[Hiring] Mexico Conservation Director @The Nature Conservancy

Role Description

The Mexico Conservation Director (MCD) is a member of the Mexico Executive Team reporting to the Country Program Director and closely coordinates with other Conservation Directors and leaders across the Latin America Region (LAR).

The MCD essential function is to ensure that the Mexico program delivers an optimal contribution to TNC’s 2030 Outcomes, enabling strong partnerships and science-based decision making to achieve lasting results, with strong emphasis in Selva Maya and the Mesoamerican Reef (SM-MAR) as well as other national initiatives related with natural protected areas, regenerative ranching and agriculture, and large-scale fisheries. The MCD leads a team of experts and works both across TNC teams as well as with external partners including the private sector, government, and civil society organizations in SM-MAR, there is shared leadership with the Guatemala and Belize teams.

The MCD will shape transformative strategies that advance systems change approaches with clear and ambitious outcomes, and guide teams for effective implementation.

Responsibilities & Scope

• Supports the Mexico Director to define transformative conservation strategies and develop actionable roadmaps for effective implementation, including building necessary partnerships for wider impact and systemic changes.
• Inspires a sense of shared ownership of the conservation agenda and TNC’s conservation propositions and tools, enabling the optimal conditions to deliver and demonstrate progress, and leading with the example.
• Oversees implementation of agreed conservation outcomes, using adaptive management approaches with clear accountability for results.
• Develops, manages and retains a high performing team able to deliver on agreed conservation outcomes, and is responsible for performance management, employee engagement, training and career development.
• Manages internal information systems to assess, update and document evidence of progress, and lessons learned.
• Supports the development of annual and multi-year full-cost budgets and ensures effective budget management.
• Leads the conservation and governance oversight of on-site initiatives, including budget preparation and tracking, financial planning, monitoring and evaluation, and other decisions needed for the sustainable management of the initiatives.
• Leads and coordinates the development of public and private financing proposals that bolster and advance the strategic direction defined for priority geographies and agendas.
• Persuasively conveys the mission and conservation priorities of TNC to diverse groups including major donors, partners and others who are critical to the organization’s overall impact, leading or contributing to the preparation of presentations and reports.
• Directs, prepares, presents and/or participates in negotiations of project proposals with governmental, bilateral and/or multilateral agencies.
• Focus on inspiring and developing the team, cultivating TNC's competencies and values, promoting accountability and ensuring that everybody plays a relevant role to achieve complex goals. Dedicating time to set expectations, guide, coach and develop staff knowing that being a great leader is as important as the technical knowledge.
• May act as a Deputy Director for the BU Director as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and over 8 years of experience in similar positions, including experience as a leader in the conservation arena and/or non-profit sector.
• Outstanding supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance in multidisciplinary teams.
• Track record working on sustainable development and environmental issues including forest conservation, regenerative ranching and agriculture, community conservation, fisheries, natural protected areas and/or integrated landscape management in Mexico with non-governmental, private or public organizations. International experience in these issues would be desirable.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral in Spanish and English, for diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects, engaging with donors and writing outstanding concepts.
• Experience in collaboration with the private sector, non-government and community-based organizations and public authorities.
• Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals, and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.

Desired Qualifications

• 10 years of professional experience, including proven experience effectively leading environmental and conservation issues, in large and complex programs and with measurable results in Mexico in non-governmental, private or public organizations.
• Demonstrated success as an inspirational and innovative leader who has successfully led a multi-disciplinary team, while also influencing without direct authority inside and outside the organization.
• Experience working in a matrixed, decentralized, and geographically dispersed organization.
• Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Demonstrated operational, implementation, and detail-oriented perspective.
• Proactive understanding of systems change approaches: Thinks and acts from a broad perspective with a long-term view and an understanding of the dynamic nature of large-scale challenges.

Benefits

• Competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work.
• Health care benefits.
• Retirement benefits.
• Parental leave.
• Paid time off.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits.
• Flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Company Description

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.