Kenya Country Director at Nature Conservancy

• The Country Director will be based in Nairobi, and will lead TNC’s impact delivery projects/programs, country strategy, and operations in Kenya. Specifically, the position will provide programs/projects implementation and operational oversight - which includes staff recruitment and supervision, resource mobilization and partner relations. They will lead and coordinate the integration and synergistic implementation of TNC strategies and priorities in Kenya. The Country Director will supervise a team of staff involved in the delivery of the Kenya Country Strategy and will report to the Africa Director for Program Delivery.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

• The Country Director serves as the principal contact for TNC’s strategic partners and will play a key role in relations with government agencies. They will develop and maintain key partnerships with international, regional, national, and local governmental, multilateral, bilateral, private, and non-governmental organizations that help advance TNC’s conservation objectives in the country and the continent. The Country Director plays a leading role in donor identification and cultivation of partnerships to establish TNC as a major conservation partner in the country. A key aspect of the role is to ensure the success of TNC’s sustainable financing for conservation models through the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) approach. They will also lead the implementation of all the Conservation Programs, coordinate and support activities while liaising with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.

Specifically, The Country Director Will

• Strategic leadership
  • Lead execution of Kenya's contributions to TNC's 2030 Goals and e nsure the effective implementation of the country strategic plan including, monitoring, evaluation and learning progress review.
  • Provide TNC leadership with an account of the country impact and targets aligned with the overarching strategic goals.
  • Provide leadership for the establishment and implementation of TNC regional and global strategy projects and initiatives in Kenya to ensure they are aligned with and contribute to the country strategic plan.
  • Ensure the success of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) sustainable financing model in Kenya.
  • oversee engagement with TNC global teams and implementation of global priorities in Kenya.
• Program Management
  • Manage all in-country programs and projects ensuring that they are implemented on time and on budget.
  • Develop and Monitor country budget in line with allocated funds, in close collaboration with the strategy leads, the project/program leads and the finance team.
  • Foster operational excellence and model TNC values and norms.
  • Ensure compliance with TNC Standard Operating Procedures and national and local laws and regulations.
  • Promote TNC guidelines and procedures on safety and security.
  • Assess and mitigate risks and exposures to the organization.
• Policy & Partnership Management at National Level
  • Provide oversight towards aligning TNC conservation goals to the development agenda of the country.
  • Manage and monitor relationship with country-specific partners, communities, key stakeholders, and implementation partners.
  • Represent TNC on the board of related entities and partner organizations.
  • Relay feedback from partners to the rest of the organization.
• People management
  • Responsible for day-to-day management of staff in-country.
  • Facilitate effective collaboration and communication across multiple departments and teams in–country using matrix management principles.
  • Make in-country hiring decisions and performance management.

What You'll Bring

• BA/BS degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
• Experience negotiating complex project deals with government and non-government partners.
• Experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the province or country level.
• Experience with financial management of a large program.

Desired Qualifications

• Multi- lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• 10-12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Politically savvy.