Climate Finance Specialist
YOUR POSITION WITH TNC
The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist provides sophisticated business, financial and economic expertise to address conservation challenges. The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist will support a key strategic initiative within The Nature Conservancy by sourcing, developing, and guiding the structuring of non-grant instruments financed by the Green Climate Fund in support of some of our most ambitious climate and conservation efforts.
This role will serve as an important nexus between two TNC programs: NatureVest and our Policy and Public Funding Division. NatureVest is the impact investing and sustainable finance unit of The Nature Conservancy. NatureVest’s vision is a world where financial markets value and integrate natural capital into business and investment decisions as part of creating a sustainable, equitable and more efficient economy. NatureVest is part of TNC’s Impact Finance and Markets (IFM) Division, which also includes TNC’s Corporate Engagement and Carbon Markets teams. The Policy and Public Funding (PPF) team expands what is possible through transformational policies and funding mobilization that achieve equitable climate and conservation outcomes for people and nature at scale.
This is a two-year funded position with opportunities for extension based on budget and performance.
Essential Functions
The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist will be instrumental in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation projects using non-grant instruments to meet country priorities, TNC’s 2030 goals and GCF’s objectives. The Nature Conservancy is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which allows TNC to collaborate with developing countries and other partners to design and implement transformative climate adaptation and mitigation projects.
The Specialist is primarily responsible for developing the non-grant instrument (NGI) components of GCF project proposals, creating the enabling conditions to successfully deliver GCF projects with NGIs. For the purposes of TNC’s GCF projects, NGIs can include concessional and commercial rate debt and equity, both as direct or intermediated investments, with a primary focus on concessional debt products and risk-mitigation mechanisms.
The Specialist reports to the Managing Director, Nature Finance within NatureVest, and works in close collaboration with the lead of TNC’s GCF unit. In addition, they will leverage effective relationships with a wide range of colleagues, including TNC regional and country programs, global strategy teams, senior management and impact investing staff, legal teams, project implementation partners, and the GCF.
The Specialist supports the strategic priorities of the TNC-GCF Unit by working with broader TNC teams to originate, scope, and conduct diligence on prospective NGIs and integrating NGIs into idea notes, concept notes and funding proposals. To succeed, the Specialist will need to deeply understand the climate adaptation and mitigation objectives of a given project and then identify opportunities for non-grant sources of revenue to help achieve those objectives.
This position will include international travel, calls before/after regular working hours, and occasionally require working long hours and weekends. This is a remote position available to candidates where TNC is a registered NGO and has an established office. Schedule and part of core hours must align with that of the East Coast of the United States.
Responsibilities & Scope
If you’re a motivated professional looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join our team as TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist! You will operate with considerable independence, navigate complex political dynamics, and lead project management functions with matrixed teams. This position will allow you to:
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. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $150,000-170,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.
This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.
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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring
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 a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
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.
The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist provides sophisticated business, financial and economic expertise to address conservation challenges. The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist will support a key strategic initiative within The Nature Conservancy by sourcing, developing, and guiding the structuring of non-grant instruments financed by the Green Climate Fund in support of some of our most ambitious climate and conservation efforts.
This role will serve as an important nexus between two TNC programs: NatureVest and our Policy and Public Funding Division. NatureVest is the impact investing and sustainable finance unit of The Nature Conservancy. NatureVest’s vision is a world where financial markets value and integrate natural capital into business and investment decisions as part of creating a sustainable, equitable and more efficient economy. NatureVest is part of TNC’s Impact Finance and Markets (IFM) Division, which also includes TNC’s Corporate Engagement and Carbon Markets teams. The Policy and Public Funding (PPF) team expands what is possible through transformational policies and funding mobilization that achieve equitable climate and conservation outcomes for people and nature at scale.
This is a two-year funded position with opportunities for extension based on budget and performance.
Essential Functions
The TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist will be instrumental in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation projects using non-grant instruments to meet country priorities, TNC’s 2030 goals and GCF’s objectives. The Nature Conservancy is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which allows TNC to collaborate with developing countries and other partners to design and implement transformative climate adaptation and mitigation projects.
The Specialist is primarily responsible for developing the non-grant instrument (NGI) components of GCF project proposals, creating the enabling conditions to successfully deliver GCF projects with NGIs. For the purposes of TNC’s GCF projects, NGIs can include concessional and commercial rate debt and equity, both as direct or intermediated investments, with a primary focus on concessional debt products and risk-mitigation mechanisms.
The Specialist reports to the Managing Director, Nature Finance within NatureVest, and works in close collaboration with the lead of TNC’s GCF unit. In addition, they will leverage effective relationships with a wide range of colleagues, including TNC regional and country programs, global strategy teams, senior management and impact investing staff, legal teams, project implementation partners, and the GCF.
The Specialist supports the strategic priorities of the TNC-GCF Unit by working with broader TNC teams to originate, scope, and conduct diligence on prospective NGIs and integrating NGIs into idea notes, concept notes and funding proposals. To succeed, the Specialist will need to deeply understand the climate adaptation and mitigation objectives of a given project and then identify opportunities for non-grant sources of revenue to help achieve those objectives.
This position will include international travel, calls before/after regular working hours, and occasionally require working long hours and weekends. This is a remote position available to candidates where TNC is a registered NGO and has an established office. Schedule and part of core hours must align with that of the East Coast of the United States.
Responsibilities & Scope
If you’re a motivated professional looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join our team as TNC-GCF Climate Finance Specialist! You will operate with considerable independence, navigate complex political dynamics, and lead project management functions with matrixed teams. This position will allow you to:
- Develop the non-grant-based components of GCF projects, primarily focused on debt and risk mitigation mechanisms. This includes deal sourcing, drafting of Idea Notes, Concept Notes, applications for Project Preparation Facility funding, and Funding Proposals. It encompasses supporting the development of the feasibility studies, economic and financial analysis, Theory of Change (ToC), safeguards, logical framework, budget and other components of the funding proposal.
- Hire and oversee consultants contracted to support the project development process.
- Draft or supervise the drafting of key deal documents, including financial models, term sheets, and lending and on-lending agreements.
- Advise and build capacity in TNC country programs, government counterparts, and other partners on innovative financing structures for GCF projects, including the funding process and compliance rules. Guide and support potential Executing Entities throughout project development and implementation.
- Provide project management for NGI development workstreams and lead or support training, capacity building and other workshops, consultations and country visits with relevant stakeholders, including governments, Nationally Designated Authorities and local partners.
- Lead the review of proposal documents to ensure technical quality and alignment with country, GCF and TNC strategies and policies. Provide feedback and direction on drafts and respond to feedback from the GCF and other actors.
- Help identify and source the necessary co-financing, engaging with various public and private sector investors and collaborating with IFM's Capital Raising team.
- Maintain an understanding of current GCF policies and priorities and apply them in TNC’s GCF proposals, ensuring compliance with donor priorities and regulations.
- Persuasively communicate complex finance, investment, and market concepts to internal and external stakeholders with diverse backgrounds.
- Lead oversight and implementation of loan-based components of the projects for TNC’s GCF Unit.
- Support the development and implementation of tools, processes, and capacity building materials on GCF project development and implementation.
- Bachelor's degree and 7 years’ experience in a private sector environment, such as management consulting and investment banking, or with a leading conservation organization or government entity, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience designing, structuring and managing large scale debt products, preferably for GCF or other public funders and with exposure to climate issues.
- Deep knowledge of financial institutions, including community, commercial, development, sovereign or investment banks and their approaches to loan origination, underwriting, on-lending and risk assessment.
- Knowledge of environmental and social management systems within financial institutions
- Experience negotiating complex agreements and working with teams across the organization as well as externally.
- Experience with current and evolving sustainable finance and ESG trends.
- Experience with blended finance or non-grant financial instruments in climate change projects, private-public partnerships and/or engagement with private sector entities to achieve positive climate change outcomes.
- Experience directly managing large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects to deliver a financial product or other outcome.
- Experience with current and evolving sustainable finance and ESG trends.
- Experience designing GCF funding proposals and concept notes.
- Experience in designing and implementing on-lending operations.
- Experience in community banking, financial inclusion and deepening financial markets as well as with safeguards.
- Substantial practical experience developing, managing or implementing multi-million-dollar conservation and climate change projects/programs funded by bilateral and multilateral donors.
- Ability to lead strategically with a solid understanding of how to develop complex projects using sound consultation processes.
- Ability to work in partnership with others in a collaborative or advisory role, both in person and remotely to implement complex processes.
- Ability to lead strategically with a solid understanding of how to develop complex projects using sound consultation processes.
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. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $150,000-170,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.
This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.
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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring
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 a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
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.