Current Opportunities at Conservation International

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Director, African NCS Roadmap

RESPONSIBILITIES

Science and Technical Leadership

• Manage – in collaboration with core Roadmap partners – the regionalization and resulting evolution of the global NCS Roadmap’s framework to align with Africa’s values, contexts, and needs, for example, to emphasize sustainable development, livelihoods, and biodiversity priorities.
• Lead, support, and/or coordinate the identification and development of highest priority scientific analyses and/or syntheses necessary to underpin the African Roadmap’s science-to-action framework.
• Liaise with CI’s global and regional teams working on topics vital to the African Roadmap’s development, including quantification of the non-carbon benefits of NCS implementation; Indigenous Peoples and local communities’
• engagement; and the science of ‘scaling’ on-the-ground implementation.

Partnerships

• Working closely with key partners from Future Ecosystems for Africa (FEFA) and Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation (OGRC), alongside CI’s Africa Field Division and CI’s Global Programs, continue to grow the African Roadmap coalition across the continent with influential actors in the land sector (public and private), and diversify the coalition across regions, language groups, sectors, and ecosystem types.
• Represent CI in relevant national, regional, and global forums, and in conversations with governments, the private sector, and other influential stakeholders as needed.

Program Delivery and Communications

• Manage and coordinate the African NCS Roadmap, from design to delivery, in close collaboration with key partners, ensuring program activities are on time, on budget, and on track for delivering the Roadmap’s objectives and obligations to funders.
• Coordinate Roadmap workstreams ensuring effective collaboration among team members (internal and external), tracking of progress, and timely delivery of milestones.
• Support high-quality donor reporting and communication of success stories as needed.
• Support the development of a communications strategy to promote the African NCS Roadmap vis-à-vis key audiences, ensuring broad awareness and understanding of its goals and principles – both during its development and on its launch at COP30.
• Advocate for the NCS Roadmap at relevant national and regional forums, presenting its value proposition and encouraging adoption by relevant stakeholders.
• Liaise closely with colleagues in CI’s Africa Field Division to ensure the African Roadmap complements and supports CI’s African Regional Strategy.
• Support fundraising efforts to enable the Roadmap to meet its most ambitious goals.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in a typical office environment.
• Local and/or international travel – up to 35% – may be required.
• Flexibility in the work schedule (occasional night and weekend work) may be necessary in order to accommodate time differences between CI’s US-hub and the regions.
• This is a fixed-term assignment, anticipated to begin in June 2024 and end in June 2026.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, climate science, international development, natural resource management, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
• 7 or more years of work experience in managing complex conservation/development initiatives in Africa, with an emphasis on coalition-building, management of research projects, and fundraising.
• 2 or more years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of the science/policy/implementation of natural climate solutions, e.g., carbon accounting; NCS project implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives, through both independent research and through leading/managing teams of researchers from diverse academic disciplines and across multiple institutions.
• Clear aptitude for successfully interpreting and applying complex scientific information, data, models, and approaches to achieve practical results.
• Proven track record in project management, including budgets, and supporting and enabling diverse teams to meet challenging deliverables on time and budget.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills in a fast-paced project or program management context with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment and work well across cultures as well as within and across organizations.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills, with an emphasis on effective science communication to a variety of different audiences.
• Highly organized and a strong attention to detail.

Preferred

• Masters/Ph.D. or related experience in a relevant, interdisciplinary subject area (e.g., sustainable development, conservation biology, natural resource management, etc.).
• Expert-level knowledge of how to integrate quantitative and qualitative data in support of developing nature-based solutions to climate change.
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS, SAS).
• GIS and spatial analytic skills.
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience securing funds from public and private sources for research and implementation of environmental or development programs and projects.
• Significant experience working directly with rural communities.
• Fluency in English with French, Portuguese, Arabic, and/or Swahili as an added advantage.
• Proven ability to provide mentorship for junior colleagues to support the development of the next generation of NCS leaders.

Finance and Grants Coordinator

• The Finance and Grants Coordinator is responsible for performing a range of grants and contracts management, accounting, procurement, and financial-related duties under the direction of a Finance and Grants Manager or other senior Finance staff. Working within a department, division, or program, they play a key role in administering financial transactions in compliance with CI’s financial and donor reporting policies and requirements. Duties include reviewing and processing financial transactions which may include invoices, journal entries, petty cash, travel advances, payroll, etc. They also prepare journal entries, post transactions in the financial system, reconcile GL accounts, and prepare financial reports. The Finance and Grants Coordinator maintains financial records and archives and assists with related operations and administrative duties as assigned.
• The Finance and Grants Coordinator assists in responding to staff queries, trains new employees, and otherwise provides support for the efficient handling of financial transactions. They acts as a liaison with the program and HQ finance staff to ensure financial best practices are in place and followed. This position does not manage staff. Duties are performed under general direction and subject to general review.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review external grantee financial reports and follow up for closure of the reviews in a timely manner.
• Maintains communication with the external grantees and provides timely responses to any queries or requests.
• Monitor and manage contracts i.e. review and process contract invoices in the system, ensure adequate support documentation for consultant reimbursable expenses.
• Review transactions for completeness, accuracy, and proper documentation and approvals prior to processing for compliance with donor regulations and CI Policies.
• Assist management in responding to internal/external audit questions and requests for information.
• Perform month-end and year-end procedures including, but not limited to preparing all month-end reconciliations and year-end working papers as per CI- guidelines.
• Support administrative processes and planning of all scheduled training and field visits.
• Support in the procurement of goods and services in line with CI Policies, donor rules, and regulations.
• Other duties in relation to the job as assigned by the supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Typical office environment. May need to work beyond normal work hours to meet reporting deadlines.
• No travel is expected.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
• This employment opportunity offers a six-month contract, with the potential for extension contingent upon performance and the availability of donor funds.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 2 to 4 years experience in accounting or related work experience. Fund accounting experience preferred.
• Familiar with accounting principles, processes, and standards.
• Experience with accounting and financial reporting systems and software.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and analytical skills.
• Attention to detail, highly organized, ability to prioritize and multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, service focus, and work independently and as part of a diverse team.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting with CPA professional qualifications.
• Experience working in an international non-profit organization would be an added advantage.
• A candidate with the requisite skills and experience who is available to commence work immediately or on short notice.

Method of Application

Use the link(s) below to apply on company website.

• Director, African NCS Roadmap
• Finance and Grants Coordinator

• To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter. Application Deadline: June 7, 2024 (11:49 PM EST) (Director, African NCS Roadmap)
• To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter. Application Deadline: May 20, 2024 (11:49 PM EST) (Finance and Grants Coordinator)