Based in Mexico City, the Mexico and Northern Central America (MNCA) Water Security Director oversees all aspects of the MNCA Water Program encompassing a multi-country geography, including at least Mexico and Guatemala and possibly El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. S/He provides strategic leadership and support for the Conservancy’s conservation planning work, establishes overall conservation priorities for water security and seeks out contact points and collaboration with TNC's local, regional and global programs to tackle the priorities of the Shared Conservation Agenda. S/He will promote Water Funds to improve collective action aiming for water security, as well as other mechanisms such as public policy transformation, direct actions, conservation plans and business collaboration, private and public investment for water security, aiming to achieve large-scale water security for major cities and within key ecosystems and agricultural systems by means of nature-based solutions.
S/he will work under the supervision of the MNCA Conservation Director and in close coordination with MNCA’s Executive team (composed of MNCA’s Executive Director, and heads of the Finance and Operations, Development, Legal, Human Resources, Marketing and Communications teams). S/he will have a dotted line to the LAR Water Security Unit and in particular the Regional Water Funds Manager. This position will become part of the pool of regional experts that can provide services or expertise across the Latin American Region and other places.
- The Water Security Director supports MNCA through the following functions:
- Develop the MNCA Water Security Program agenda according to a strategic vision and strong technical, social, political and financial support, to ensure achievement of strategic goals and objectives.
- Establish TNC as a major partner within the area of collective action and nature-based solutions in support of water security.
- Support the MNCA Executive Team in developing and maintaining key partnerships with public & private organizations to scale up nature-based solutions, under the framework of the Shared Conservation Agenda.
- Manage the Water Security Program budget in close collaboration with MNCA’s Finance and Operator manager and his staff.
- Lead the MNCA Water Security Team in accordance with the strategic vision and institutional guidelines.
- -Ensure appropriate reporting on progress of the Water Security Program that TNC may require to present internally and externally.
- Promote, establish and maintain links with other national projects and international programs to achieve the conservation objectives of Water Security in MNCA in coordination with the Executive Director
- Build synergies and strategic partnerships with other Conservation Programs, Strategies, and Operational Units within TNC to generate greater impacts while optimizing resources and high-level conservation results.
- Look for new project opportunities aligned with the objectives of having a financially sound Water Security Strategy, including possible lead roles in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the Program.
- Provide support to other conservation programs and in particular to other water security programs based on her/his skills
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Propose the water security strategy, implementation plan and key impact and key performance indicators, in line and in coordination with the MNCA Conservation Program and the Water Security Regional and Global Units and TNC’s Shared Conservation Agenda
- Identify & implement joint high level projects across other programs, in particular with the Sustainable Lands, Healthy Agricultural Systems (HAS), Cities Strategy and Climate Change Strategy teams, creating cross sector synergies (for example water & agriculture; water & cities, water and resilience landscapes).
- Regularly report to and keep the MNCA Conservation Director, and when appropriate the MNCA Executive Director and Latin American Region Water Security Unit, up-to-date on progress and implementation issues of the MNCA Water Security Program.
- Collaborate with the MNCA Conservation Director and Development team in developing the revenue plan and strategy.
- Make strategic use of global and regional capabilities at TNC seeking to maximize synergies to strengthen the MNCA Water Security Program, while also contributing expertise, experience and other resources whenever possible to the global and regional Water Security programs.
- Assume direct responsibility for managing the MNCA Water Security Program budget by ensuring the adequate disbursement, financial sustainability and adequate application of financial procedure
- Broad management and leadership responsibility for high quality and effective multi-disciplinary staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
- Ensure that all project activities are carried out in accordance with the MNCA Water Security Strategy indicators and budget to achieve the desired outputs.
- Ensure the timely submission of work plans, reports, outputs and other deliverables to MNCA Executive Team, and when required for other internal and external audiences, for review and evaluation, as appropriate.
- Prepare and attend periodic review meetings/reports as required by TNC and external partners.
- Provide overall technical guidance and supervision of all project activities, to ensure and monitor their progress, in consultation with internal and external experts, consultants, subcontractors and partners.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Make independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
- May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.
- 10 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience working with a wide range of people, corporate executives, government officials, academia and local communities.
- Proven knowledge of the water sector in Mexico and regionally.
- Ability to design, implement and manage multiple and complex projects, clearly establishing objectives and meeting deadlines to ensure program responsibility.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in Spanish and English.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, managing performance and allocating resources according to priorities.
- Experience developing partnerships (partners, community, government).
- Negotiation skills.
- Experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
- Experience with financial management of a large program.
- Experience in design and implementation of large private and public funded projects.
- Experience in strategic planning and monitoring of multiple projects; applied knowledge of theory of change is an advantage.
- Makes independent strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and has judgment as to timely consultation with supervisor or other stakeholders.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, natural resource management, integrated water resources management or related fields.
- Knowledge in integrated natural resources management
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong team building skills and ability to help people grow
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
- General knowledge of the state of the art on issues of conservation, ecosystem services, agriculture, climate change and environmental public policies, finance, especially related to water.
- Politically savvy and experienced in partnership development (partners, community, government)
- Resolves complex problems independently with minimal supervision
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.