The Director, Product Development, Debt Conversions Africa and West Indian Ocean will report to the Senior Director, Debt Conversions in NatureVest. Debt Conversions, also known as Debt-for-Nature-Swaps, involve negotiating the purchase of a country’s sovereign external debt, at a discount. The debt is purchased, via an in-country trust fund, with combination of loan capital, de-risked with credit enhancement, and/or grant funds. The debt is then restructured with the government to create funding to finance marine conservation and related activities in the country. The Director’s role will be to underwrite and model potential debt conversions and related products in the Africa and West Indian Ocean region. This includes financial analysis and modeling; capital structuring; credit enhancement; market analysis; negotiating with governments and creditors; and risk assessment and mitigation. The Director will prepare financial models, investor/creditor/government pitch decks, and other materials. S/he will engage in all aspects of capital-raising including the soliciting of potential investors and donors, and the management of investor relationships. Identify and negotiate key partnership arrangements necessary for building private capital pipeline including investment origination, credit enhancement, due diligence, structuring and closing.
This will be a term limited position. The initial term will be one year with the possibility of extension based on available funding sources. Preferred locations are: London, UK; Berlin, Germany; or Nairobi, Kenya.
The Director, Product Development will lead the development and implementation of debt conversions in Africa and the West Indian Ocean. The Director will collaborate with Worldwide Office teams, field staff, Conservancy senior management, including NatureVest, Arica region, Europe team, and Global Ocean Team staff, and partner organizations, such as multi-lateral and bi-lateral institutions, donors, investors, based in Europe and elsewhere, and national governments. The Director will also bring sophisticated business, financial, and economic analysis, and expertise, including financial modeling, pitch decks, due diligence, deal structuring, and closing, to the design and implementation of this work. Initial focus of the position will be to bring to close existing potential debt conversions in Kenya and Mauritius as well as identify additional countries in the region to eventually develop debt conversions.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Implements and manages development of new and existing debt conversions in Africa and the West Indian Ocean.
- Manages and implements multiple projects in the Africa and West Indian Ocean region.
- Travel associated with this position is expected to be approximately 40% of the time.
- Ensures the programmatic work is collaborative and well-integrated across organization, including staff from NatureVest, Africa region, Europe team, and Global Oceans Team.
- Makes independent decisions frequently based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
- May direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements associated with the debt conversions
- 7 years’ experience in a private sector environment, such as management consulting and investment banking, or with a leading conservation organization or government entity, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.
- Experience leading and managing large scale projects, including working with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with Conservancy partners. Experience working with governments, multi-lateral, and/or bi-lateral institutions preferred.
- Ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
- Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated
- Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
- Superior written and oral communications.
- International work experience desirable. Experience working in Africa and/or West Indian Ocean preferred.
- 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.