Director, Global Agriculture and Food Systems Policy

Arlington, Virginia, USA
This position is negotiable anywhere The Nature Conservancy is authorized to conduct business. Arlington, VA is TNC's headquarters.

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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 diversity 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. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

The Director, Global Agriculture and Food Systems Policy works with national and international governmental and business entities and partners at all levels to further the Conservancy’s mission focusing on strategic partnerships and policy outcomes. Facing externally, the Director will engage in key global policy forums (e.g. UNFCCC, UNCCD, UNCBD) and with strategic partners (e.g. Rome based agencies) to advance TNC’s global agriculture and food systems work. The Director will draw on an extensive professional network to identify strategic trends and opportunities, and engage in or build strategic coalitions to advance TNC’s strategies. The Director will also engage public sector bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to support relevant TNC strategies and regional programs.

Facing internally, the Director will serve as lead policy strategy advisor, guiding the development and implementation of policy strategies across TNC’s global agriculture and food systems strategies and leading their effective implementation across a matrixed organization. The Director will also collaborate closely with TNC’s Tackle Climate Change team to ensure coherence between TNC’s sustainable supply chains and zero conversation commodities strategies and TNC’s Nature Climate Solutions strategies. The Director will also support policy strategy development and implementation on regenerative food systems and work closely with regional and country-level colleagues in key geographies, especially China, Brazil, India and Africa, as well as coordinate with and align TNC’s agriculture and food systems policy work in the United States and Europe.

The preferred location for this position is the TNC Worldwide Office (Washington, DC metro area). Other global policy centers will also be considered.

The challenges facing our planet today require comprehensive solutions that address the well-being of people and nature and lay the foundation for future conservation efforts. Promoting policies that provide benefits to both people and nature is critical to securing lasting conservation outcomes. The work and expertise of The Nature Conservancy’s External Affairs programs are integral to this effort. External Affairs is helping to shape the government policies that help make possible achievement of transformative conservation outcomes to address climate change, enhance protection of lands, waters, and the ocean, and provide food and water sustainably. We have an awesome task at hand, and the work that you do here will have a direct impact on our success.

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of related senior-level work experience, including current and evolving political, legislative and conservation trends at the global level.
• Fluency in English required; additional languages appreciated.
• Demonstrated experience building strong relationships across an organization and with partners such as public agencies, governments, donors, corporations, and/or volunteers.
• Experience managing and supervising a large multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience working on food and agriculture issues at a global level.
• Experience working with current and evolving political, sustainability, and/or conservation trends on an international level.
• Experience in directing or participating in complex negotiations and presenting to and communicating with government officials, corporate executives, board members and others.
• Experience designing, implementing and directing multiple and multifaceted projects, setting deadlines and ensuring program accountability.
• Experience communicating complex processes and ideas effectively to a variety of audiences within and outside an organization.

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 competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

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

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. The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $129,000 - 195,000 for annual base salary in the United States. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the United States. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the United States would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual salary range.

To apply for job ID 54006, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

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 culture. 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 orientation, gender identity, 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.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.