We envision a collaborative environment where shared goals drive impactful results. Together, we’ll leverage individual strengths to foster innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. This role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our mission while advancing both personal and professional development through meaningful challenges and rewarding achievements.
The Conservation Impact System Team (IST) within the Chief Conservation Office is instrumental in advancing global conservation efforts. By collaborating with conservation teams, leaders, and executives, the IST facilitates the generation and application of evidence for adaptive management and reporting, driving The Nature Conservancy (TNC) toward its objectives in biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. Comprising the Conservation Data Team (CDT) and the Conservation Strategy Team (CST), the IST ensures cohesive support through these specialized groups. The CDT oversees critical functions such as capacity building for conservation data, ensuring data quality, advancing science and systems, and fulfilling organizational reporting duties—including executive and global board briefings and recommendations. This role is designed to empower 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 position collaborates closely with regional MEL leads to align CDT’s assistance with regional priorities, processes, and operational frameworks.
Essential functions encompass overseeing core operations, driving productivity, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Responsibilities include executing key processes, maintaining compliance with industry standards, and fostering collaboration across departments to achieve strategic goals. Qualifications necessitate demonstrated expertise in relevant fields, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills to engage stakeholders at all levels. Additional prerequisites may involve specific certifications, prior experience in similar roles, and proficiency with essential tools or technologies.
The Africa Regional Advisor will assist the Conservation Data Trust in delivering more targeted and cohesive support for conservation data, addressing the needs of conservation teams and leaders within The Nature Conservancy’s Africa Region. This role aims to enable these teams to generate and utilize evidence effectively, thereby enhancing the quality of their decisions and maximizing their impact.
The Africa Regional Advisor will develop insights into the factors influencing customer satisfaction—defined as the TNC conservation teams and leaders within the Africa region—and enhance the delivery of CDT support. Serving as a cross-cultural and organizational facilitator and champion of organizational learning, the advisor will ensure that innovations and best practices originating from the Africa region or other TNC regions are disseminated and collaboratively adapted. This approach will establish 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, collaborative partnerships with pivotal leaders and experts across the Africa Region, including members of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) regional team, specialized professionals, researchers, and portfolio managers. In collaboration with the MEL staff in Africa, this role will ensure that the Conservation Data Trust’s (CDT) assistance aligns with their objectives for conservation science data, MEL, and reporting—thereby reinforcing evidence-based adaptive management within the Africa Portfolio. The advisor will engage with regional MEL leaders and partners to synchronize scientific data support with critical needs, enhancing MEL data quality and advancing adaptive management practices. Additionally, this position will work in close coordination with the Africa MEL lead, CDT colleagues, and the CST Africa regional counterpart to maintain cohesive support across MEL and strategic initiatives. The advisor will assist in delivering CDT’s services while providing technical and data science expertise. Employing a hands-on, iterative approach, this role will contribute to the development, execution, and refinement of CDT offerings to facilitate rapid learning and adaptation.
This role is designated for a fixed two-year term.
The Conservation Data Advisor – Africa role requires the incumbent to be based in, and possess valid work authorization for, one of the TNC Africa program countries: Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia.
We’re Looking for You:
Deliver specialized direction and assistance aimed at producing and applying evidence within adaptive management frameworks, tailored to address regional priorities and requirements.
Offer dedicated assistance to teams, guided by agile methodologies, data science insights, and principles of implementation science.
Provide regionally and culturally relevant support to teams through a collaborative framework, designing tailored offerings while engaging local contractors as necessary.
Provide conservation data science support that aligns with and enhances regional portfolio management and reporting processes.
Support teams in leveraging evidence syntheses to address critical science evidence gaps uncovered through their adaptive management processes while fostering confidence in the reported outcomes.
Assist regional team colleagues in effectively utilizing conservation data tools, enabling them to support high-priority teams and programs.
Develop the essential frameworks and systems to facilitate the creation and application of evidence in adaptive management and prioritization across the Africa Region.
Develop strong, reliable partnerships with essential leadership within The Nature Conservancy’s Africa Region.
In partnership with the MEL Regional team and MEL Specialists, establish and strengthen the foundational elements necessary for integrating reliable evidence into adaptive management practices.
Working alongside Africa MEL staff, elevate data analytics workflows to transform validated, evidence-based data into insightful reporting and learning deliverables—including impact briefs, analytical summaries, and data reports—thereby guiding program, portfolio, and leadership decision-making processes.
Partner with CDT team members to uphold the region’s conservation data integrity and reporting benchmarks while empowering regional leadership to maintain rigorous accountability to these criteria.
Collaborate with the Africa Regional Conservation/Strategies leadership team to pinpoint the most critical teams requiring conservation data and learning assistance, and then concentrate support efforts on those teams.
