Senior Director, Tourism Finance at Conservation International
Senior Director, Tourism Finance
Conservation International (CI) 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 Cape Town,
Johannesburg, or Nairobi
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.
One of the key roles in achieving this effort is the Senior
Director of Tourism Finance. This pillar will focus on supporting the
development of ecotourism so as to capture/direct ecotourism cash flows in
support of the sustainable management of KPAs and their surrounding ecosystems.
Activities will be aimed at de-risking nascent ecotourism destinations from a
private tourism sector investment perspective, to unlock the tourism
revenue-generating capacity of such KPAs. The successful candidate’s primary
role will be to map out the ecotourism opportunity in priority KPAs on the
continent, and lead the design of an ecotourism finance facility that targets
the financing of this opportunity, including a technical assistance focus. The
work will build on CIs existing, very successful, concessional loan facility
(CIV Ventures) for protected areas that will need to be scaled to maximize
impact and include KPAs, but will also include developing innovative financing
solutions for solving for specific ecotourism challenges in direct
collaboration with our Structured Nature Finance lead. This is a unique
opportunity to shape the future of protected area finance at scale, working at
the intersection of ecotourism, finance, and conservation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct
rapid assessments of priority KPAs to identify and determine viable
ecotourism opportunities.
- Perform
gap analysis for KPAs with viable tourism potential (policy,
infrastructure, biodiversity, access to capital) to identify specific
funding needs and develop roadmap to implementation.
- Lead
the design and implementation of an ecotourism financing facility.
- Collaborate
and align with other program facilities to align with CI’s conservation
and organizational priorities.
- Responsible
for the development and scale-up of CI Africa’s concessional lending
program for protected areas (CI Ventures), including deal and pipeline
management of new and existing tourism-linked transactions.
- In
collaboration with the Structured Nature Finance lead, structuring of
structured financial transactions and management of internal approval
processes, including risk assessments.
- Development
of alternative, innovative funding strategies for the tourism finance
facility.
- Ensure
compliance with CI policies, funding agreements, and local requirements.
- Effectively
engage stakeholders, including tourism partners, protected area managers,
government and NGOs, technical colleagues, funders, and other partners
important to program success.
- Represent
the organization externally and serve as a trusted point of contact for
CI.
- Perform
related duties as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Typical
office environment
- 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.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s
degree in (Conservation) Finance.
- 10 or
more years of working experience in the ecotourism sector, (conservation)
finance, or a related field.
- Experience
working and/or traveling in diverse geographies, including East and
Southern Africa.
- Business
development and client management track record.
- Ability
to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
- Strong
financial skills with in-depth knowledge of and experience with various
financial product offerings, incl. debt, equity, and the design of
innovative financing structures.
- Demonstrated
understanding of the complexities around the challenges of ecotourism as a
contributor to conservation, including potential unintended consequences
in specific ecosystems, as well as the involvement of a multitude of
stakeholders.
- Team
player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a
multicultural environment.
- Strong
stakeholder management and coordination skills.
- Proven
ability to multitask and meet priorities.
- Comfortable
working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under
minimal supervision.
- Excellent
written and verbal communication skills.
- Fluency
in English required.
Preferred
- Postgraduate
degree in (Conservation) Finance
To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover
letter.
Application Deadline: February 18, 2026 (11:49 PM
EST). The position may be filled before the deadline, as applications will be
reviewed on a rolling basis.
Carbon Finance Origination & Deal Lead Africa at Conservation International
POSITION SUMMARY – This position is based in Angola,
Liberia, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana or Madagasca
Amid growing consensus that the protection, restoration, and
improved management of ecosystems can provide at least 30% of the climate
mitigation needed to limit warming to 1.5°C, Conservation International (CI)
has set ambitious targets to realize the potential of natural climate solutions
(NCS) worldwide. The Carbon Finance (CF) team within CI’s Nature Finance Group
(NFG) is working across CI to source and finance a portfolio of high-quality
NCS carbon projects, creating industry-leading partnerships with the private
sector and connections with CI field programs to ensure delivery of ambitious
climate and conservation targets.
The CF team prioritizes impact through community engagement,
biodiversity, safeguards, and high-quality carbon credits, as well as through
projects that are located in “Irrecoverable Carbon” and Biodiversity hotspots.
Each member of this team plays a critical role in making this impact mission a
success.
