The Regional Managing Director provides strategic leadership and management to the Conservancy’s growing Africa Region, currently comprised of nearly 70 staff doing and supporting on-the-ground conservation on the African continent.
With a current fiscal year budget of US$23 million, the Regional Managing Director leads conservation and supporting activities for a rapidly growing region with staff currently based in six African countries (Gabon, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Zambia and soon South Africa). We also have several support staff based in the United States, and invest in partners in other African countries. The Regional Managing Director is ultimately responsible and accountable for the programs, partnerships and conservation results throughout the region. S/he represents the program broadly both internally and externally to Conservancy senior management, the Board of Directors, country governments, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies and non-governmental organization partners. S/he ensures that the conservation goals and activities of the Africa Region are aligned with The Nature Conservancy’s overall conservation framework and organizational priorities, known as the Shared Conservation Agenda. S/he builds and directs the Africa Region Senior Leadership team, including the region’s senior leaders in conservation, external affairs, marketing, philanthropy, finance, human resources and operations.
The Regional Managing Director will report to the Executive Vice President (EVP) for Africa, India and Europe and will support the EVP as necessary in the engagement of major donors to support our work. The Regional Managing Director is a member of the Conservancy’s Executive Team.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Advances the Conservancy’s role as a global conservation leader and acts as internal and external ambassador to advocate for TNC’s conservation work in Africa.
- Works with the Executive Vice President, Chief Conservation Officer, the Managing Directors of other conservation regions, the Global Strategy Leads and the Executive Team to integrate and align the Africa Region conservation priorities with those of the organization as a whole.
- Works with fellow leaders to formulate, establish, and evaluate policies and/or long-term programs.
- Responsible for overseeing preparation of annual work plans and budgets for the Africa Region as well as reports against annual goals and objectives.
- Directs negotiations for complex, high profile and sensitive agreements.
- Manages senior leadership positions within the region and is responsible for the management and development of all staff within the region.
- In coordination with the EVP, responsible for liaising with TNC’s volunteer leadership, including the Africa Council.
- Accountable to assist the EVP as necessary raising public and private funds to meet annual budget needs for the region.
- Responsible for the oversight and implementation of large cross-boundary projects, and administrative and compliance issues region-wide. Ensures multiple programs meet organization-wide needs and commitments and are managed for ethical compliance.
- Plays a leading role in managing major public agency and elected official relationships.
- Works with key partners to develop and communicate solutions and best practices.
- Reports on program to executive leadership and Board of Directors.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience leading and managing a large multi-disciplinary team, including managing senior level leaders.
- Experience addressing political, communal and/or environmental challenges and opportunities within Africa.
- Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.
- Experience in fundraising, including cultivation of major donors.
- Experience in evaluating and/or negotiating complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Fluency in English required
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills (ideally French and Swahili) and multi-cultural experience preferred.
- Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs in Africa.
- Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
- Political and interpersonal savvy. Strong emotional intelligence.
- Successful track record recruiting, supervising and developing high performing staff.
- Approachable and accessible with a sense of humor.