Gabon Sustainable Conservation Finance Director

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is seeking a passionate and visionary leader to serve as the Gabon Sustainable Conservation Finance Director. This critical role requires an entrepreneurial, results-driven strategic thinker with a strong ability to mobilize diverse stakeholders and lead high-performing, cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership and foster a collaborative, inclusive work environment where team members are empowered to contribute their unique talents and expertise.

Reporting to the Gabon Country Director, the Director will oversee the integrated implementation of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) and Blue Bonds (BB) programs, ensuring that TNC provides robust technical, operational, and management support to the Government of Gabon. They will serve as the primary liaison to government agencies, conservation organizations, foundations, academic institutions, media, and TNC’s Global and Regional Leadership Teams.

Key responsibilities include monitoring and reporting on project performance and risk, contributing to internal and external communications, developing and managing budgets and workplans, and supervising staff. The role involves high-level engagement with government partners, program management units, and the Conservation Trust Fund for Gabon (Fonds de Protection de la Biodiversité au Gabon – FPBG), while coordinating technical expertise across TNC’s Gabon country team, Africa region, and global networks.

We’re Looking for You:

• Lead Integrated Implementation- Oversee the development of Sustainable Finance Mechanism (SFM) in Gabon, through PFP and Blue Bonds, and community livelihood improvement, while ensuring delivery of long term outcomes and significant positive impact.

• Government Partnership and Public Sector Engagement :- Support partner ministries at both technical and political levels, working closely with program management units to strengthen capacity and ensure effective governance, negotiate and manage complex agreements with political sensitivity, build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the green-economy sectors and support eco-friendly policy development.

• Institutional Arrangements- Collaborate with FPBG and other institutions to establish robust financial, fiduciary, and operational structures that ensure long-term sustainability of conservation efforts.

• Strategic Leadership- Define and drive an integrated workplan for SFMs and improved communities’ sustainable livelihoods delivery, ensuring streamlined coordination, alignment of activities, and timely achievement of key deliverables.

• Internal Coordination- Serve as the central link between TNC’s Gabon country program and its Africa and global teams across sustainable finance mechanism and sustainable development goals (SDGs), support alignment with Congo Basin strategy, operate within a matrixed organization, collaborate with relevant colleagues across teams without direct supervisory authority.

• ·Fundraising & Donor Engagement- Partner with TNC’s country and Africa Development teams to prepare proposals, reports, and materials to mobilize resources for implementation.

• Project management: support the implementation and development of SFMs, strategic reflection on sustainable financial models for conservation, support the development and implementation of community-based sustainable activities and GCF related activities.

• Technical support: Provide technical support to government main partners especially for the implementation of all kinds of SFMs in all natural resources management sectors and tourism, support review and assessment of technical reports and strategies included related to community-based activities. Provide technical support for local talent capacity building programs

• Monitoring & Reporting- Oversee performance tracking, risk management, and reporting to the PFP Steering Committee, FPBG Board, Enduring Earth partnership, donors, and TNC leadership.

• Representation- Act as TNC’s focal point for Gabon’s SFM strategy initiatives and communities’ sustainable livelihoods with government, multilateral partners, donors, private sector stakeholders, and international platforms, Support communication strategies and prepare internal and external briefing materials

• Staff Development: Ensure the Gabon Teams staff are trained, supported, and mentored to achieve their highest potential.

• Compliance & Validation- Serve as TNC Gabon’s point of contact for the SFM development.

• Travel: Domestic and international travel as needed.

• Supervisory Responsibilities: Provide supervisory responsibilities as needed.

• This position reports to the Gabon Country Program Director.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree in conservation, natural resource management, finance, law, or related field and 10+ years’ experience in conservation, development finance, or government relations, or equivalent combination.
• Proven track record in delivering large-scale, complex programs of strategic importance.

• Experience engaging with senior political and ministerial leadership, as well as technical ministries and institutions.
• Strong knowledge of biodiversity, conservation finance (including PFP and Blue Bonds), climate mitigation, or natural resource management.
• Demonstrated project management expertise, including oversight of multidisciplinary teams, timelines, and budgets.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements involving governments, donors, and multilateral institutions.
• Supervisory experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage performance effectively.
• Strong problem-solving, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in both English and French (required).

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in conservation finance, international development, economics, public policy, environmental science, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of conservation and development contexts in Africa, particularly Central Africa.
• Experience working with Conservation Trust Funds or other long-term sustainable finance mechanisms.
• Prior involvement in Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), Blue Bonds, or sovereign debt restructuring initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence, build trust, and maintain high-level relationships across sectors.
• Politically savvy with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s 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 respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into 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 and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected]  with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.