The Director of Public Policy and Government Relations (DPPGR) - for TNC’s Latin America Region (LAR), identifies, prioritizes, and develops, in partnership with the region’s Conservation Program and Strategy Leads, main partners and LACC (Latin American Conservation Council), significant regional policy initiatives to promote The Nature Conservancy’s principle conservation strategies in Latin America. S/he will focus on advancing in the climate change agenda that embraces other strategies in the region, including the link between conservation and the sustainable development goals and CDB.
DPPGR represents TNC-LAR with universities, private associations, key corporate leaders, governments, multilateral environment conventions, UN agencies and other forums of policy promoting TNC-LAR’s Conservation Strategies and cultivating opportunities and innovative partnerships for achieving them. S/he identifies priority regional policy frameworks and legislative processes in which to position TNC’s LAR conservation strategies and works with TNC’s International Government Relations teams and corporate teams in TNC’s Worldwide Office in Arlington, VA, and in coordination with LAR’s corporate, development, public policy and public institutions teams, as well as with CP Directors, to position LAR objectives and models on relevant global platforms and leverage global policy capabilities for the region.
S/he in close partnership with the Director of Proposal Development and his/her team, who jointly, will work with BUs and strategy leads to prioritize key opportunities for public donor cultivation and funding across strategies and its four geographical Conservation Programs at a Regional Level with an emphasis. As part of the Market Transformation core leadership team, he/she will recommend to the Director of Proposal Development on best donor matches for elements of LAR’s Revenue Strategy, and will accomplish (with other Policy staff, Conservation leads, and Conservation Program staff) public funds revenue targets. S/he supports public and corporate (associations and specific key corporate leaders) donor cultivation and funding opportunities (e.g., priorities and opportunities for EU donors, CAF, IDB, WB, GEF, USAID, etc.) across Strategy Leads and Conservation Programs at Regional Level, aggregating and orchestrating different strategic initiatives as a coordinated public donor strategy.
S/he sets agenda and, through leadership or participation in task-related teams, supervises and cultivates the Public Policy pipeline in the Market Transformation Platform to ensure deployment of TNC staff and services for policy support to deliver on priority targets in LAR’s Key Performance Indicators to demonstrate annual progress and big wins with focus on climate. S/he owns the Market Transformation Policy Dashboard and ensures its progress and reporting. S/he monitors and assesses need for dedicated policy support in the region and will coordinate and hold annual capacity-building and planning events with policy staff. S/he will need to prioritize bringing new funding to build the Public Policy and Government relations capacity in local Conservation Programs in six priority countries – Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile – as needed.
S/he will be the main center for the interactions for Latin America regional donors, such as CAF, IDB, World Bank, and USAID and for relevant regional or international policy processes such as water tariffs, environmental compensation and subsidies for agriculture, among others. S/he represents TNC before special interest groups and governmental officials, especially at the regional level, and works among key government officials in support of BUs to increase support for TNC’s mission and programs.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- In close partnership with BUs and WO, develops, coordinates, supports and regularly reports on progress on the policy agenda for Latin America with an emphasis on climate change and sustainable development goals as umbrella themes for other strategies. S/he owns the Market Transformation Public Policy Dashboard.
- Engages and works closely with LACC members and their networks.
- Ensures policy is well embedded in conservation strategies on stages 3 and 2 (advanced) of innovation pipeline and have robust and well documented theories of transformational change linked directly to the Market Transformation Public Policy Dashboard.
- Works closely and in coordination with the Director of Corporate Relations on key leaders of industries.
- Represents Latin America Region on regional policy and public funding initiatives, challenges and opportunities.
- As the regional spokesperson for LAR’s policy-related efforts, promotes TNC’s Conservation Strategies within centers of policy development in LAR and Globally, such as among universities, task forces, and significant international policy forums.
- Helps fundraise and build the external affairs and policy staff in the Conservation Programs.
- Supervises one or more Senior Policy Advisors and may supervise other staff working on policy and public funding opportunities in the regional level. Works with Conservation Leads and BU Directors to develop work plans for policy work in Latin America. In the first years puts emphasis on water security, smart infrastructure and sustainable foods (including fisheries) and climate as cross cutting strategy.
- Identifies and develops agreements and workplans with regional and international organizations that support in-country policy and conservation work, in accordance with BUs agreement.
- Coordinates and represents LAR´s positions and interests in TNC´s delegations to multilateral conferences and meetings.
- Leads LAR relationship with the VP Public Policy and Government Relations at TNC’s Worldwide Office in Arlington and is part of the IGR Cabinet. Represents LAR in other internal meetings related to external affairs.
- Is a member of the Regional Management Team.
- Is a member of the Market Transformation Hub.
- Manages the LAR Regional Public Policy and Government Relationship budget.
- Requires a significant amount of travel within the relevant geography.
- Fluency in English and Spanish, Portuguese is a plus.
- Experience managing and supervising a large multi-disciplinary team and managing a program budget.
- Experience working with current and evolving political, legislative, sustainability, and/or conservation trends on an international, regional, country or sub-national level.
- Experience designing, implementing and directing multiple and multifaceted projects, setting deadlines and ensuring program accountability.
- Experience communicating complex processes and ideas effectively to a variety of audiences within and outside an organization.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.
- Master’s degree preferred
- Experience in directing or participating in complex negotiations and presenting to and communicating with government officials, corporate executives, board members and others.
- Demonstrated experience building strong relationships across an organization and with partners such as corporations, public agencies, donors, and/or volunteers.
- Significant experience in business development, general management, management consulting, or investment banking. Experience with corporate social responsibility or corporate sustainability.
- Significant experience in public policy, conservation/environmental policy, regulatory advocacy, and public funding.
- Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities. Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
- Outstanding written and oral communication, negotiating and organizational skills.
- Independent and self-motivated with the ability to participate effectively in a remote team environment.
- Fundraising experience.
- Management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Expert knowledge of current and evolving political, legislative and conservation trends in Latin America and the world. Preferred candidates will have a regional reputation for leadership in public policy or conservation and can demonstrate existing relationships with a network of relevant policy or public donor leaders.
- Proven track-record of developing and implementing strategic initiatives with demonstrable policy wins.
- Ability to lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams with members based in different countries around the region, United States, and Europe.
- Superb communication, presentation and writing skills; ability to persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups including key legislators and other government officials, corporate executives, major donors, board members and others who are critical to the organization’s overall prosperity
- Works effectively in high-tension situations and maintains composure under pressure. Diffuses high-tension situations comfortably.
- Creates and communicates a compelling vision; practices the Conservancy’s core values.
- Commands attention, can change tactics midstream and manage group processes during presentations or discussions.
- Develops constructive and effective working relationships inside and outside the Conservancy.
- Active in social media a plus.
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.