Patagonia Binational Lead

Preferred location: Patagonia region (Argentina or Chile)

LA124

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 Patagonia Binational Lead is responsible for delivering our conservation goals through system transformation in the Patagonian region shared by Argentina and Chile, and in close partnership with key public and private stakeholders. The position will lead an approach that is collaborative and adaptable to the respective national realities, and delivers a pathway that conserves and values nature in critical ecosystems providing sustainable, inclusive, low carbon and climate resilient development, while halting irreversible land erosion, wetland recession, forest degradation, biodiversity loss and other degradative processes. She/he provides strategic leadership and support for Conservancy´s conservation work, in alignment with national, regional and global conservation priorities and major initiatives in the targeted region. This function will report either to the Argentina or Chile BU Director, as will be determined based on the residence of the successful candidate, but yet remaining in close communication with the other country counterpart and both Argentina and Chile Conservation Directors. Though this is expected to be a long term position, subject to funding, the current posting is for one year. (The incumbent will also see to ensuring permanence through fundraising efforts for the Iconic Place).
Fixed 1-Year Term Contract with possibility of renewal.

The Patagonia Binational Lead will be in charge of the oversight of the Patagonia Binational Conservation Program in Argentina and Chile, as recommended by a conservation planning exercise following TNC´s Conservation by Design 2.0 approach, in which s/he will also take part at the beginning of her/his assignment. S/he will ensure that planned activities are fullfilled at the right time, within budget, and across a portfolio of synergistic projects. For this, s/he will build an effective team with a holistic vision of the challenges and opportunities that exist in the region, and will resource the new competencies that may be required through building internal capacity, developing partnerships or contracting third parties. S/he will be responsible to supervise multiple technical and management activities in Argentina and Chile framed within the above mentioned projects, and others that may begin in the future. S/he will provide proper orientation to build relationships with different stakeholders, both public and private, will manage strategic communications with different audiences, respond to donor inquiries, and maintain program records. S/he will play a leading role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program in the region. Job duties will also include frequent travel and fieldwork (meetings, field trips, visits to producers and workshops). Other activities in which he/she will also participate comprise the elaboration of funding proposals for the continuation of ongoing projects and the initiation of new ones, and the dissemination of marketing and outreach material resulting from the implemented projects.This position will be part of an informal network of peers in similar roles in the Gran Chaco (Argentina and Paraguay), Pará (Brazilian Amazon) and Araguaia (Brazilian Cerrado) among other “Iconic Places” in Latin America, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge. The Patagonia Binational Lead will use the TNC Code of Conduct and Competencies as a baseline to conduct her/his actions and be an example to others. The Patagonia Binational Lead will be based either in Argentina or Chile. Work will be under the home-office modality.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Lead TNC activities in the Patagonia Binational Iconic Place of Argentina and Chile.
• Lead and main contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, private sector and the academic community in the Iconic Place, in accordance with the strategic alignment provided by the leadership.
• Help develop and implement the vision for Patagonia Binational across both countries, considering elements of nature protection, regenerative ranching and forestry, and climate-related initiatives in terrestrial and ecosystems.
• Help build the theory of change for the Iconic Place, articulating TNC´s direct points of intervention, as well as where partners can and should be engaged to deploy their expertise to effectively deliver holistic conservation results across the biome.
• Coordinate the technical planning for in-person and virtual regional meetings, workshops and committees for the Patagonia Binational portfolio in Argentina and Chile.
• Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives for the project execution.
• Ensure the program is well described, reported on and adaptively managed internally, including the definition, monitoring and evaluation of management and impact indicators.
• Supervise the narrative, for example in the preparation of reports in collaboration with other staff. Review technical deliverables for quality control and alignment with program objectives.
• Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the project while controlling costs and administering budgets.
• Ensures the optimal management of financial resources, from budgeting and fundraising to execution, with support of finance and operations teams, and is efficiently described, reported on, and adaptively managed internally through the shared conservation agenda Hub and related processes including the definition, monitoring, and evaluation of management and impact indicators
• Intervene early to ensure that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs, including funding for the continuation of this position beyond February 2024.
• Build cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
• Perform duties under general supervision and established guidelines.
• Make day-to-day decisions within the scope of work assignments and prioritize work independently.
• Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information.
• Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility of performance management, training and career development. Supervise volunteers and interns.
• Be willing to travel, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Fieldwork may involve some exposure to disagreeable elements and physical exertion and/or strain.
• TNC has an occupational safety policy aimed to protect employees, partners and the communities where we work and serve. COVID-19 vaccine is a minimum requirement for all positions. Whenever applicable, as much as possible.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, veterinary, natural resources management and 5-7 years related work experience.
• Experience managing diversified and complex workstreams and projects in a constant changing environment.
• 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 with labor familiarity with the Patagonia Binational Iconic Place as here defined.
• Experience managing project teams and working with cross-functional staff.
• Experience handling standard business communications.
• Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.
• Experience in fundraising and budget management.
• Spanish and English fluent verbal and written skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in biology, ecology, veterinary, natural resources management and 7-10 years related work experience.
• Knowledge of actual conservation and land development trends and practices, in the light of climate change and biodiversity erosion.
• Ability to interact/communicate comfortably with a variety of stakeholders, including scientists, farmers and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Demonstrated experience in defining and and reporting against project and landscape metrics.
• Experience working in a matrixed organizational hierarchy and influencing without direct authority.
• Field experience and proven experience with producers and local communities.
• Ability to complete tasks independently within assigned time frames.
• Ability to make wise and timely decisions.
• Capacity to manage for leveraging across differences.
• Successful experience in marketing or fund raising desired.
• Recruits, retains, and manages high quality and effective staff.
• Multi- lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

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.

To apply for job ID 52887, 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.

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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.