Director, Nature Markets

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Kenya or South Africa
CI is launching an initiative to strengthen the financial stability of Africa's Keystone Protected Areas (KPAs). These KPAs are critical for biodiversity conservation and serve as the core of larger ecological systems in landscapes. This will be achieved through technical assistance facilities/ workstreams that will develop conservation finance capacity (at the global, national, and KPA level). CI will lead the strategy and management of the program, while working in partnership with co-management partners and local stakeholders to develop, execute, and mobilize conservation finance transactions, resulting in financial flows to targeted KPAs during the project period.

About
Conservation International (CI) is optimistic about the potential for nature markets and is seeking to a Director, Nature Markets to support implementation of our strategy and oversee the development and facilitation of nature market opportunities, knowledge generation and policy development with a focus in Africa. Reporting to the Senior Director Nature Markets, this role will support two exciting initiatives:

• Keystone Protected Areas, Africa: an ambitious new initiative launched to close the finance gap for conservation and protected areas across Africa. This will be achieved through distinct technical assistance facilities that will: develop conservation finance capacity, and the conducive enabling environment, at the global, national and Keystone Protected Area (KPA) level (defined by African Parks as "…existing protected areas in Africa that have the potential to collectively make a disproportionately large contribution to biodiversity conservation"); and originate, develop, and execute conservation finance transactions, resulting in financial flows to KPAs.
• Nature Markets Accelerator (NMA): The overarching objective of the NMA is to accelerate high-integrity, equitable nature (credit) markets that deliver new finance and positive, lasting outcomes for nature and its stewards. This will be enabled through 3 core objectives: high-integrity supply-side pilot incubation, demand stimulation through capacity building and transaction facilitation; and market development and scale through shared learning/advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Support assessment of nature market opportunities (project and policy related), using agreed criteria and available data sources.
• Provide advisory support in the development of high-integrity nature market project opportunities.
• Support government capacity building, nature market enabling policies.
• Monitor, measure, and report on performance and progress toward agreed milestones.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and alignment with other CI initiatives to amplify impact.
• Identify and manage risks, working closely with compliance and audit teams.
• Collaborate and align with other programs to align with CI's conservation and organizational priorities.
• Ensure compliance with CI policies, donor agreements, and local regulations.
• Build and manage partnerships with governments, donors, NGOs, peer organizations, and local communities.
• Promote knowledge sharing and capacity building through workshops, conferences, and external stakeholder engagement.
• Support fundraising, proposal development, and donor engagement to ensure financial sustainability.
• Collaborate with Finance to manage budgets and resource allocation.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Local and/or international travel of 30% or more time, often in difficult travel conditions.
• Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
• This role will be a fixed-term assignment, anticipated to begin in February 2026 and end in February 2028.

Qualifications
Required

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree.
• 7 or more years of related work experience in Nature (Biodiversity) Markets and/or related area, including Carbon Markets, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), or Water.
• Strong strategic thinking and financial literacy.
• Experience and understanding of environmental markets and/or carbon crediting methodologies and policy.
• Program/project management experience.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse workgroups in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A record of success in influencing and partnering with a diverse group of key stakeholders and in raising funds.
• Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities. Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.

Preferred

• Advanced degree
• Experience with policy formulation.
• Related private sector experience.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
Application Deadline: December 5, :49 PM EST)
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