Gabon Sustainable Conservation Finance Director

USA The Nature Conservancy; India; On-site; INR 11,439,000 - 17,159,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in Gabon seeks a visionary Gabon Sustainable Conservation Finance Director to drive the development of the Sustainable Finance Mechanism (SFM) through PFP and Blue Bonds, while also advancing community livelihoods and conservation outcomes.

You will coordinate with government partners, FPBG, and regional/global teams to ensure sustainable financing, strong governance, and measurable impact. Travel domestic and international as needed.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in conservation, natural resource management, finance, law, or related field.
• 10+ years' experience in conservation, development finance, or government relations.
• Proven track record in implementing sustainable finance mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development of Sustainable Finance Mechanism in Gabon via PFP and Blue Bonds.
• Lead government partnerships and public sector engagement.
• Establish robust financial, fiduciary, and operational structures with FPBG.
• Define integrated workplans and align activities with SDGs and conservation goals.
• Coordinate with Gabon country team, Africa region, and global networks.
• Coordinate fundraising and donor engagement for implementation.
• Monitor performance, risk, reporting to boards and donors.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Fundraising

Staff development

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

BA/BS in conservation or related field

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Nature Conservancy (TNC ) is seeking a passionate and visionary leader to serve as the Gabon Sustainable Conservation Finance Director . This critical role requires an entrepreneurial, results-driven strategic thinker with a strong ability to mobilize diverse stakeholders and lead high-performing, cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership and foster a collaborative, inclusive work environment where team members are empowered to contribute their unique talents and expertise.

Reporting to the Gabon Country Director, the Director will oversee the integrated implementation of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) and Blue Bonds (BB) programs, ensuring that TNC provides robust technical, operational, and management support to the Government of Gabon. They will serve as the primary liaison to government agencies, conservation organizations, foundations, academic institutions, media, and TNC's Global and Regional Leadership Teams.

Key responsibilities include monitoring and reporting on project performance and risk, contributing to internal and external communications, developing and managing budgets and workplans, and supervising staff. The role involves high-level engagement with government partners, program management units, and the Conservation Trust Fund for Gabon (Fonds de Protection de la Biodiversité au Gabon - FPBG) , while coordinating technical expertise across TNC's Gabon country team, Africa region, and global networks.

We're Looking for You:

• Lead Integrated Implementation - Oversee the development of Sustainable Finance Mechanism (SFM) in Gabon, through PFP and Blue Bonds, and community livelihood improvement, while ensuring delivery of long term outcomes and significant positive impact.
• Government Partnership and Public Sector Engagement :- Support partner ministries at both technical and political levels, working closely with program management units to strengthen capacity and ensure effective governance, negotiate and manage complex agreements with political sensitivity, build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the green-economy sectors and support eco-friendly policy development.
• Institutional Arrangements - Collaborate with FPBG and other institutions to establish robust financial, fiduciary, and operational structures that ensure long-term sustainability of conservation efforts.
• Strategic Leadership - Define and drive an integrated workplan for SFMs and improved communities' sustainable livelihoods delivery, ensuring streamlined coordination, alignment of activities, and timely achievement of key deliverables.
• Internal Coordination - Serve as the central link between TNC's Gabon country program and its Africa and global teams across sustainable finance mechanism and sustainable development goals (SDGs), support alignment with Congo Basin strategy, operate within a matrixed organization, collaborate with relevant colleagues across teams without direct supervisory authority.
• Fundraising & Donor Engagement - Partner with TNC's country and Africa Development teams to prepare proposals, reports, and materials to mobilize resources for implementation.
• Project management: support the implementation and development of SFMs, strategic reflection on sustainable financial models for conservation, support the development and implementation of community-based sustainable activities and GCF related activities.
• Technical support: Provide technical support to government main partners especially for the implementation of all kinds of SFMs in all natural resources management sectors and tourism, support review and assessment of technical reports and strategies included related to community-based activities. Provide technical support for local talent capacity building programs
• Monitoring & Reporting - Oversee performance tracking, risk management, and reporting to the PFP Steering Committee, FPBG Board, Enduring Earth partnership, donors, and TNC leadership.
• Representation - Act as TNC's focal point for Gabon's SFM strategy initiatives and communities' sustainable livelihoods with government, multilateral partners, donors, private sector stakeholders, and international platforms, Support communication strategies and prepare internal and external briefing materials
• Staff Development: Ensure the Gabon Teams staff are trained, supported, and mentored to achieve their highest potential.
• Compliance & Validation - Serve as TNC Gabon's point of contact for the SFM development.
• Travel: Domestic and international travel as needed.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Provide supervisory responsibilities as needed.

This position reports to the Gabon Country Program Director.

What You'll Bring:

• BA/BS degree in conservation, natural resource management, finance, law, or related field and 10+ years' experience in conservation, development finance, or government relations, or equivalent combination.
• Proven track record in de