Who We Are:

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

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Director of Aquatic Food Systems (the Director) oversees the regenerative aquaculture, freshwater, and marine fisheries programs within the Provide Food and Water Sustainability business unit of TNC, to ensure fisheries and aquaculture are managed within a regenerative food systems framework for ecosystem and human benefit in a way that enhances biodiversity and the environment and improves livelihoods. The program includes global and local partnerships, strategic communications, as well as multiple cross-boundary, complex aquaculture and fisheries system-level projects in Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Current programs include electronic monitoring, managing data-and capacity-limited fisheries, freshwater fish and fisheries, and regenerative aquaculture. The Director provides strategic leadership, engages colleagues in TNC’s oceans and climate and science teams, and supports the Conservancy’s 2030 Goals, conservation planning work, and overall conservation priorities for the organization. This position reports to the Global Managing Director of Provide Food and Water with a dotted line reporting to the Global Director of Oceans.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Director serves as the principal contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, and the academic community on all topics related to both freshwater and marine-based aquaculture and fisheries. Specific partners who will be critical include government agencies like the UN FAO, RFMOs, NOAA, NMFS, ASC, Inland Fisheries Alliance, IUCN, corporate and industry partners, and other strategic collaborators.

The Director will play a leading role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program including working with fundraising staff to work with individual, foundation, and corporate funders.. The Director will also play a leading role in securing public funding for the program and in managing major public agencies and elected official relationships.

They establish TNC as a major conservation partner in the realm of food systems and environmental conservation, are accountable for conservation priorities and strategy at the global level, and lead and manage a team that supports and improves conservation efforts. The Director builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field, develops key partnerships with public and private organizations and TNC staff in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. They develop innovative policy and cooperate relations frameworks to address regenerative aquaculture, fisheries, and oceanic system needs. They will work with influence and collaboration to support TNC’s regional and local teams to engage local community and key influential partners for local, division, and global conservation efforts, negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, aquaculture farmers, small and large scale fishers and companies to conserve and protect biodiversity and develop and create enabling conditions to implement cutting edge conservation strategies in high-profile geographies.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

· Geographic size and scope are at the global level, focused on transitioning aquaculture and fisheries systems to achieve climate and biodiversity outcomes.

· Works within a highly complex and matrixed program encompassing multiple geographies to direct strategy and resources and coordinates the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization. Incorporates cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.

· Responsible for integrating GED&I considerations and TNC values into the strategy and their team.

· Highly diversified work involves participation in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs, and making decisions which typically have broad organizational impact.

· High-level management and leadership responsibility for 20+ staff members, both internal and external to the organization.

· Recruits, retains and manages high-quality and effective multi-disciplinary staff with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development.

· May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, and on difficult and hazardous terrain.

· Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience, and context.

· Requires travel domestically and/or internationally up to 30% and evening and weekend hours.

We’re Looking for You:

Have you ever asked yourself, “How can I make a difference?”, but you don’t know where to go or have the time to do it? Welcome to The Nature Conservancy. You have found the solution and now you can pointedly make a difference every day!

By joining our Provide Food and Water Sustainability team, you will become part of a group that is a force to be reckoned with; a force for nature, a force for people, and a force for our planet. Our team consists of a dedicated group who are leading the conservation effort on multiple fronts and who expertly bring strategy and action together.

We’re looking for an individual with fisheries, aquaculture or conservation practice or policy experience who wants to make a difference for nature and people.

What You’ll Bring:

· BA/BS degree and 12 years’ experience in fisheries, aquaculture or conservation practice or policy or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Experience implementing and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance in aquaculture and fisheries systems, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals, and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.

· Fundraising experience (>$5M US), including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.

· Experience working with current global trends and practices in a relevant discipline(s) and multiple geographic regions and countries.

· Experience with both industrial and small-holder aquaculture and fisheries.

· Direct supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, managing performance, and career development.

· Experience in global partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.

· Experience building diverse teams and developing strategies that support local or indigenous communities and/or gender equity.

· Experience networking with high-level global conservation contacts.

· Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.

· Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives.

· Experience negotiating.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

· Master’s degree in fisheries, aquaculture, or conservation practice or policy or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Demonstrated high emotional intelligence and worked successfully across global and highly matrixed teams.

· Experience developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations in food production for conservation purposes.

· Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.

· Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

· 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, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on www.nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Location and Salary:

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S.-based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of USD $110,245 to $165,325 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.

How to Apply:

Please apply to Job 54310 at www.nature.org/careers or apply directly HERE. Submit the required cover letter and resume separately using the upload buttons. The position will remain open until filled and applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide 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 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 accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Food Justice jobs

Director, Aquatic Food Systems