Lake Tanganyika Program Coordinator

A LITTLE ABOUT US

Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably, and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has offices in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Gabon, and representation in Botswana and Seychelles. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stand to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

The Lake Tanganyika program is built around a vision that the ecosystem, biodiversity, and people in the Lake Tanganyika basin prosper from well-managed and protected fisheries and sustainable, resilient livelihoods. Critical to the position is advancing TNC’s partnership with the Lake Tanganyika Authority Secretariat (LTAS), which was established by the governments of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia and promotes regional cooperation required for socio-economic development and sustainable management of the natural resources in the Lake Tanganyika basin.

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Lake Tanganyika Program Coordinator supports Lake Tanganyika Program Director to cultivate and maintain relationship with the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA), government agencies, other conservation organizations, and development partners in the basin. They support the Lake Tanganyika Program Director to guide the implementation of the Lake Tanganyika Program by fostering strong partnerships with governments and partners in the four riparian countries. Reporting to the Lake Tanganyika Program Director and working closely with the Lake Tanganyika Monitoring Officer, Tuungane Program team, the Africa Freshwater Director, and future Africa freshwater protection staff, the position will be based in Tanzania in either an existing office in Kigoma or a future office in Rukwa. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Lake Tanganyika Program Coordinator establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the Lake Tanganyika Basin, supports defining conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies, supports building strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field, and supports developing key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. The Lake Tanganyika Program coordinator supports the Lake Tanganyika Program Director to develop the management, implementation, and coordination capacity of TNC staff and other non-governmental organizations and government entities. The position also will support the implementation of a Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) program led by a MEL specialist for the program. The Program Coordinator will also work with colleagues to develop and implement a sustainable funding strategy and action plan to secure funding for long-term fisheries management and conservation action

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Support the Lake Tanganyika Program Director in the design of the TNC Lake Tanganyika Program strategic plan, and annual action plan.
• Provides technical leadership and management of a complex freshwater program.
• Supervises the monitoring of key deliverables, outputs, and outcomes as per work plans.
• Ensures coordination among numerous stakeholders, partners, and participants for the project.
• Coordinate budget management and tracking of Program progress with assistance from the TNC Operations team
• Oversee project management for the program, using TNC’s Highly Effective Teams and any other approaches to effectively manage key projects and support the work of cross-functional, cross-geographic teams towards the desired outcome.
• Coordinate work plans, manage consultants, and negotiate contracts with vendors.
• Oversees preparation and implementation of grants and contracts.
• Mentor and manage professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development.
• Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
• Supports the Lake Tanganyika Program Director to ensure that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs, in support of the TNC Africa philanthropy team.
• Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals, particularly with the Lake Tanganyika Authority and riparian governments as well as other partners.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Frequently makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• English and French language fluency
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing consortia of partners across institutions (e.g., communities, NGOs, private and government) and varying sectors.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience is required.
• 5-7 years experience in conservation practice, Natural Resources management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation and/or fisheries policy and plans.
• Knowledge and experience in fundraising, linking and collaborating with international organizations, and fostering Public-Private–Community – Partnership (PPCP).
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in inland fisheries and freshwater conservation
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity and fisheries information systems and initiatives
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, French, and Kiswahili
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising and donor-related reporting experience.
• Politically savvy.
• Strong understanding of the ecological, social, and economic background of Tanzania, Burundi, DRC, and Zambia and fishing communities.
• Knowledge of the environmental sector and wildlife management policies, laws, and development issues of the Lake Tanganyika four riparian countries