Director, Product & Practices
ApplyWhat We Can Achieve Together
The Conservation Impact System Team (IST) in the Chief Conservation Office plays a critical role in supporting global conservation implementation. The IST supports conservation teams, leaders, and executives to generate and use evidence in adaptive management and reporting so that TNC can achieve its goals for biodiversity, climate, and people. The IST is comprised of the Conservation Data Team (CDT) and Conservation Strategy Team that partner closely to provide support. The CDT is responsible for conservation data capacity building, data quality, science & systems, and organizational reporting, including reporting and recommendations to executives and the global board.
We’re Looking for You
The Director provides technical and scientific leadership as a subject matter expert (SME) for project and strategy level monitoring, evaluation, learning that informs adaptive management on a quarterly and annual basis. The Director of Products & Practices oversees all aspects of the CDT’s product offerings and practices support (i.e., customer success and capacity‑building). They are a member of the CDT leadership team that provides overall strategic direction for the CDT as well as its set of product offerings. They are responsible for implementing that vision and making offerings available to conservation teams and leaders at TNC (i.e., customers). The Director of Products & Practices serves as the manager to CDT Regional and Global leads, who act as the principal contacts to teams and leaders in internal Business Units. These leads are responsible for experimenting with offerings to drive development, continuous improvement, and innovation in CDT offerings. The Director is ultimately responsible for customer satisfaction and for contributing to organizational objectives related to data quality and the use of data to improve decision quality via customer success. The Director works in close partnership with the Director of Products and Practices, Conservation Strategy.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
On the CDT Leadership Team, helping to ensure smooth collaboration and functioning of the CDT Partners across the Conservation Data and Strategy Teams, and across Business Units, the Director stewards and oversees the continuous improvement of the CDT’s current offerings as well as development of future offerings. Manage staff or multi‑disciplinary team to create or improve techniques and procedures for complex projects. Conceive and implement strategic initiatives. Act as a technical liaison within and outside of the organization. Collaborate with a wide range of conservation partners to identify needs related to generating and using evidence in strategy and project management. Present technical concepts and communicate to diverse teams and leaders. Provide training for internal and external colleagues on monitoring, evaluation, and learning and adaptive management principles. Establish and maintain optimal performance standards within budget. Frequently make independent strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context. Frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours. Must work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
What You’ll Bring
Master’s Degree in science, engineering, or technology‑related field and six years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Supervisory experience. Experience in a matrix organization. Strong knowledge of common software applications. Experience developing products focused on using data for decisions. Domain area expertise in one or more of the following: large‑scale natural protection or management of lands/freshwater/oceans, climate or biodiversity policy, renewable energy siting, natural climate solutions, conservation finance and markets, regenerative agriculture, sustainable fisheries or aquaculture, watershed management, community‑based management, equitable conservation. Experience directing a major program of strategic importance and working with a multi‑disciplinary team. Experience in relationship building with peers, partners, government agencies, land owners, academic community, etc. Experience in negotiating and influencing without authority. Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals. Excellent communication skills, written, spoken and graphical. Experience with financial management of a large program.
Desired Qualifications
Multi‑language skills and multi‑cultural or cross‑cultural experience appreciated. PhD in science, engineering, or technology‑related field and two to five years related experience considered. Record of peer‑reviewed publications in scientific journals. Experience in tailoring learning approaches to different stages of maturity of a strategy and to different contexts (e.g., data‑poor, strategies led with Indigenous or community partners). Experience with influencing decisions, investments, or policies using data, data‑tools‑related communications. Experience with monitoring, reporting & verification systems for biodiversity and ecosystem services, or ecosystem markets. Ability to diagnose complex problems and identify solutions. Ability to manage a budget to ensure sound financial performance.