This position is an integral part of the CF team. The Carbon
Finance Origination & Deal Lead for the Africa region manages all
commercial elements of an NCS carbon finance project. The role will originate
high quality and integrity, large-scale landscape restoration projects
utilizing CI’s presence and experience along with their own cultivated network.
CI is looking for a self-determined and motivated candidate who is able to
navigate complex environments in various countries within the Africa region.
This position will be the lead for carbon transactions, both on the “upstream”
origination side, as well as the “downstream” commercial side. In addition to
originating new carbon opportunities for CI, this position will usher projects
through our project cycle, ensuring that the upstream project partner
understands the value that CI brings to the project while also contextualizing
and understanding the interests of CI’s carbon credit buyer and investor
partners, and support management of the broader Africa carbon portfolio. The
candidate will work with the Africa Field Management Unit to develop a carbon
strategy that supports and elevates the Field Unit strategy, while also
ensuring the development of a high-quality and diversified portfolio. The
candidate will support fundraising efforts – working with both the Africa Field
Management Unit and the global CF team to help generate more investment at the
project and portfolio level, including the preparation of investment materials.
The candidate should have strong PowerPoint presentation skills and be familiar
with financial models, while also being a natural relationship manager and a
clear communicator.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Origination
- Identify
and evaluate potential carbon project opportunities in line with CI’s
strategic objectives. Build a high-quality project pipeline with key
external partners, including NGOs, governments, local communities,
and private developers.
- Lead
the development of the regional carbon finance strategy in coordination
with Africa’s Field Management Unit, CI regional country offices, and the
Global Carbon Origination lead.
- Keep
track of the pipeline and portfolio of all NFG Carbon Finance projects in
the region and report to the Carbon Portfolio Delivery and Global
Origination leads.
- Lead
the coordination and preparation of Project Idea Notes (PINs) summarizing
the project’s early-stage design and submit for internal review and
approval.
- Work
with the various project stakeholders and CI teams to gather inputs for
the feasibility phase budgets.
- Work
closely with CI’s Africa Field Management Unit to ensure that the goals of
the Africa Field Management Unit and the priorities of CI’s.
Carbon Finance Team is aligned and complementary
- Stay
up-to-date with market trends, regulatory changes, and industry
developments related to carbon finance and project development.
- Represent
CI at industry conferences, seminars, and events to promote the
organization’s expertise and build relationships with potential partners
and investors.
Deal Lead
- Financial
modeling and analysis of pipeline and portfolio projects to assess project
economics, including revenue streams, costs, and returns on investment.
- Negotiate
commercial terms with project development partners and key stakeholders
that enable cost recovery for CI, while ensuring high-quality project
implementation and maximizing community return.
- Work
with the various project stakeholders to gather inputs for the
implementation budget, while feasibility work is underway.
- Develop
and maintain strong relationships with the upstream project development
partners, serving as the primary point of contact and managing ongoing
communications and negotiations.
- Collaborate
with cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and technical
experts, to ensure all commercial aspects of the project are thoroughly
understood and that a strong business case is constructed.
- Prepare
and present carbon finance business cases to potential investors.
- Work
with the sales and marketing team on materials to present to potential
credit buyers.
- Manage
timelines and deliverables of the transaction, ensuring adherence to
established milestones and deadlines.
- Build
and maintain data rooms for various projects.
Supervisory responsibilities
- Will
involve staff supervision.
- Act as
a technical or subject matter expert to peers and other staff across CI
Africa and global teams.
- Will
be responsible for managing project-related budgets, consultants, and
vendors, but decisions that bind or commit CI are approved by the
immediate supervisor.
- May
lead project teams.
Working Conditions
- This
is a full-time position
- This
position is based in Singapore, where CI’s NFG Asia team and the
International Blue Carbon Institute is headquartered.
- Periodic
travel to project site and other office locations (up to 35%).
- Comfortable
working outdoors for extended periods.
- Ability
to work outside the normal work schedule to meet project deadlines.
- This
position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the
office and some days remotely. Guidance will be shared during the
interview process.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
- Bachelor’s
degree in finance or business, environmental science field, or another
relevant discipline.
- 5 to 7
years of relevant working experience.
- Experience
and understanding of Natural Climate Solutions or conservation projects,
and long-term success drivers, both financial and non-financial.
- Experience
working with countries in the Africa region.
- Hands-on
experience with carbon transactions (origination, structuring, valuation,
buyer engagement). Knowledge and expertise in environmental markets,
especially in voluntary carbon markets. Experience with analysis,
structuring, and valuation of natural resources and/or other investments.
