Together, we can accomplish remarkable outcomes by leveraging our collective expertise, drive, and dedication to innovation. By collaborating seamlessly across teams, we will push boundaries, solve complex challenges, and deliver solutions that exceed expectations. This partnership will not only drive business growth but also foster a culture of continuous improvement, where every contribution is valued, and every milestone achieved strengthens our shared vision for success.
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, the IST facilitates the generation and application of evidence-based insights for adaptive management and reporting, driving progress toward TNC’s objectives in biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. Comprising the Conservation Data Team (CDT) and Conservation Strategy Team (CST), the IST collaborates closely to deliver comprehensive support. The CDT focuses on strengthening conservation data capacity, ensuring data quality, advancing scientific and systems solutions, and facilitating organizational reporting—including executive and global board-level recommendations. This position is centered on empowering regional teams to consistently produce, validate, and leverage high-quality data and evidence through robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems, standards, and methodologies. The role partners closely with regional MEL leads to align CDT support with local MEL priorities, processes, and operational frameworks.
Essential Functions include overseeing daily operations to ensure efficiency and productivity, collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives, and implementing strategic initiatives to drive growth and innovation. Additionally, the role involves analyzing performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and recommending data-driven solutions to enhance operational effectiveness. The position requires strong leadership skills to mentor and guide teams, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous development. Key responsibilities encompass project management, risk assessment, and compliance with industry regulations, while maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.
The Africa Regional Advisor will enhance the CDT’s capacity to deliver targeted and cohesive support for conservation data, ensuring it aligns with the needs of conservation teams and leaders across TNC’s Africa Region. This role will empower them to harness evidence effectively, thereby elevating the quality of their decision-making and maximizing their impact.
The Africa Regional Advisor will enhance comprehension of the factors influencing customer satisfaction—specifically, TNC conservation teams and leaders—within the Africa region while advancing the effective delivery of CDT support. This role will function as a cross-cultural and organizational facilitator and champion for knowledge sharing, ensuring that innovative products and best practices originating in the Africa region or other TNC regions are disseminated and adaptively developed. The outcome will be a unified conservation data toolkit that aligns with TNC’s standards while remaining contextually appropriate for local needs.
The Africa Conservation Data Advisor will cultivate and sustain robust, trust-based partnerships with critical stakeholders across the Africa Region, including the regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team, subject-matter experts, researchers, and portfolio managers. By collaborating with the Africa-based MEL staff, the advisor will ensure that Conservation Data Technologies’ (CDT) assistance aligns with their objectives for conservation science data, MEL frameworks, and evidence-driven reporting facilitating adaptive management within the Africa Portfolio. This role will engage with regional MEL leaders and external partners to tailor scientific data support to priority needs, enhancing MEL data quality and strengthening adaptive management practices. The advisor will work in close coordination with the Africa MEL lead, CDT colleagues, and the CST Africa regional counterpart to harmonize support across MEL and strategic initiatives. Additionally, the position will assist in delivering CDT’s solutions while providing specialized technical and data science expertise. Leveraging an iterative, hands-on methodology, the advisor will contribute to the development, implementation, and refinement of CDT’s offerings, enabling rapid learning and adaptive adjustments.
This role is designated for a two-year term.
The Conservation Data Advisor – Africa role requires the candidate to live in and possess valid work authorization for one of the TNC Africa program locations, specifically Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia.
We’re Looking for You:
Offer strategic direction and assistance specifically aimed at producing and applying evidence within adaptive management frameworks, tailored to meet regional requirements.
Deliver hands-on assistance to operational teams, guided by agile methodologies, data science best practices, and implementation science frameworks.
Provide tailored assistance to teams, adapting to regional and cultural nuances through a collaborative framework that involves designing appropriate solutions and engaging local contractors as necessary.
Provide conservation data science assistance to teams in alignment with and support of regional portfolio management and reporting initiatives.
Support teams in leveraging evidence syntheses and addressing critical science evidence gaps identified through their adaptive management frameworks, thereby fostering confidence in their reported outcomes.
Collaborate with regional team members to facilitate the use of conservation data tools, ensuring seamless support for high-priority teams and programs across the organization.
Develop the foundational elements necessary to facilitate the creation and application of evidence-based insights for adaptive management and strategic prioritization within the Africa Region.
Foster strong, collaborative relationships with senior leadership within The Nature Conservancy’s Africa Region to drive mutual goals and initiatives.
In partnership with the MEL Regional team and MEL Specialists, establish the foundational elements necessary to facilitate the utilization of high-quality evidence in adaptive management practices.
Working closely with Africa MEL staff, you will refine data analytics processes to transform validated, evidence-based data into actionable reporting and learning outputs—including impact briefs, analytical summaries, and data reports—to guide strategic decisions for programs, portfolios, and leadership.
Work collaboratively with CDT personnel to verify that the region’s conservation data complies with established data quality and reporting standards, while simultaneously assisting regional leadership in reinforcing accountability to those benchmarks.
Collaborate with Africa Regional Conservation / Strategies leadership to pinpoint the most critical teams requiring conservation data and learning support, and prioritize assistance accordingly.
