Director, Sustainable Debt

The Nature Conservancy (All); Remote; EUR 90.000 - 120.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading conservation organization is seeking a Director for its Sustainable Debt Team. The role involves leading sovereign debt transactions aimed at achieving conservation outcomes and requires a strong background in debt and structured finance, with significant experience in project management. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in finance, fluency in English, and at least 7 years of professional experience. This position offers flexible location options within registered countries and involves both domestic and international travel.

Qualifikationen

• 7 years’ relevant experience in finance or conservation.
• Experience negotiating complex legal agreements.
• Ability to make strategic decisions based on analysis.

Aufgaben

• Lead development of new sovereign debt transactions.
• Oversee development of financial models and due diligence.
• Support Managing Director in resource allocation decisions.

Kenntnisse

Debt and structured finance experience

Experience developing complex projects

Fluent English

Strong team player

Analytical and project management capabilities

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in finance-related field

Jobbeschreibung

Director, Sustainable Debt

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Sustainable Debt Team (part of TNC’s NatureVest Team) collaborates with TNC’s global conservation teams and country offices as part of the Nature Bonds Program to help achieve TNC’s 2030 goals by structuring and implementing sovereign debt conversions that generate new funding for conservation and enable governments to make and achieve ambitious conservation policy commitments. Learn more about TNC’s Nature Bonds Program at https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/nature-bonds/.

The Director, Sustainable Debt will lead development of new sovereign debt transactions focused on conservation and climate outcomes. They will be responsible and accountable for the complete transaction process cycle, including all aspects of deal origination, structuring, and negotiation, as well as internal approvals, capital raising, and investor relations through to financial close. Key responsibilities will also include overseeing the development of flexible and transparent financial models (including the incorporation of credit enhancements and blended finance), performing due diligence and risk assessments, developing internal and external information memoranda, the development of new credit enhancements by collaborating with external and internal stakeholders, the structuring of new funds to be deployed towards Nature Bonds, development of new strategies that allow to manage, mitigate and reduce the risks TNC takes in Nature Bonds projects, and structuring and closing sovereign debt deals. The Director may also be responsible for training and overseeing the work of Associate(s) and/or Analyst(s).

The position’s location is flexible within countries where The Nature Conservancy is a registered NGO and has an established office. Candidates should have the ability to overlap at least 4 hours per day with USA EST time zone. Requires willingness and ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time, and to work occasional weekends and evenings.

We’re Looking for You:

The Sustainable Debt Director will lead Nature Bonds financial transactions from initial scoping to final negotiations and financial close. They will play a key role in meeting TNC’s strategic priorities through sustainable debt transactions with emerging market sovereign partners. The Director will routinely collaborate with staff across The Nature Conservancy, including Sustainable Debt Team Analysts, Associates, and Project Managers, other NatureVest teams, Regional and Country Senior Directors, Global Protect and other central teams, government relations associates, lead scientists, and senior management, as well as partner organizations, such as other NGOs, multilateral and bilateral institutions, capital market investors, commercial lenders, and national governments. They will work in collaboration with the Debt for Nature Coalition to advance development of a robust portfolio of Nature Bonds. The Director will bring sophisticated business, financial, credit, and economic analysis, and structured finance expertise, including financial modeling, pitch deck creation, credit/information and internal approval memorandum drafting experience, due diligence, deal structuring, and negotiation skills to the design and implementation of this work. They will approach all work with a spirit of collaboration and respect for colleagues and partners across geographies, cultures, and subject matter expertise.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Commitment to the mission and values of The Nature Conservancy, although no prior experience in environmental conservation is required.
• Supports the Managing Director of NatureVest in making resource allocation decisions regarding which deals to pursue based on Nature Bonds strategic priorities and potential contribution to TNC’s 2030 Goals.
• Supports the Managing Director of NatureVest and other members of the Nature Bonds Team in identifying and exploring new business opportunities, including new sectors, investment approaches and potential partners.
• Sources, develops, drives, and executes multiple new and existing sovereign debt transactions (each expected to be $100+ MM), including a global scope with an emphasis on Latin America.
• May lead or support the development of non-sovereign (e.g. corporate) commercial debt transactions.
• Leads the negotiations of complex, high profile or sensitive agreements associated with the transactions.
• Leads communications and relationship management with financial institutions, credit enhancers and other external partners.
• Develops new credit enhancement instruments by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for training and development of the Associate and Analyst-level Sustainable Debt Team staff.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in a finance-related field and 7 years’ of relevant 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 developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.
• Experience leading and managing large scale projects, including working with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Fully fluent English professional business speaking, writing, and reading.
• Debt and structured finance experience and experience structuring, negotiating and closing debt transactions, including in emerging markets.
• Ability to make strategic decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
• Experience negotiating complex legal agreements from a business and financial perspective.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with debt swap structures, terms and mechanics.
• Spanish fluency a plus.
• Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
• International work experience a plus.
• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with Conservancy partners.