Africa Partnership Manager at Nature Conservancy

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

As Partnership Manager, you will strategically support TNC's country and program leads in the stewardship of partnerships.

Strategic Support and Oversight:

• Provide essential support to country and program leads in the execution of the Partnership Engagement Strategy, reinforcing its principles in the cultivation and sustenance of partnerships.
• Facilitate the development and management of Conservation Partnership Agreements, ensuring they promote shared ownership, growth, and reciprocity.
• Conduct alignment sessions that assist the country and program lead align their partnerships with TNC's values, offering strategic insights to realign efforts as needed.
• Work closely with the Africa IPLC Strategy Director to maintain a strategic overview of partnership health.

Partnership Enhancement and Learning:

• Offer guidance in identifying and managing strategic partnerships that support TNC’s conservation objectives.
• Play a leading role in aiding country offices and programs within the Africa Business Unit to sustain healthy and effective partnerships.
• Collaborate with leads to link partnerships explicitly to projects or programs, reinforcing TNC’s broad conservation mission.
• Provide strategic recommendations to the Africa IPLC Strategy Director on partnership opportunities and growth potential.
• Supporting accurate recognition of partners' contributions in reporting and communications.
• Contribute and share learnings and experience across TNC.

Strategic Communication:

• Ensure open lines of communication are maintained with all partners, facilitating the sharing of updates, challenges, and triumphs.
• Encourage a culture of trust, collaboration, and adaptive management, enhancing the capacity of country and program leads in their partnership engagements.
• Advocate for recognizing and integrating each partner's unique perspectives and skills, promoting an exchange of knowledge and resources that benefits all parties.

Monitoring and Strategic Evaluation:

• Develop strategic metrics to assess the vitality and impact of partnerships.
• Periodically review and improve partnership dynamics, ensuring they are in continual alignment with TNC’s conservation targets.
• Incorporate feedback to refine the effectiveness and strategic focus of TNC’s partnership engagements.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Minimum Qualifications:

Your role as the Manager demands a unique blend of skills and experiences that resonate with the multifaceted nature of TNC's partnerships:

• BA/BS degree and 7 years of experience in conservation practice or a related field, demonstrating a capacity for leadership in conservation or partnership management.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
• Demonstrable experience in building trust and acknowledging the history and voices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in previous conservation efforts.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including coordinating staff, workloads, and finances within deadlines.
• Experienced in working collaboratively and adaptively within dynamic and complex environments, adjusting strategies to meet evolving partnership needs.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising or securing resources for conservation or environmental initiatives.
• Leadership and Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree and over 7 years of experience in conservation practice or a related field, demonstrating a capacity for leadership in conservation or partnership management.
• While fluency in English is essential, additional fluency in French, Portuguese, or any local languages spoken within TNC’s countries of operation in Africa would be highly beneficial.
• Ability to organize and facilitate stakeholder workshops and meetings at multiple levels. Ability to mentor, train, engage sensitively with leaders and staff, and influence without direct reporting authority.
• Proven track record in developing, managing, and nurturing strategic co-creative partnerships within the conservation sector or closely related fields.
• Skills in negotiation with diverse groups, including non-profit partners, community groups, and government agencies, are desirable.
• Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing to build trust and foster collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Multicultural or cross-cultural experience, with an appreciation and respect for cultural differences and the ability to navigate and bridge diverse perspectives.
• A deep commitment to TNC's values and a passion for impactful conservation work.
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
• Politically savvy with an understanding of the socio-political dynamics within the conservation landscapes of Africa.