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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our 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. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

In Aotearoa New Zealand since 2017, The Nature Conservancy is working to help people to incorporate nature positive practices for how we use land and coastal waters, through science-led restoration projects that deliver multiple improvements for the highest priority ecosystems, supported by financing mechanisms and by necessary policy changes.

Our aim is to develop playbooks to enable others to implement them across the country.

To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @The Nature Conservancy in Aotearoa New Zealand on LinkedIn.

Our approach to Restoring Landscapes is working at a large scale, accelerating the planting of natives, managing threats and supporting local leadership. Connected, thriving landscapes improve our natural environment and the wellbeing of communities.

The Restoring Landscapes Programme Director oversees our work supporting New Zealand to adopt large-scale land use transitions that provide benefits for both nature and people.  This will involve managing a programme of work and supervising a small, dedicated team currently exploring new mechanisms and approaches to scale native revegetation projects in coastal and lowland areas across different land-uses like grazing, dairy, etc. The role will include scoping new high impact bodies of work to add to our programme and contribute to TNC’s 2030 goals.  Additionally, they may be required to maintain oversight of any MFAT-funded projects operating in other TNC business units.

The Restoring Landscapes Programme Director provides thought leadership and adaptive management of our restorative land-use work programme.  Bringing deep experience in key aspects of the land-use transition challenge in New Zealand, they;

• serve as the principal contact to central and local government agencies, iwi organisations, other conservation organisations, finance and insurance sectors, and the research community within their area of responsibility
• establish the Conservancy as a major conservation partner and thought leader within their area of responsibility, shape Business Unit conservation priorities, lead and manage a team which supports and improves conservation efforts, and build strategic, scientific, financial and technical capacity
• work with other TNC Aotearoa New Zealand Business Unit leaders to develop key partnerships with public & private organisations in order to identify opportunities to collaborate and scale our impact through policy, market and finance interventions
• negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, iwi, finance entities like banks, investment managers, asset managers etc., implementation entities, landowners and communities to restore and protect natural systems and develop and implement conservation strategies
• will report to the Conservation Director.
• directly collaborate and work with different Global TNC teams to conceptualize, manage and build workstreams towards achieving TNC Aotearoa Business Unit’s goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Responsible for delivering our entire restorative land-use programme of work
• Responsible for scoping a pipeline of future projects focused on regenerative land-use
• Responsible for integrating objectives for freshwater and marine restoration, where relevant to the land-use programme of work
• Supervises staff at remote locations
• Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget
• Develops public fundraising proposals
• Supports Development team to deliver compelling private fundraising proposals
• Supports Impact Finance and Markets team to develop finance and markets workstreams relevant to NZ Business Unit’s goals
• Frequently makes independently strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context
• Negotiates complex agreements, in a political environment                                                                             
• Frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours required occasionally               
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations and in the field

• BA/BS degree and at least 7 years’ experience in conservation management, sustainability, agribusiness or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain high impact internal and external relationships within organisations and sectors  
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, iwi, community groups and/or government agencies                                       
• Experience negotiating
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English
• Must have current eligibility to work in New Zealand.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in the finance sector or with a strong background in developing and/or implementing innovative financing solutions of relevance for conservation or agribusiness
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
• Proficiency in te reo Māori and significant experience in working with te ao Māori concepts is appreciated
• 10+ years’ experience in fields of relevance to restorative land-use challenges within New Zealand
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing agricultural or environmental policy and plans
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific and finance concepts and technical innovations for environmental outcomes.

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organisations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health insurance benefits, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers. We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

To apply for job ID 55972, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on 12 Jan 2025. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character 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.

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 applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.