- Strong
business acumen, with the ability to structure and negotiate commercially
sound and profitable deals.
- Experience
working with local partners in Africa, with an understanding of the
on-the-ground realities and challenges of project development and
delivery.
- Excellent
project management and coordination skills, and strong attention to
detail.
- Proven
ability to collaborate across cultures and diverse teams.
Manager, Proposal Development at Conservation International
Manager, Proposal Development
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 Cape
Town-South Africa, Johannesburg-South Africa, or Nairobi-Kenya
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.
Within this context, Conservation International (CI) seeks a
Manager, Proposal Development to lead and support the design, writing, and
coordination of high-quality proposals across public and corporate
philanthropic funding streams (including corporate foundations). This role will
be central to advancing CI’s fundraising priorities in Africa and globally,
ensuring that proposals are compelling, strategically aligned, and
donor-compliant. The Manager will collaborate with program, finance, and
monitoring teams, steward donor relationships, and maintain CI’s proposal
knowledge base to secure significant funding commitments for conservation
initiatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Proposal Development & Fundraising
- Lead
grant prospecting and identify potential funding partners across public
and corporate philanthropic donors (including corporate foundations)
- Draft
clear and persuasive project descriptions, problem statements, objectives,
outputs, and activities.
- Develop
tailored proposals, concept notes, budgets, pitches, and due diligence
forms for diverse donor audiences.
- Support
the Director in cultivating and stewarding relationships with
public-private donors, leveraging networks to secure large financial
commitments.
- Coordinate
with CI’s global government, corporate, and public funding teams to
integrate Africa opportunities into global pipelines.
- Provide
thorough copy edits and ensure proposals meet donor templates, formats,
and submission requirements.
- Proofread
all documents for accuracy, consistency, and completeness before
submission.
Budget & Financial Alignment
- Collaborate
with finance teams to ensure budgets align with proposal narratives.
- Prepare
and refine budget justifications/narratives as required by donors.
- Check
coherence between activities, timelines, human resources, and financial
allocations.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Work
with program and M&E staff to define results frameworks (outputs,
outcomes, indicators).
- Integrate
donor-required logframes, results chains, or theories of change into
proposals.
- Ensure
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning components are clearly articulated in
all submissions.
Knowledge Management & Process Coordination
- Maintain
and update CI’s stock text, boilerplate language, and past performance
reports.
- Keep
proposal development processes on track by scheduling meetings and
ensuring internal deadlines are met.
- Provide
project management support for large proposals and manage smaller
grant/contract submissions independently.
- Communicate
with project staff to obtain information for proposals and support work
plan development.
Analytics & Pipeline Development
- Maintain
a live database of global and regional public and corporate donors engaged
in CI’s focus areas.
- Track
trends in corporate philanthropy (including corporate foundations), and
public funding to inform fundraising strategy.
- Use
CRM tools for pipeline management and revenue forecasting.
- Support
reporting on fundraising progress and coordination with key partners.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Typical
office environment with occasional extended hours.
- Local
and/or international travel may be required.
- Ability
to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
- Flexible
working hours will be discussed during the interview process, aligned to
the requirement to be available to work across time zones.
- This
is a fixed-term assignment, expected to last 2 years initially, with
potential for extension, based on performance and funding.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s
degree in environmental sciences, international development, or related
field.
- 4 to 6
year of experience in proposal development and grant writing, including
public and private funding streams.
- Excellent
command of written and spoken English at first language speaker level.
- Strong
interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Proven
ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and coordinate
interdisciplinary teams.
- Experience
working with finance teams on budget alignment and justification.
- Knowledge
of donor requirements, compliance standards, and proposal formats.
- Excellent
organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.
- Track
record of initiative, independent work, and collaboration with dispersed
teams.
- Passion
for conservation and commitment to CI’s mission.
- Candidate
must be eligible to live and work in the country in which they apply to
work.
Preferred
- Experience
with CRM tools and donor pipeline management.
- Proficiency
in French and/or Portuguese would be an advantage.
To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover
letter.
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026 (11:49 PM
EST). (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
Knowledge Manager at Conservation International
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic communications:
- Assist
with the development and execution of communication strategies that
amplify the programme’s impact.
- Prepare
and distribute press releases, respond to media inquiries, coordinate
interviews, and oversee any media coverage.
- Support
fundraising efforts through strategic communication, storytelling, and
engaging campaigns that inspire action and support.