Partner with Africa Regional Conservation/Strategies leadership to enhance the application of conservation data in prioritization efforts and strategic decision-making, thereby driving greater impact across the region, which includes collaborating on the development of dashboards to facilitate portfolio management and inform key leadership decisions.
Partner with members of the Africa Regional leadership team to drive progress and strengthen the necessary conditions within the region, thereby enhancing data quality and its application in adaptive management and priority-setting—while advancing the integration of conservation and financial data and planning efforts.
CDT’s impact is poised for substantial growth, creating opportunities to elevate the organization’s reach and influence. This expansion will involve strategic initiatives to enhance visibility, forge key partnerships, and drive measurable outcomes. The ideal candidate will play a pivotal role in identifying and executing growth-oriented strategies, ensuring CDT’s mission resonates more broadly while maintaining operational excellence.
Evaluate and track the impact of CDT support across the region to ensure effectiveness and alignment with objectives.
Identify ways to enhance and expand support models, ensuring they align with regional needs and amplify CDT’s influence through collaboration with other regional CDT leaders.
Deliver insights to CDT regarding potential enhancements or refinements to support models, in coordination with regional leadership.
Assist in evaluating potential areas where CDT tools or processes may be enhanced to better support team requirements.
Employ a hands-on methodology to evaluate, refine, and enhance CDT support continuously.
Support CDT’s initiatives across diverse regions by identifying opportunities for collaboration proactively, documenting and disseminating key insights, and engaging in collaborative exchanges between regions.
What You’ll Bring:
A master’s degree in a science-related discipline, combined with at least four years of professional experience in enhancing data quality and leveraging data for management and business applications, is required. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in large conservation or development organizations, agencies, or equivalent settings.
Proven expertise in conservation and/or development metrics, including the design, implementation, and oversight of monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as impact measurement frameworks and results-based reporting for programs and portfolios.
Demonstrated expertise in maintaining rigor, consistency, and validation of program indicator methodologies is essential. Candidates must possess a track record of applying these principles effectively in their professional roles.
Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools, including Power BI, Tableau, GIS, Python, Excel, and R, is essential to lead analytics design initiatives, evaluate results, and enhance team capabilities through targeted capacity-building efforts across regional offices.
Demonstrated expertise in guiding and coaching teams, as well as developing the competencies and capabilities of individual members.
Proven ability to substantiate conservation strategies and decisions using relevant data.
Proven track record of leading or contributing to cross-functional teams, demonstrating the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse departments and functions.
Demonstrates adaptability to accommodate diverse global time zones through a flexible work schedule.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage intricate and open-ended initiatives, delivering measurable results through strategic direction and adaptive problem-solving.
You must demonstrate a strong understanding of and dedication to incorporating equity, justice, and inclusion principles and practices into your professional work environment.
Individuals should possess demonstrated experience collaborating and engaging effectively with diverse groups of people across various backgrounds and roles.
Proven capacity to collaborate seamlessly in diverse cultural, international, and geographically varied settings.
Proven ability to communicate effectively and collaborate seamlessly with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders across diverse teams.
Proven track record of successfully operating in diverse cultural settings across the African continent.
Candidates must possess the ability and legal authorization to live and work in the designated TNC Africa program locations, which include Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia, with the potential for travel to other countries within the region, such as Gabon, Angola, and South Africa.
Proficient command of the English language is required.
Desired qualifications include a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field, along with a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience. Candidates should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in industry-specific software and tools, as well as excellent written and verbal communication abilities, is essential. Prior experience in project management or leadership roles is highly valued.
Demonstrated ability to enhance conservation strategies or solutions through data-driven approaches, including the implementation of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems tailored for ecosystem markets.
Experts in this domain should possess specialized knowledge in one or more key areas, including large-scale land, freshwater, or ocean protection and management, climate or biodiversity policy development, renewable energy siting strategies, natural climate solutions, conservation financing and market mechanisms, regenerative agricultural practices, sustainable fisheries or aquaculture systems, watershed management techniques, community-driven conservation approaches, or equitable conservation frameworks.
Experienced in overseeing multifaceted projects that encompass financial management, as well as effectively coordinating the efforts of colleagues and external partners.
Proactive and results-oriented, with a strong inclination to take initiative and drive progress.
Proficient in utilizing cutting-edge technology to deliver optimal outcomes.
Revitalized enthusiasm for collaborating within a dynamic agile team, consistently refining and evolving their operational methodologies.
Proficiency in Indigenous and Traditional knowledge is required.
Proficiency in adopting a growth mindset, coupled with strong creative and resourceful capabilities, is essential.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and the execution of strategic initiatives is required.
Proficiency in either French or Portuguese as a second language is required.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
4 years
