNCA’s Lands Program and will report to the Lands Director. The base location for the position will be in Mexico city’s TNC office. This position is for 1 year with possibility of extension.
The Conservation Financial Specialist collaborates with the Mexico and Northern Central America’s (MNCA) team (especially in Mexico city, Chiapas, Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of California, Guatemala and Belize) to develop business, financial, and economic analysis and reporting. He/she has a high level of expertise in their area(s) of specialization in order to provide support and specific recommendations to the existing conservation programs on topics such as endowments, carbon markets, Emission Trading Schemes, innovative and traditional financial mechanism (funds, trusts, blended finance) government credit/loans/subsidies, among others. The Conservation Financial Specialist will oversee consultants, manage grants, administer funds all in accordance with TNC policies and procedures and best practice in financial/organizational management. He/she will provide assistance to personnel in its specialty area. He/she will respond to complex employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area. The Conservation Financial Specialist will support and be up-to-date on the economics and financial components of different projects’ development and/or consolidation in the MNCA Geographies.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Coordinates and develops economic and financial analysis required by the geographies in the four MNCA Programs: Sustainable Lands, Oceans, Water, and Infrastructure.
- Develops financial mechanisms to increase investment in conservation, supported by a team of contractors and partners.
- Develops specific assessments, analysis, recommendations and guidelines for the consolidation of the strategies developed in each program, particularly in the financial/economic component.
- Develops terms of reference and oversees contractors when needed to complete the analysis and products required.
- Strengthening financial capacities in the MNCA Programs and looks for financial opportunities in MNCA.
- Implements, manages and supports new initiatives, multiple projects and other necessary tasks, particularly in the financial component, to support the MNCA Programs.
- Works toward meeting the strategic priorities of the Programs by developing and coordinating tactics for approved plans and completing day-to-day tasks.
- Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
- Makes independent decisions frequently based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- Ensures the programmatic work is collaborative and well-integrated across organization.
- May direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.
- 4 years’ experience in a private sector environment, such as management consulting, project finance, and specialized funding structures or schemes, or with a leading conservation organization or government entity, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience developing financial mechanisms to increase public and private investment in conservation, rural development and/or sustainable productive activities
- Experience developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment and multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience leading and managing large scale projects, including working with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
- Excellent analytical. quantitative skills and project management capabilities
- Experience in manipulating, analyzing and interpreting data. Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel.
- Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with Conservancy partners.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Knowledge of current trends in specific field
- Superior written and oral communications, in English and Spanish.
- International work experience.
- Master in Economics, MBA or similar degree with significant coursework in finance or economics
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.