Title:
Kenya Program Director
Position
Family:
Conservation
FLSA
Status:
Exempt, Regular
Supervisor: Africa Director of
Field Programs (based in Nairobi, Kenya)
Position Description:
The
Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all
life depends.
The
Kenya County Director will be responsible for developing and implementing a
program to address critical threats to the natural systems in Kenya through
science-based approaches and policy reforms.
The
Nature Conservancy’s Kenya Program is one of four large programs in Africa
containing a suite of strategic objectives and a team of people to deliver
outcomes.
Our work in Kenya is focused in the Northern Rangelands and North Coast of Kenya but has substantial policy and leverage implications across the entire country.
Our work in Kenya is focused in the Northern Rangelands and North Coast of Kenya but has substantial policy and leverage implications across the entire country.
Kenya
program vision is to build resilient human and natural communities that are
better able to adapt to uncertain future of droughts, economic shocks and
political change through strengthening governance and social development,
diversification of economies, improving landscape resource management, and
building peace and security.
The primary goals for the Kenya program include:
The primary goals for the Kenya program include:
- Terrestrial
resources management – To secure and maintain the biological, social and
economic connections in the Northern Kenya landscape and its surrounding
areas for and by stakeholders.
- Species
management – To contribute to the restoration of targeted endangered and
threatened wildlife species in order to secure their survival for future
generations.
- Freshwater
system management – To secure and manage the ecological integrity of upper
Tana watershed system in order to sustainably provide economic, ecological
and social services to the country.
- Coastal estuary
and marine ecosystem – To develop a prototype for locally managed resilient
marine production systems that support critical mangrove, near-shore and
reef system in the North Coast of Kenya.
- Policy Reform -
To improve the policy and legal environment for conservation in Kenya in
order to facilitate effective conservation at the local and national
level.
- Sustainable
financing – To develop a sustainable financing system to enable long term
protection and management of critical biological resources for people and
nature.
We
are searching for an accomplished conservationist who can leverage our science,
capacity and networks to have more impact nationally.
The
last six years have been critical to demonstrate successes and build
relationships.
At
this point, however, we need strategic leverage with Government and National
actors to ensure our investments are having the largest impact possible.
Essential Functions:
Essential Functions:
The Kenya Program Director is responsible for implementing strategic activities and working with numerous partners to achieve program objectives in Kenya.
She / He works closely with the Africa Region staff, other divisions of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), government agencies, regional institutions, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral agencies, land and water managers, communities and the private sector to develop, coordinate and implement conservation strategies.
The
current program involves a large community conservation focus in northern Kenya
and the north Coast region of Lamu, Tana delta, the Upper Tana and national
policy engagement with numerous partners.
The
Kenya Program Director will develop and manage annual work plans with these
partners to clearly define TNC’s technical and financial contribution to joint
conservation and livelihood objectives.
Monitoring
project outcomes through an adaptive management approach is a critical TNC
process that will need to be managed by this position with support from the TNC
Africa Conservation Director.
The Kenya Program Director is charged to grow the existing program by gaining Government support and by securing additional funding.
The Kenya Program Director is charged to grow the existing program by gaining Government support and by securing additional funding.
This
will require the Kenya Program Director to meet frequently with Government of
Kenya officials, Overseas Development Agencies, and private donors.
Both
government and private fundraising will be supported and coordinated by
existing TNC fundraising staff in Kenya and America.
The
Kenya Program Director represents TNC in relationships and negotiations with
government agencies, regional institutions, multilateral and bilateral
agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and
multi-stakeholder working groups in Kenya.
A key aspect of the position will be to develop and implement a sustainable conservation business model for this program.
A key aspect of the position will be to develop and implement a sustainable conservation business model for this program.
This
may include sustainable financing, tourism development, additional partnerships
and creative thinking.
Essential functions include:
Essential functions include:
- Maintain and
establish key partnerships with international, regional, national and
local governmental, multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental
organizations that can help advance TNC’s conservation objectives in
Kenya. Raise awareness of TNC’s mission, goals and capacity among key
government, multilateral, bilateral, NGO and local authority officials.
- Lead and coordinate
the development and implementation of practical, innovative strategies by
TNC and our partners to conserve priority places, species, ecosystem
services and improve benefits for local people.
- Provide
oversight for the management and coordination of principle projects and
programs including: Northern Rangelands Trust, North Coast Conservation,
Marsabit Conservation Project, Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, Kenya
Wildlife Conservancies Association and the Laikipia Unity and Land
Initiative.
- Dialogue with
and advice to policy makers on progressive evidence-based, effective and
equitable policies, measures and strategies supportive of
community/landowners conservation programs in Kenya.
- Ensure
technical, financial and contractual monitoring as well as the management
of program staff and conduct technical or organizational support.
- Help TNC Africa
Region raise private and public funds for the program by helping write and
edit grant proposals and conducting donor visits.
- Develop policy
statements and documents for conferences and coordinate TNC participation
in priority conferences.
The
Kenya Program Director works closely with staff of the Africa Region, as well
as TNC’s Conservation Lands Program, Freshwater, Development by Design, Marine
and Climate Change teams.