- Build
relationships to foster effective two-way communication and collaboration
with key stakeholders, including government, local communities, partner
organisations, and donors.
- Create
and maintain a database of key H4H stakeholders.
- Support
the development of policy briefs and translate H4H findings into
strategies and high-level frameworks for engagements with policy makers.
Content Development and Storytelling:
- Produce
high-quality content, including web articles, press releases, blog posts,
social media updates, newsletters, and marketing materials such as
brochures, flyers, banners, and posters.
- Use
social media as a platform for brand promotion and engagement by creating
engaging content, monitoring discussions, and responding to comments.
- Oversee
social media outputs by various staff, interns, and consultants across
the regional programme.
- Manage
and execute a content calendar for social media, blog posts, and other
external communications, and clarify key messages and target audiences in
line with the communications strategy.
- Procure
the services of any designers, writers, etc., for the development of
materials as needed.
- Working
with Herding for Health partners, co-develop content and oversee the
management of the Herding for Health website.
- Feed
relevant scientific findings and key knowledge to help create
rangelands-related newsworthy pieces.
- Co-develop
strategic implementation materials incorporating key lessons learned from
implementation sites and disseminate updated materials in the consolidated
Herding for Health implementation toolkit.
- Ensure
material is created and available (short videos, factsheets, etc) to
communicate important toolkit components to different stakeholders
- Support
programmatic events and campaigns, such as the annual Herding for Health
Indaba, Conference of Party engagements, with campaign marketing,
communication, and development of materials.
- Develop
and disseminate an H4H impact report every two years to relevant
stakeholders, highlighting key H4H impact across the continent.
- Support
implementation teams with the development of key H4H messaging documents
for various stakeholders.
- Develop
a document and knowledge management system, ensuring compliance with
institutional policies.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
- Utilise
analytic tools to measure the impact of communication efforts, providing
data-driven insights and recommendations for improvement.
- Prepare
reports on communication metrics, e.g., conversions, reach, when required.
- Lead
the development of annual reports or impact reporting documents for the
programme.
- Collaborate
with the H4H Programme’s MEL Coordinator to maintain a well-organized
database based on field-collected data, ensuring it is easily accessible
and usable for communication materials.
Brand Stewardship:
- Uphold
and enhance brand identity through consistent messaging and branding in
all communications.
- Develop
supporting templates, presentations, case studies, and other relevant
materials (e.g., factsheets, videos, etc.) to support the communication
strategy and key scientific outputs.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Assist
with logistical support, as and when needed, especially for the H4H Indaba
and related events where H4H showcases their work and impact.
- Provide
communications support for workshops, meetings, and other special events
for both internal and external participants.
- Supporting
implementation teams with knowledge exchange and other related events.
- Collaboration
and liaison with partners tasked with knowledge management and capacity
building to ensure alignment of the H4H brand and design across the
materials, under different donors.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Typical
office environment.
- Ability
and willingness to travel on a regular basis to field sites within
southern, and east Africa, and when needed, other countries in Africa
where CI and PPF are supporting H4H implementation.
- Flexibility
to work extended hours to meet deadlines.
- A
remote location with reliable/ strong connectivity could be considered
within the above countries.
- 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, expected to begin in October 2025 to
December 2027.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s
degree or equivalent qualification in Communications, Marketing,
Environmental Management, or a related field.
- 4 to 6
years of related work experience in knowledge management, communications.
- Experience
in, or demonstrated knowledge of, the principles of rangelands management,
rangelands ecology, agriculture, rangelands economics, or other relevant
fields, is an advantage.
- Past
experience working in the development sector would be required.
- Experience
in hosting and facilitating knowledge-sharing events and platforms.
- Experience
in science communication required.
- Experience
with a variety of communications media and software is an advantage, e.g.,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premier Pro, InDesign, or similar.
- Strong
written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent
writing and editing skills.
- Basic
administration, coordination, and project management skills are essential.
- Highly
familiar with etiquette, protocol, and employing cultural awareness and
sensitivity.
- Proven
team player.
- Self-driven
with strong leadership and performance management.
- Highly
organized and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a
dynamic environment.
Director, IT Support Lead – Africa
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya
The Director, IT Support Lead – Africa, works with regional
IT staff to create a sustainable support system for the Africa FMU. They ensure
regional technical support and network operations are maintained, address
escalated issues, and supervise Regional IT Support techs, providing resources
and capacity for their functions. Responsibilities include developing staffing
plans that meet organizational needs, designing services that improve
efficiencies, analyzing performance metrics to identify areas for improvement,
mentoring team members to develop their skills, and facilitating professional
development opportunities.
