Director, Community-led Economies and Finance, Equitable Conservation

WHO WE ARE

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to belonging and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

As part of TNC’s Chief Conservation Office, Equitable Conservation team, the Community-led Economies and Finance Director furthers the work dedicated to Indigenous and Community Leadership in Conservation and Human Rights, Gender and Equity by collaboratively developing, managing and leading TNC’s Community-led Economies and Finance strategy in actualization of TNC’s Voice, Choice, and Action (VCA) Framework, and Human Rights Guide for working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Reporting to Global Director of Equitable Conservation (EC), the Community-led Finance and Economies Director leads a collaborative practice area as well as working closely with other EC colleagues, TNC local and regional teams, global teams, senior leadership, and external partner organizations to enable, integrate, and scale regionally led regenerative economies and direct finance access solutions through global strategy, frameworks, and partnerships that drive adoption of these solutions by key conservation finance decision-makers. The Director holds primary decision-making authority over the global Community-led Economies and Finance strategy and associated global external partnerships, while serving as a strategic partner and advisor to regional and country teams on place-based implementation. In this role, the Director supports and complements regional strategies by contributing global insights and recommending expenditure allocations aligned with Equitable Conservation priorities. The Director provides sophisticated expertise in strategic leadership, equitable conservation values, and experience working with communities, along with business and financial acumen, to support regenerative, circular, and community-led economies that leverage a holistic approach to Indigenous self-determination, governance, and stewardship. They directly manage staff and dotted line partnerships.

The Director advises global, regional and country teams on Community-led Economies and Finance that can be more effectively coordinated across the organization, in service to teams seeking to build capacity on topics related to economic development, value chains, enabling conditions, environmental and social safeguards and other issues relevant to partnering authentically with Indigenous Peoples and local or traditional communities. They coordinate efforts with other strategy leads and Directors to determine and align effective engagements across TNC’s portfolio of Community-led conservation work spanning over 20 countries, including private sector engagements.

Serving as a thought leader, technical expert and manager for TNC in community-led economies and finance, working closely with the Global Director for ICLC, other key colleagues, and leadership internally and externally to advance systems change towards equitable conservation and advise on the diversity of direct finance strategies such as climate finance, climate positive economies, Nature Bonds and PFPs where possible.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Strategy, thought leadership, and systems change:

• Leads a global Community-led Economies and Finance strategy grounded in Indigenous rights, community governance, human rights, gender equity, and economic self-determination—translating values into actionable solutions.

• Analyzes, identifies, and champions key financial and economic models and approaches that support long-term funding and economic sovereignty for Community-led conservation.

• Evaluates enabling conditions, emerging practices, and organizational levers to identify and elevate opportunities for innovation, proposing and championing approaches that embed leading‑edge community‑led economies and finance models into TNC’s systems.

• Geographic size and scope at a global level, with a focus and responsibility on providing strategic leadership support to launch new ‘bottom-up’ projects and initiatives.

• Working collaboratively with field programs, partners, and global team colleagues, the Director will advance strategy and priority projects across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and North America in new and existing place-based partnerships.

• Serves as the Global Equitable Conservation lead and point person on Community-led Finance and Economics, ensuring alignment and integration across EC practice areas, reducing duplication and reinforcing rights-based approaches.

• Serves as a thought leader at TNC on Community-led conservation finance and economics for systems change.

• Engages with other BUs and leadership across TNC to influence and drive TNC’s Community-led work -relevant approaches to conservation finance and economics.

• Upholds and implements Our Ways of Working agreements, EC Team norms, TNC values, and community-led conservation approaches.

Driving strategic results through a portfolio of high-impact projects:

• Leads the strategic identification, design, development, and execution of a portfolio of high-impact financial and economic models/solutions/projects, catalytically supporting Indigenous- and community-led conservation. Each solution/project within this portfolio is grounded in place-based work championed by TNC local teams and is aligned with systems-level scaling strategies through policy, partnership, and other interventions.

• Leads work planning and execution for holistic and integrated Community-led Finance and Economic Strategy. This includes supporting the design, adaptation and scaling of rights-based economic and financing frameworks—such as Social Protection economic approaches, TNC Community Enterprise Catalyst and other approaches that include MSMEs and smallholders, Payments for Territorial and Ecosystems Services with an inclusive lens, nature-based and climate-positive finance instruments and approaches (Nature Bonds, Natural Climate Solutions, Climate Adaptation), and other market-relevant mechanisms—in service of ground up, rights- and values-based approaches for healthy people, lands and waters. In partnership with the Program and Resource Management sub-team, the Director implements EC-wide work planning, operational, program, and resource management tools, processes, and resources.

• Works in partnership with the Regional Coordination Manager for Equitable Conservation to strengthen coherence and information flow between portfolio and regional engagements, supporting consistent and coordinated interactions across geographies informed by regional priorities.

• Develops culture and support to address organizational system(s) in need of results pertaining to Community-led finance and economics, in alignment with EC-wide culture and practices.

