Africa Partnership Manager at Nature Conservancy | May 2024

Africa Partnership Manager Job Opportunity at Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy

Arusha

This is a one-year contract position, renewable subject to availability of funding, and shall be based where TNC has a registered office in Africa, Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania or Zambia. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements.

WHO WE ARE

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 knowledge 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.”

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve to tackle global challenges such as climate change, habitat, and biodiversity loss that stands to impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa adversely.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

At The Nature Conservancy, our vision for 2030 is rooted in the power of partnerships. As the Partnership Manager, you will be pivotal in forging and sustaining these critical relationships throughout the TNC Africa Business Unit. Your expertise will help establish robust partnerships and ensure their ongoing health and alignment with TNC’s strategic goals. You will support program leaders and staff to steward these relationships, applying best practices and developing metrics to measure and maintain their vitality. In doing so, you will facilitate a culture of continuous learning from the collective experiences within these partnerships.

Collaboration with many partners, including NGOs, INGOs, CBOs, CSOs, and local communities, will be vital in achieving the conservation outcomes we aspire to—outcomes that can only be realized through collective action. Your contributions will echo the essence of TNC’s mission, leveraging the strength of unity to advance our commitment to safeguarding the lands and waters that sustain life. Under the guidance of the Africa IPLC Strategy Director, your contributions will help ensure the health and alignment of TNC’s partnerships across the continent. This is a one-year contract position, renewable subject to availability of funding, and shall be based where TNC has a registered office in Africa, Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania or Zambia. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

As Partnership Manager, you will strategically support TNC’s country and program leads in the stewardship of partnerships.

Strategic Support and Oversight:

Provide essential support to country and program leads in the execution of the Partnership Engagement Strategy, reinforcing its principles in the cultivation and sustenance of partnerships.
Facilitate the development and management of Conservation Partnership Agreements, ensuring they promote shared ownership, growth, and reciprocity.

Work closely with the Africa IPLC Strategy Director to maintain a strategic overview of partnership health.

Partnership Enhancement and Learning:

Offer guidance in identifying and managing strategic partnerships that support TNC’s conservation objectives.
Play a leading role in aiding country offices and programs within the Africa Business Unit to sustain healthy and effective partnerships.
Collaborate with leads to link partnerships explicitly to projects or programs, reinforcing TNC’s broad conservation mission.
Provide strategic recommendations to the Africa IPLC Strategy Director on partnership opportunities and growth potential.
Supporting accurate recognition of partners’ contributions in reporting and communications.
Contribute and share learnings and experience across TNC.

Strategic Communication:

Ensure open lines of communication are maintained with all partners, facilitating the sharing of updates, challenges, and triumphs.
Encourage a culture of trust, collaboration, and adaptive management, enhancing the capacity of country and program leads in their partnership engagements.
Advocate for recognizing and integrating each partner’s unique perspectives and skills, promoting an exchange of knowledge and resources that benefits all parties.

Monitoring and Strategic Evaluation:

Develop strategic metrics to assess the vitality and impact of partnerships.
Periodically review and improve partnership dynamics, ensuring they are in continual alignment with TNC’s conservation targets.
Incorporate feedback to refine the effectiveness and strategic focus of TNC’s partnership engagements.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Minimum Qualifications:

Your role as the Manager demands a unique blend of skills and experiences that resonate with the multifaceted nature of TNC’s partnerships:

BA/BS degree and 7 years of experience in conservation practice or a related field, demonstrating a capacity for leadership in conservation or partnership management.
Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
Demonstrable experience in building trust and acknowledging the history and voices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in previous conservation efforts.
Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including coordinating staff, workloads, and finances within deadlines.
Experienced in working collaboratively and adaptively within dynamic and complex environments, adjusting strategies to meet evolving partnership needs.
Demonstrated experience in fundraising or securing resources for conservation or environmental initiatives.
Leadership and Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.

Desired Qualifications:

Advanced degree and over 7 years of experience in conservation practice or a related field, demonstrating a capacity for leadership in conservation or partnership management.
While fluency in English is essential, additional fluency in French, Portuguese, or any local languages spoken within TNC’s countries of operation in Africa would be highly beneficial.
Ability to organize and facilitate stakeholder workshops and meetings at multiple levels. Ability to mentor, train, engage sensitively with leaders and staff, and influence without direct reporting authority.
Proven track record in developing, managing, and nurturing strategic co-creative partnerships within the conservation sector or closely related fields.
Skills in negotiation with diverse groups, including non-profit partners, community groups, and government agencies, are desirable.
Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing to build trust and foster collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Multicultural or cross-cultural experience, with an appreciation and respect for cultural differences and the ability to navigate and bridge diverse perspectives.
A deep commitment to TNC’s values and a passion for impactful conservation work.
Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
Politically savvy with an understanding of the socio-political dynamics within the conservation landscapes of Africa.

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 world’s most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation worldwide!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits, Retirement Pension Stipend, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that supports the health, well-being, 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.