Conservation Strategy Senior Manager
The Conservation Strategy Senior Manager serves as a
strategic leader within Conservation International’s Africa Field Management
Unit (FMU). The role is responsible for driving the design, implementation, and
adaptive management of integrated conservation strategies across priority
landscapes, aligned with CI’s new strategy for Africa, which aims to unlock
finance to support up to 20 iconic landscapes across the continent.
Director, Development & Communications
The Director, Development and Communications is a senior
leader within the Africa Field Management Unit (FMU) and an integral member of
the Africa Leadership Team. Serving as the focal point for fundraising across
public and private donors, the Director will build and steward relationships
with funders and partners, develop and submit proposals in collaboration with
program teams, and support effective grant management. Simultaneously, the role
leads high-impact communications aligned with CI’s Africa strategy—supporting
advocacy, visibility, and donor engagement—and liaises with global colleagues
to elevate the continent’s conservation narrative and secure critical
resources.
Executive Assistant
The Executive Assistant will provide administrative support
for the Chief Field Officer and VP-Africa. Duties include managing executives’
calendars, travel, and meeting schedules; preparing routine and high-level
correspondence; establishing priorities, multicultural relationship management
in an agile and responsive manner; handling confidential and sensitive
information; preparing presentations and related meeting materials, and making
travel arrangements. They will also be responsible for general administrative
support, including maintaining filing systems, preparing expense reports, and
providing ad hoc operational support on HR, Finance, and IT-related tasks.
Manager, Knowledge Management and Communications – West Africa
This position is based in Botswana, Liberia, Kenya, or
Ghana
The Manager, Knowledge Management and Communications, West
Africa, will play a key role in ensuring that the Guinean Forests Regional
Coordination Project (RCP) effectively facilitates knowledge exchange,
learning, and communication among state and non-state actors across the Guinean
Forests Biome.
Managing Director, Operations & Finance -Africa
The Managing Director, Finance and Operations – Africa is a
senior leader responsible for the strategic financial and operational
management of Conservation International’s Africa Field Management Unit (FMU).
The role ensures financial integrity, risk mitigation, operational efficiency,
and regulatory compliance across all country programs and sub-regions. The
position provides strategic guidance to finance, accounting, grants and
contracts, operations, and compliance teams, including oversight of three direct
reports and sub-regional finance leads across Africa. This role is a critical
enabler of effective program delivery and sustainable growth, and collaborates
closely with global colleagues and HQ staff to deliver CI’s mission
Regional Compliance Officer
The Regional Compliance Officer (RCO) will support the
Finance and Operations Leadership for Africa by monitoring country program
implementation of operational policies and procedures, including finance,
grants management, human resources, and other operational functions performed
in the Africa country program offices. The RCO will perform systematic sampling
and testing of financial and operational activity for compliance with
Conservation International’s internal policies/procedures and external requirements.
The RCO will also work under the guidance of the Deputy Director ERM to
implement CI’s Risk-based Approach, including a plan to monitor the operations
of the region, designed to identify potential chances/incidents of
non-compliance and fraud.
Senior Coordinator – Project Delivery, Monitoring and Evaluation
The Senior Coordinator – Project Delivery, Monitoring and
Evaluation is a core member of the Strategy & Delivery team, responsible
for developing and managing systems and processes that enhance project
performance, enable data-driven decision-making, and ensure robust monitoring
and evaluation across the Africa portfolio. The role will work closely with
country and regional teams, as well as global M&E specialists, to build and
implement frameworks that align with organizational goals and support
landscape-level conservation delivery.
Senior HR Business Partner – Africa
The Senior HR Business Partner is a strategic leadership
position responsible for driving the Africa Field Management Unit’s (FMU)
people strategy in alignment with global People and Culture priorities,
conservation goals, and funding models. The role provides executive-level
partnership, guiding workforce planning, talent retention, financial
governance, and organizational effectiveness across multiple countries. This
position serves as the primary HR liaison for senior global and regional
stakeholders and models ethical conduct, fosters inclusive and respectful work
environments, and upholds accountability mechanisms that reinforce the desired
culture. It requires the ability to design long-term people strategies
that embed values into management practices, team dynamics, and organizational
culture. The role brings a strong focus on sustainability, executive coaching,
employment risks, and regional compliance, while ensuring Africa’s workforce
structure remains agile and fit-for-purpose.