Basic Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- MA/MSc degree
and 8 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination
of education and experience.
- Experience
managing complex or multiple projects, including coordinating the work of
other professionals and partners.
- Experience in
partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.).
Required
Knowledge and Skills:
- Master’s degree
in natural resources management, natural resources policy or a related
field and 8 years of work experience in natural resources conservation
and/or government relations.
- Experience in
conservation area management, in particular with regards to the setup and
implementation of co-management agreements and public private partnerships
for management of these areas.
- Ability to lead
a complex program, consisting of several subprograms, that is accountable
in achieving TNC’s objectives, including the ability to define priorities,
set long- and short-term goals, formulate innovative strategies, define
and obtain needed personnel and fiscal resources, monitor work, and ensure
its completion in pursuit of the TNC’s mission.
- Knowledge of the
institutional and policy frameworks of conservation area management,
climate change management, water resources conservation, land tenure in
Kenya and development strategies including Vision 2030 programs.
- Experience
working with a diverse set of stakeholders (e.g., government, private
sector, NGOs, academic community); experience coordinating complex
inter-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and international multi-stakeholder
processes of institutional development at multiple levels (e.g. local,
national, multi-national).
- Experience in
partnership development (partners, community and government) including extensive
networking with high-level government and NGO contacts. This
position requires a politically acute and high energy individual to drive
results with partners. Must have knowledge of and experience
interacting with operations of multilateral and bilateral institutions.
- Proven project
management skills (preferably international project management), including
the ability to develop long-term goals, set clear and measurable
objectives, establish and meet deadlines, and work within teams to
complete deliverables on time and within budget.
- Ability to work
smoothly and simultaneously as a team member with people at various
organizational levels and to work with partners to build positive
relationships and build the recognition of TNC across the region.
- Knowledge of
current trends in conservation, integrated water resources management,
protected areas management, and community-based conservation in Kenya and
east Africa.
- Demonstrated
leadership qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others
in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization. The
Kenya Program Manager must have demonstrated flexibility to changing
situations and priorities.
- Excellent
English written and oral communications skills, with the ability to speak
and write clearly and concisely to a broad range of audiences, including
the general public, elected officials, public agency professionals,
conservationists, scientists and attorneys.
- Must be fluent
in Kiswahili.
- Familiarity with
standard office software for e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets,
databases, and presentations.
- Proven ability
to build organizational capacity through fund-raising, partnership
development, hiring and supervision.
- Ability and
willingness to travel frequently within Kenya, East Africa, and to the US
and Europe as needed.
Complexity/Problem
Solving:
- Diagnoses
complex problems and identifies creative solutions
- Interprets
guidelines, evaluates information, and modifies processes to adapt to
changing circumstances
- Manages and
prioritizes tasks from multiple sources
- Designs,
implements, and directs complex and diverse projects, encompassing
multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside
and outside the organization. Incorporates cross-disciplinary
knowledge to support program objectives
- Negotiates
complex agreements, sometimes in political environments
- Develops and
implements creative ideas to improve overall performance in conservation
strategies
- Formulates,
evaluates, and decides broad organizational policies and long-term
programs
Discretion/Latitude/Decision-Making:
- Ensures program
accountability and legal compliance
- Consults peers
to review own work
- Assesses
decisions’ potential impact on colleagues’ work, public image, scientific
credibility, and financial and legal standings
- Makes decisions
based on incomplete or ambiguous information and accepts associated risks
- Makes
independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, experience,
and judgment
Responsibility/Oversight
– Financial and Supervisory:
- Responsible for
operating within budget guidelines to ensure sound financial
performance. Kenya Program Manager develops and administers program
budget and has authority to modify budget based on changing circumstances.
- Establish and
maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program
while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- Responsible for
ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
- Develops long-term
strategies and achieves strategic goals and objectives
- Builds
cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
Communications/Interpersonal
Contacts:
- May need to gain
cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
- Negotiates
complex agreements
- Works
effectively under pressure
- Diffuses tension
among colleagues comfortably
- Builds
cooperative relationships and collaborates with diverse groups, including
land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board
members, and the general public, to recruit support for TNC and publicize
TNC efforts
- Commands
attention, changes tactics midstream as necessary, and manages group
processes during presentations or discussions.
- May speak with
and in front of varied audiences on scientific topics and the TNC’s
mission
- Collaborates
with a wide range of people
- Produces results
in a team environment
- May develop and
present proposals to achieve program goals
Working
Conditions/Physical Effort:
The
Kenya Program Manager may work in variable weather conditions, at remote
locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding
circumstances.
These
conditions may:
- require
occasional physical exertion and/or muscular strain
- present
occasional possibility of injury
- require long
hours in isolated settings
This
position may also:
- require frequent
travel domestically and/or internationally
- require evening
and weekend hours
How
to Apply:
To
apply for this position, please submit a resume/CV and cover letter to
Africa@tnc.org subject line: KENYA PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
Applications
must be submitted by Friday, July 12th, 2013 to be considered.
The
Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer