At this organization, we collaborate to achieve significant milestones and drive impactful outcomes through collective effort and shared vision. Together, we leverage diverse expertise and innovative approaches to deliver exceptional results, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Our team is committed to pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and transforming ambitious goals into tangible successes, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term value for all stakeholders.
The Conservation Impact System Team (IST) within the Chief Conservation Office is instrumental in advancing global conservation efforts by empowering conservation teams, leaders, and executives with robust evidence for adaptive management and reporting, thereby advancing The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) objectives in biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. Comprising the Conservation Data Team (CDT) and the Conservation Strategy Team (CST), the IST collaborates closely to deliver comprehensive support. The CDT oversees critical functions such as capacity building in conservation data, ensuring data quality, advancing science and systems, and facilitating organizational reporting—including executive and global board briefings. This role is centered on equipping regional teams to consistently produce, validate, and leverage high-quality data and evidence through well-defined Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems, standards, and methodologies. It involves collaborating closely with regional MEL leads to synchronize CDT support with regional priorities, processes, and operational frameworks.
Essential Functions: The role involves executing key responsibilities that are central to the position’s success. Duties include overseeing daily operations, managing project timelines, and ensuring adherence to company policies and industry standards. The position requires collaboration with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives, along with maintaining accurate records and reporting progress to senior leadership. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure are necessary, as is proficiency in relevant software and tools. Additionally, the role demands a commitment to continuous improvement and adherence to deadlines while fostering a positive work environment.
The Africa Regional Advisor will facilitate the CDT in delivering more targeted and cohesive support for conservation data, addressing the needs of conservation teams and leaders in TNC’s Africa Region. This role will empower them to produce and utilize evidence, thereby enhancing decision-making quality and maximizing their impact.
The Africa Regional Advisor will foster insights into the factors influencing customer satisfaction, specifically for TNC conservation teams and leaders across the region, while enhancing the effective delivery of CDT support. This role will function as a cross-cultural and organizational intermediary and champion of learning, ensuring that solutions and methodologies developed within the Africa region—or adapted from other regions—are disseminated and co-developed. This collaborative process will culminate in a unified conservation data toolkit tailored to TNC’s needs while remaining contextually appropriate.
The Africa Conservation Data Advisor will cultivate and sustain robust, trust-based relationships with essential leaders and subject-matter experts across the Africa Region, encompassing the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) regional team, conservation specialists, scientists, and portfolio managers. In collaboration with the Africa-based MEL staff, they will ensure that Conservation Data Technology (CDT) support aligns with regional conservation science data priorities, MEL strategies, and reporting frameworks to strengthen evidence-driven adaptive management within the Africa Portfolio. This advisor will partner with MEL leaders and stakeholders in the region to tailor scientific data support to high-priority needs, thereby enhancing MEL data quality and fostering improved adaptive management practices. Close collaboration with the Africa MEL lead, CDT team members, and the CST Africa regional counterpart will ensure cohesive support across MEL and strategic initiatives. Additionally, the position will facilitate the delivery of CDT’s services while providing technical and data science expertise. Employing an iterative, hands-on methodology, the advisor will develop, implement, and refine CDT offerings, enabling rapid learning and adaptive adjustments to better meet evolving needs.
This role is designated for a two-year contractual period.
The Conservation Data Advisor – Africa position requires residency and valid work authorization in one of the TNC Africa program locations, specifically Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia.
We’re Looking for You:
Offer specialized direction and assistance to enhance the development and application of evidence within adaptive management frameworks, ensuring alignment with regional priorities and requirements.
Offer dedicated assistance to teams, aligning with agile methodologies, data science frameworks, and implementation science tenets and ethical standards.
To deliver regionally and culturally appropriate support, employ a collaborative strategy to develop tailored offerings while engaging local contractors as required.
Provide conservation data science assistance to teams in a manner that complements and strengthens regional portfolio management and reporting processes.
Support teams in leveraging evidence syntheses to address critical science evidence gaps identified through their adaptive management processes, thereby ensuring the confidence of their reported outcomes.
Collaborate with regional team members to facilitate the effective use of conservation data tools, ensuring alignment with the support provided to high-priority teams and programs.
Facilitate the creation of foundational elements that support the production and application of evidence in adaptive management and priority-setting across the Africa Region.
Cultivate strong, reliable connections with prominent TNC leadership across the Africa Region.
In partnership with the MEL Regional team and MEL Specialists, establish the foundational structures and processes necessary to facilitate the effective utilization of robust evidence in adaptive management.
Working in close partnership with Africa MEL staff, you will refine and strengthen data analytics processes to transform verified, evidence-based data into actionable reporting and learning deliverables—including impact briefs, analytical summaries, and comprehensive data reports—thereby guiding strategic decisions at the program, portfolio, and leadership levels.
Work collaboratively with staff within the CDT to uphold the region’s conservation data in alignment with established data quality and reporting standards, while assisting regional leadership in fostering accountability to these benchmarks.
Collaborate closely with leaders in Africa Regional Conservation and Strategies to pinpoint key teams in need of conservation data and learning assistance, prioritizing support accordingly.
Partner with Africa Regional Conservation and Strategies leadership to enhance the integration of conservation data into prioritization and strategic decision-making, thereby driving greater impact in the region. This involves collaborating on the development of dashboards designed to streamline portfolio management and inform key leadership decisions.
Partner with Africa Regional leadership team members to foster and enhance the necessary enabling conditions across the region for elevating data quality and its application in adaptive management and prioritization, while also advancing the integration of conservation and financial data and planning.
Drive the expansion of CDT’s influence and reach to maximize its impact across key sectors and stakeholders, leveraging strategic initiatives and collaborative partnerships to amplify its mission and long-term objectives. Identify and seize opportunities for growth, ensuring sustainable development while fostering innovation, operational excellence, and measurable outcomes that reinforce CDT’s leadership and value in the industry.
Evaluate and track the efficacy of CDT support across the designated region.
Evaluate prospects to enhance support frameworks, ensuring they align with regional demands and amplify CDT’s influence, in collaboration with other regional CDT leaders.
Collaborating with regional leadership, identify opportunities to enhance or refine support models and subsequently communicate constructive feedback to the CDT.
Assist in evaluating potential areas where CDT tools or processes could be enhanced to better align with team requirements.
Employ a hands-on methodology to continually evaluate, refine, and enhance CDT support services to ensure sustained improvement.
Support CDT’s initiatives across diverse regions by actively identifying opportunities for collaboration, documenting and disseminating insights, and engaging in inter-regional dialogue.
What You’ll Bring:
A Master’s Degree in a science-related field, coupled with at least four years of professional experience in enhancing data quality and leveraging data for management and business applications, is required—ideally within a large conservation or development organization or agency, or through an equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience.
Experience with conservation and/or development metrics and their monitoring and evaluation data systems, impact measurement and results-based reporting for programs and portfolios.
Demonstrated expertise in ensuring rigor, consistency, and validation across program indicator methodologies is required.
Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools—including Power BI, Tableau, GIS, Python, Excel, and R—is essential, enabling the design of analytics frameworks, validation of outputs, and facilitation of skill development initiatives for regional teams.
With a proven track record in guiding and coaching teams while developing members’ skills and capabilities.
Maintain a documented history of utilizing data to inform and bolster conservation strategies and decision-making processes.
Leveraged expertise in collaborating with diverse teams spanning multiple departments to drive cohesive project outcomes. Demonstrated ability to engage as a key contributor or leader in cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment and synergy among stakeholders.
Demonstrates a capacity to adapt to a dynamic work schedule to accommodate diverse global time zones.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage intricate, open-ended projects and guide them toward successful completion.
A strong dedication to integrating equity, justice, and inclusion as foundational principles and practices within a professional environment is required.
Professionals must possess strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders across various backgrounds. The role demands excellence in both written and verbal communication to ensure clarity and foster productive relationships within the organization.
Proven capability to collaborate seamlessly across diverse cultural, international, and regional settings.
Skilled in fostering strong professional relationships and collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve shared objectives. Demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence, ensuring clear communication and rapport-building in diverse work environments.
Accomplished professionals with substantial exposure to diverse cultures across the African continent are strongly encouraged to apply.
Seeking individuals who have the legal authorization and commitment to live and work in designated TNC Africa program areas, specifically Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia, along with the flexibility to travel to neighboring countries such as Gabon, Angola, and South Africa.
Proficiency in the English language is required.
Desired Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology, along with a minimum of three years of professional experience in software development or a closely related discipline. Proficiency in programming languages like Python, Java, or C++ is essential, alongside expertise in database management systems and cloud computing platforms. Strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality technical solutions are highly valued. Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with Agile methodologies and possess the capacity to work collaboratively in fast-paced environments.
Accomplished in advancing conservation strategies or solutions through data-driven methodologies, including the implementation of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems for ecosystem markets.
Seeking professionals with deep expertise in one or more of these areas: large-scale land, freshwater, or ocean protection and management; climate or biodiversity policy; renewable energy siting; natural climate solutions; conservation finance and markets; regenerative agriculture; sustainable fisheries or aquaculture; watershed management; community-based management; or equitable conservation.
Seasoned in overseeing intricate initiatives with a focus on financial oversight while simultaneously facilitating collaboration among colleagues and external partners.
Self-driven with a bias towards action.
Proficient in utilizing cutting-edge technology to drive optimal outcomes and enhance operational efficiency.
Eager to contribute to a dynamic agile team that continuously refines and enhances its operational methods.
Applicants must possess demonstrated familiarity with Indigenous and Traditional knowledge systems, methodologies, or practices.
Those skilled in fostering a growth mindset, demonstrating creativity, and exercising resourcefulness are preferred.
Accomplished professionals with a proven track record in developing and executing strategic initiatives or contributing to long-term planning efforts are encouraged to apply. Applicants should possess hands-on experience in formulating actionable strategies that drive organizational growth and competitive advantage.
Fluency in either French or Portuguese is required.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
4 years
