Congo Basin Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist
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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.
Our 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. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”
Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries where we operate.
In the Congo Basin, the Nature Conservancy supports and collaborates with the countries ambitions on biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation agenda. TNC works across the freshwater, ocean, and terrestrial ecosystems to protect and sustainably manage critical habitats for species, ecosystems, and carbon stocks. TNC brings science and innovative tools and approaches to inform better decision-making, develops innovative financial mechanisms for long terms sustainability, cultivates strategic partnership, and fosters the need for inclusive, equitable conservation that benefits nature and people.
What We Can Achieve Together:
The Congo Basin is the second-largest expanse of tropical forest on earth and is known as a global biodiversity hotspot. These forests represent about 25 percent of the total carbon stored in tropical forests worldwide, mitigating anthropogenic emissions. These forest ecosystems are also home to an enormous wealth of plant and animal species including threatened animals such as the lowland gorilla, bonobos, and chimpanzees. The Congo Basin forests are home to about 30 million people and support livelihoods for more than 75 million people from over 150 ethnic groups who rely on local natural resources for food, nutritional health, and livelihood needs.
TNC is in the process of designing an integrated Congo Basin Strategic Plan to secure short- and long-term conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin ecosystem, in line with TNC’s conservation priorities including protecting lands, waters, and oceans with important biodiversity, and tackling global climate change. To ensure that the strategic plan is co-created and validated with partners in the region, TNC is seeking a partnership and stakeholder engagement specialist for the Congo Basin. They will co-develop and implement the strategic plan with both internal staff at TNC, and mainly external partners, including, but not limited to government agencies, NGOs, academia, development agencies, and indigenous people and local communities throughout the Congo Basin. This is an incredible opportunity to work with a wide range of external partners and co-develop a strategic plan that is critical to protecting, managing, and restoring the Congo Basin region. They will report to the Africa Forest Carbon Catalyst Director The position will be located at The Nature Conservancy’s office in Libreville, Gabon.
We’re Looking for You:
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Identify and analyze the main actors currently undertaking relevant work in the Congo Basin and direct some or all aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for a geographic area within the Congo Basin.
- Develop a stakeholder/partner engagement strategy to begin outreach to key actors, undertake interviews, workshops, meetings, field visits, etc. to build relationships with potential partners and to better understand their work.
- Assess strategic partners to engage, develop partnership agreements with targeted actors to achieve desired outcomes.
- Serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community in the Congo Basin.
- Negotiate complex and innovative solutions with partners to develop and implement the shared vision.
- Make recommendations to TNC Africa leadership about partnership opportunities.
- Where appropriate participate in writing proposals to fundraise for key work in the Basin.
- Develop and implement a plan to bring key actors and potential partners into TNC’s Congo Basin strategy process.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
- 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.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. Fluency in the English and French languages
- 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and strategies in conservation and climate change, for the Congo Basin.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Experience in policy implementation, partnership development and conservation practice in the Congo Basin.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, French and other relevant languages.
- Ability to organize and facilitate workshop and meetings.
- Politically savvy.
What We Bring:
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become 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, we impact conservation throughout the world!
The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!
This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
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.