Partner with leadership from Africa Regional Conservation and Strategies to enhance the application of conservation data in prioritization processes and high-level decision-making, thereby driving greater impact across the region. This includes collaborating on the creation of dashboards designed to streamline portfolio management and inform key leadership choices.
Partner with members of the Africa Regional leadership team to foster and drive progress on key enabling conditions within the region, with the goal of enhancing data quality and its application in adaptive management and prioritization efforts, as well as strengthening the integration of conservation and financial data and planning.
Cultivate the influence and reach of CDT by implementing strategic initiatives and fostering impactful partnerships to amplify the organization’s mission and objectives.
Assess and track the impact of CDT support within the specified region to ensure its effectiveness and value are consistently delivered.
Evaluate potential avenues to enhance support models, ensuring they align with regional demands while broadening CDT’s influence, in collaboration with other regional CDT leaders.
Offer strategic recommendations to CDT regarding enhancements to support models, developed in partnership with regional leadership, to drive continuous improvement.
Assist in pinpointing potential areas where CDT tools or processes could be optimized to better align with team requirements.
Employ a hands-on methodology to continuously evaluate, refine, and enhance CDT support mechanisms through practical implementation and iterative development.
Support CDT’s broader initiatives across other regions by identifying collaborative opportunities in advance, documenting and disseminating key insights, and engaging in cross-regional knowledge-sharing sessions.
What You’ll Bring:
A Master’s Degree in a science-related field is required, along with a minimum of four years of professional experience in enhancing data quality and leveraging data for management and business applications. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in large conservation or development organizations, agencies, or equivalent settings. Alternatively, a combination of relevant education and work experience may be considered.
Proficiency in applying conservation and/or development metrics, along with expertise in monitoring and evaluation data systems, impact assessment methodologies, and results-based reporting for programs and portfolios.
Accomplished professionals must demonstrate a robust background in upholding rigor, consistency, and the validation of program indicator methodologies.
Proficient in utilizing data analysis and visualization software—including Power BI, Tableau, GIS, Python, Excel, and R—to effectively lead analytics design initiatives, evaluate outputs for accuracy and relevance, and foster capacity-building efforts among regional teams.
Demonstrates a proven track record of guiding and developing teams, fostering professional growth among members, and enhancing collective capabilities.
Proven experience in utilizing data to inform and strengthen conservation strategies and decision-making processes.
Demonstrated ability to lead or contribute effectively within cross-functional teams.
Demonstrates adaptability to accommodate varying global time zones through a flexible work schedule.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage intricate and open-ended initiatives, driving them to successful completion through self-directed navigation.
Professional fluency in equity, justice, and inclusion principles and practices, along with a steadfast dedication to integrating these values into all professional activities.
Skilled in collaborating and engaging effectively with diverse individuals across various backgrounds and roles.
Demonstrates strong cross-cultural adaptability and collaboration skills in diverse international and regional settings.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders, fostering strong professional relationships. Demonstrates empathy, active listening, and clear communication to resolve conflicts and drive collective success.
Proficiency in navigating and leveraging diverse cultural contexts across multiple African countries is essential.
Demonstrated willingness and eligibility to live and work in designated TNC Africa program locations, including Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia, with the capacity for regional travel to other countries such as Gabon, Angola, and South Africa.
Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential for this role. Strong command of the English language, including excellent grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills, is required. The ability to articulate ideas clearly, engage effectively in discussions, and comprehend complex information is necessary to meet the demands of the position.
Qualified candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience, along with at least three years of hands-on experience in a similar role. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, as well as proficiency in industry-standard software and tools. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities are required to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. Familiarity with data analysis, project management methodologies, and compliance standards is highly preferred. Candidates must demonstrate adaptability, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous learning in a dynamic work environment.
Proven track record in implementing and expanding conservation strategies or solutions with data-driven approaches, including the use of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems for ecosystem market initiatives.
Domain expertise is required in one or more of the following specialized areas: the large-scale protection or management of lands, freshwater systems, or marine environments; climate or biodiversity policy development; the strategic siting of renewable energy projects; implementation of natural climate solutions; conservation finance and market mechanisms; regenerative agricultural practices; sustainable fisheries or aquaculture systems; watershed management initiatives; community-led conservation approaches; or equitable conservation strategies.
Proficiency in overseeing multifaceted projects, particularly those involving financial oversight, alongside the coordination of colleagues and external partners, is required.
Proactively demonstrates initiative and a strong inclination to take decisive steps forward.
Proficient in harnessing cutting-edge technological advancements to deliver optimal outcomes and meet established objectives effectively.
Eager to contribute to a dynamic agile team that continuously refines its methodologies to enhance collaboration and efficiency.
Applicants should possess a demonstrated understanding of Indigenous and Traditional knowledge systems.
Individuals with a proven track record of adaptability, innovative thinking, and resourcefulness are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and the ability to leverage challenges as opportunities for development.
Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing strategic plans or initiatives is required.
Proficiency in either French or Portuguese as a secondary language is required.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
4 years