Leading and managing people, mentoring, cultivating values-based norms, and building capacity for this work across the organization:

• Builds organizational alignment, buy-in, and uptake for Community-led Finance and Economics approaches by translating strategy into shared priorities, practical guidance, and usable tools across a matrixed organization.

• Oversees the work of other professionals, including direct and dotted line reports and consultants, in alignment with Equitable Conservation team practices.

• Establishes, models, and supports community-led and rights-based guiding principles and norms, anchored in trust-building and right relations, for TNC’s community-led finance and economics work.

• Cultivates talent and leads a team culture of peer mentorship and support, especially in support of local teams and local capacity building as a sub-strategy for scaling impact.

• Support the creation of an internal network / community of practice, shared tools, learning products and knowledge systems to cultivate capacity building and learning across the organization in coordination with the Networks and Movements sub-team.

• Guided by EC-wide culture and practices and in alignment with Community-Led Conservation Program Manager and Equitable Conservation Leadership Team

Collaboration, communication, partnership, and representation:

• Collaborates with other members of the Equitable Conservation team to apply team expertise (e.g., on human rights, gender, MEL, youth, etc.) while aligning priorities and building shared ownership to model and advance a holistic, Voice, Choice, and Action-based approach.

• Cultivates strategic partnerships both within TNC and externally to advance long-term financial and economic solutions.

• Ensures this strategy aligns with and advances existing TNC local and regional strategies and priorities.

• Works with team and marketing/communications colleagues to ensure strong and effective communications regarding Community-Led finance and economics work to TNC internal and external audiences through evidence, tools and storytelling.

• Directs or participates in negotiations for complex, high profile, or sensitive agreements as needed.

• They lead engagements with public and private organizations, development experts, and potential market and investment partners at regional and global scales with deference to local leadership.

• Significant latitude and deference to work directly with field and country program personnel on strategy and implementation.

Policy and external affairs:

• Assists priority field programs with technical support and to leverage public and private funding opportunities, including influencing public policy related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP and LC) and Community-led finance and economics for conservation.

Donor relations and development:

• Plays a strategic role in fundraising and donor cultivation, co-designing fundable platforms, shaping narratives, and engaging select donors and partners, including shaping donor approaches that support regional ownership while maintaining global coherence, learning and alignment, while working closely with Equitable Conservation leadership and development staff.

• Support donor relations/communications and fundraising efforts as needed to execute Community-led Conservation Finance and Economic Strategy.

• Supports Global Director for ICLC, Global Director of Equitable Conservation, Associate Director of Outreach and Impact, and other team director(s) of development on long-term and cross-practice donor cultivation and fundraising, as needed.
  

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Demonstrated ability to design, lead, and implement impactful strategies at the intersection of conservation, finance, community partnership, and systems change—gained through formal training, professional practice, and/or lived experience.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations with political and relational savvy, setting clear priorities and boundaries, exercising sound judgment under ambiguity, and leading through partnership and influence rather than direct ownership.

• Real-world expertise in community finance, development economics, equitable conservation, and/or climate work.

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Economics, Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Economics, Public Finance, Marketing or equivalent; and 5+ years’ experience in community finance, conservation finance, economic development practice, banking, financial policy, social science or similar; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, coordinating the work of other professionals and partners, culturally competent management.

• Experience leading through organizational transition and/or shifting operating models.

• Cross-cultural work experience, including in low- and medium-income countries (LMICs), small island development states (SIDS), non-biased, able to lead in the service of ‘bottom up’ and equity approaches.

• Strong network weaver, team player with experience in partnership development with non-profits, community groups, and/or government agencies.

• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and norms, career path development, and managing performance.

• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.

• Oral and written fluency in English.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working for grassroots IP and LC and Community-led organizations

• Strong, demonstrated attunement to equity and community-centered processes and outcomes of financing and/or development projects

• Multisectoral experience (work across private, public, and non-profit sectors)

• Outstanding and proven analytical, quantitative, and communication skills

• Experience supporting the execution of quantitative and/or qualitative social science studies

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization

• Ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment

• Experience developing practical applications of sustainable finance and development economics concepts and technical innovations for multi-generational and equitable conservation outcomes.

• Experience running incubators, accelerators, blended finance platforms, green inclusive finance mobilization strategies appreciated.

• Experience running incubators, accelerators, blended finance platforms, green inclusive finance mobilization strategies appreciated.

• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation

• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity, climate and community-led conservation finance, and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives in service to the places closest to the ecosystems TNC is seeking to protect and conserve.

• Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental and international affairs

• Ability to synthesize complex information in practice area for senior decision-making.

• Advanced proficiency in interpreting guidelines to achieve desired results.

• Negotiating experience and political savvy

• Communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia, Mongolian, Portuguese, Spanish, and/or Swahili are appreciated

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $100,800 – 151,300 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Who We Are:

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 rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

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

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.