OFFICE LOCATION: Libreville, Gabon

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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

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 experience 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.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2008, TNC’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries where we operate.

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 in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Congo Basin is the second-largest expanse of tropical forest on earth and is known as a global biodiversity hotspot. These forests represent about 25 percent of the total carbon stored in tropical forests worldwide, mitigating anthropogenic emissions. These forest ecosystems are also home to an enormous wealth of plant and animal species including threatened animals such as the lowland gorilla, bonobos, and chimpanzees. The Congo Basin forests are home to about 30 million people and support livelihoods for more than 75 million people from over 150 ethnic groups who rely on local natural resources for food, nutritional health, and livelihood needs.

In the Congo Basin, TNC supports and collaborates with the countries’ ambitions on biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation agenda. TNC works across freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems to protect and sustainably manage critical habitats for species, ecosystems, and carbon stocks. TNC brings science and innovative tools and approaches to inform better decision-making, develops innovative financial mechanisms for long terms sustainability, cultivates strategic partnership, and fosters the need for inclusive, equitable conservation that benefits nature and people.

TNC is designing an integrated Congo Basin Strategic Plan to secure short- and long-term conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin ecosystem, in line with TNC’s conservation priorities including protecting lands and waters, with important biodiversity, and tackling global climate change. To ensure that this strategic plan is co-created and validated with partners in the region, TNC is seeking a partnership specialist for the Congo Basin. They will support development and implementation of the strategic plan with external partners, including, but not limited to government agencies, NGOs, academia, development agencies, and indigenous people and local communities throughout the Congo Basin. This is an incredible opportunity to work with a wide range of organisations and develop a strategic plan that is critical to protecting, managing, and restoring the Congo Basin. They will report to the Africa Forest Carbon Catalyst Director. The position will be based at TNC’s office in Libreville, Gabon.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

The Congo Basin Partnership Specialist will be primarily responsible for the identification and development of partnerships in the Congo Basin that will help define the Congo Basin strategy and support acceleration towards achieving its biodiversity and climate goals. They will work very closely with public and private partners, local communities, and conservation organizations to ensure the delivery of outcomes consistent with the TNC Congo Basin strategy.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Identify and analyze the main actors currently undertaking relevant work in the Congo Basin and direct some or all aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for a geographic area within the Congo Basin.
• Develop a partner engagement strategy to begin outreach to key actors, undertake interviews, workshops, meetings, field visits, etc. to build relationships with potential partners and to better understand their work.
• Assess enabling conditions and bottlenecks for engaging vulnerable and marginalized groups in the conservation of the Congo basin.
• Identify key partners that have a track record in involving marginalized groups and learn from their best practices.
• Assess strategic partners to engage, develop partnership agreements with targeted actors particularly marginalized groups such as IPLCs to achieve desired outcomes, including determining the type and intensity of relationship best suited to achieve TNC outcomes.
• Serve as the principle contact to government agencies, community-based organisations, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community in the Congo Basin.
• Negotiate complex and innovative solutions with partners to develop and implement the shared vision.
• Make recommendations to TNC Africa leadership about partnership opportunities.
• Where appropriate participate in writing proposals to fundraise for key work in the Basin.
• Develop and implement a plan to bring key actors and potential partners into TNC’s Congo Basin strategy process.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural experience including fluency in French and English.
• Strong communicator and facilitator. Experience in negotiating and managing conflict.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in bringing partners together for a common goal and maintaining trust and collaboration over time.
• Respectful of a multitude of means to reach a goal whilst crafting a collaborative approach that is borne and supported by a multitude of actors.
• Knowledge of current trends and strategies in conservation and climate change, for the Congo Basin.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and French.
• Experience in policy implementation, partnership development and conservation practice in the Congo Basin.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
• ability to organize and facilitate workshop and meetings at government and community level.
• Politically savvy.

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 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, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, Retirement pension stipend, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, 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.

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 cultures. 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 orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

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.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 53311, 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.

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.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.

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.

Apply at: https://bit.ly/3UOxItr