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The Manager, Conservation Priority Setting will promote and support the development of a new approach to identifying priority sites and landscapes within Conservation International. The new priority setting framework will draw on and complement existing efforts, internally and externally, to address specific needs for CI’s Global Initiatives on Climate, Freshwater, Food, Culture, Health, and Species, integrating ecosystems, the services they provide and other critical components of human well being. Based in the Conservation Priorities & Outreach team in CI’s Science & Knowledge Division, the position will support development of the approach as a globally consistent set of proposed standards, and also piloting and rolling out the priority setting framework within the geographies where we work.
A major focus of this position will be to manage communication and collaboration within CI and with a range of relevant partners. Within CI, the Manager will support and facilitate a cross-institutional team on priority-setting, comprising headquarters and field staff. Outside of CI, the Manager will be responsible for establishing and fostering partnerships, directly or via existing CI points of contact, with relevant non-profit environmental and development institutions, foundations, universities, and lending agencies. The Manager will also participate in relevant networks and represent the institution in meetings and events.
Additionally, the Manager will lead or participate in research on existing approaches to identifying geographic priorities, identifying opportunities for collaboration, relevant tools, and lessons learned. The Manager will also write and disseminate technical and communications materials relating to the priority-setting framework to both internal and external audiences.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Convene, support, and facilitate a team of experts from across CI. Day-to-day coordination of this team will be a critical component of the position. This priority-setting team will be responsible for developing, testing, implementing, and refining the approach. The Manager will organize and facilitate team meetings, enable information sharing within the team, and represent and serve as the overall point of contact for the team within the institution.
- Provide priority-setting support, directly or via existing points of contact, to CI divisions (especially field, business, and government divisions), working with key staff on issues related to the science and implementation of conservation priority-setting.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant institutions, directly or via existing CI points of contact, with the goal of developing and refining the priority-setting approach and collaborating in its implementation with CI divisions and partners. Potential partners include non-profit environmental and development institutions, foundations, universities, and lending agencies.
- Conduct research into priority setting approaches, including approaches used currently and in the past by partner organizations in the conservation and development communities. Literature review, interviews, workshops, original collaborative research, and other means should be used in identification of geographic priorities, seeking opportunities for collaboration, relevant tools, and lessons learned.
- Promote information dissemination efforts related to priority-setting. This will include developing and maintaining communications materials (such as factsheets) for internal and external audiences. Give presentations related to priority setting at internal and external meetings. Write case studies, technical reports, and scientific articles.
- Fundraising, grant management, and reporting
- This position is expected to build and maintain productive collaborations with staff from S+K, other CI headquarters and field divisions, and external partners, including technical staff and leadership; this will require direct and independent communication with these and other individuals, as well as careful consideration of when to inform and consult those in the Manager, Conservation Priority Setting’s reporting line.
Working Conditions:
- This position is based in the Arlington headquarters of Conservation International, and will include domestic and international travel (up to 20%), mainly to attend meetings and workshops.
- Given travel and time differences in the countries where we work, some meetings and work will necessarily be outside of normal office hours.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Demonstrated abilities in group facilitation, team building, and networking. Proven ability to build and effectively manage relationships with key partners, donors and government officials.
- Demonstration of persistence, initiative, and diplomacy in achieving action with multidisciplinary groups outside of formal reporting structures.
- 3 years work experience in environmental policy, natural resource management, environmental economics, international development, or a related field.
- Master’s or other advanced degree in a relevant field, or equivalent additional years of experience.
- Academic and applied knowledge in one or more areas related to conservation planning (including, for instance, ecosystem services and their valuation, environmental economics, initiatives such as High Conservation Value, Alliance for Zero Extinction or Important Bird Areas).
- Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, from scientists and corporate partners to policy makers, and from a range of cultures and contexts.
- Ability to work in an inter-divisional team and with multiple international program offices, with staff from different disciplines, educational backgrounds and cultures.
- Ability to multi-task, learns new material quickly, work under tight deadlines, and manage time effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience navigating complicated organizational structures.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative.
Preferred:
- Training and experience in health, climate, or freshwater security, natural resource economics, or development as they relate to nature conservation.
- Experience working within or with the donor community (multilateral lending agencies, foundations, governmental aid agencies, etc.), fundraising and donor stewardship experience.
- International work experience.
- Project management experience.
- Less central to the role, but useful, would be fluency in Spanish or French, GIS skills, and database management.
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