Associate Director, Agriculture Finance

Nature; Arlington, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

401(k) plan with 8% employer match

Parental leave

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy seeks an Associate Director of Agriculture Finance to provide strategic financial leadership for a new global initiative. You will work closely with UNEP and WEF to direct the program, draw on IFACC/CCAT success, and engage senior partners across continents.

The role is 3-year term-limited, with potential for extension or conversion based on performance and funding. Open to several East Coast US locations, DC area, or London, with flexible remote/in-office/hybrid options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7 years’ private-sector or conservation-sector experience.
• Experience developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.
• Experience leading and managing large-scale projects with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead key projects within the global agriculture finance initiative.
• Collaborate with UNEP and WEF; coordinate with partners.
• Contribute to steering group activities and strategic planning.
• Oversee implementation of initiatives in expansion efforts.

Skills

Financial analysis

Project management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

Multilingual abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

MBA or equivalent finance/economics

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together

Global demand for food, fiber, and energy is accelerating, intensifying pressure on natural ecosystems and driving climate change. In South America, TNC has long worked to halt deforestation linked to cattle ranching, soy production, and other land use change.

A core strategy has been developing innovative finance mechanisms that help producers expand beef, soy, and agroforestry production without further habitat loss.

To scale this work, TNC, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco (IFACC) initiative in 2021.

IFACC mobilizes companies, financial institutions, and investors to accelerate deforestation and conversion free finance across Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

As of December 2025, 26 signatories have deployed nearly US$1 billion aligned with IFACC’s Environmental and Social Framework.

IFACC also supported the creation of Catalytic Capital for the Agricultural Transition (CCAT), a Brazilian fund providing subordinated debt to expand deforestation-free soy, cattle, and agroforestry production.

Launched in 2025 with US$50 million, CCAT is managed by Vox Capital, with TNC serving as Impact Advisor.

Building on this momentum, IFACC is now expanding globally, engaging financial institutions, supply chain companies, and catalytic capital providers to channel capital towards a more sustainable agricultural transition.

We're Looking for You

The Associate Director, Agriculture Finance provides sophisticated business, financial, and economic expertise to address conservation challenges. We are seeking an innovative finance leader who is passionate about making a difference in the effort to transform food systems and address climate change. The ideal candidate should be a strong team player with extensive experience and relationships in the financial and agribusiness sectors, and exceptional communication and collaboration skills.

The Associate Director will support the Director of Agriculture Finance to build this new global initiative, drawing from the success of IFACC and CCAT in Latin America, in close coordination with our partners at UNEP and WEF.

The Associate Director will be a member of the IFACC Steering Group, comprised of senior staff from TNC, UNEP, and WEF.

The position is a 3-year, term-limited position, with opportunities for extension or conversion to a permanent position based on performance and funding availability.

This position is open to considering candidates located in the Greater Washington, D.C area, New York City, Boston, other nearby East Coast United States locations, or London, England.

This position is open for remote, in-office, or a hybrid schedule dependent on location.

The Associate Director leads key projects and directs strategies within the global agriculture finance initiative.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree and 7 years’ 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.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with sustainability and finance issues in the agribusiness sector.
• Experience working in or with companies, lenders, and investors in the agribusiness sector.
• Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
• Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
• Superior written and oral communications.
• International work experience is desirable.
• MBA or similar degree with significant coursework in finance or economics.

Salary Information

For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $120,000 to $160,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA.

For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range.

Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures.

Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC.

One 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.

In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience.

To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into 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 and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

Benefits

• health care benefits
• flexible spending accounts
• a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
• parental leave
• accrued paid time off
• life insurance
• disability coverage
• employee assistance program
• other life and work well-being benefits

Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process.