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 Arlington-VA (preferred), Seattle-WA, or potentially in one of our CI offices in Africa, Europe, or the Americas. Please view a full list of our offices here

The climate emergency is already here. The average temperature on Earth has now risen 1.2°C above preindustrial levels and there is a 50:50 chance of exceeding 1.5°C within the next five years. Avoiding this threshold and the corresponding acceleration of economic and societal disruption will require solving one of the world’s paramount climate challenges: the destruction of nature from unsustainable agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. 

Conservation International’s (CI) Exponential Roadmap for Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) lays out how we can achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector – from both natural and working lands – by 2030. It comprises eight distinct "action tracks" focused on protection of natural ecosystems, climate-smart management of working lands, and natural ecosystem restoration. Together, these tracks hold the potential to mitigate 13.1 Gt of greenhouse gas emissions annually. CI and its partners are now engaged in a multi-million-dollar NCS Roadmap Initiative to mainstream the global goal of a net zero land sector and both inspire and help deliver the innovations necessary to overcome bottlenecks for exponentially scaling investment in, and implementation of, natural climate solutions. 

As the Managing Director, NCS Roadmap Initiative, you will play a pivotal, multi-faceted role in proactively managing this global program, serving as a key ambassador for the Roadmap and its insights with key internal and external audiences, and providing technical expertise in leading and communicating new research on NCS and its role in global and regional mitigation pathways and plans. Working with our diverse, highly interdisciplinary team, you will lead, coordinate and/or support, as needed, four key applied science and science-to-policy/action workstreams, that collectively deliver on the Roadmap’s global vision: mainstreaming ambitious land sector goals among key actors; accelerating the pipeline of high-quality NCS interventions that deliver key non-carbon benefits like biodiversity and climate adaptation; accelerating demand for NCS amongst governments, communities and the private sector, including through the development of national and regional NCS Roadmaps; and filling rate-limiting science and data gaps to accelerate implementation of NCS around the world. 

As such you will have extensive experience leading and managing complex, multidisciplinary initiatives, inspiring trust by being grounded in high-quality science and synthesis, and effectively communicating the urgent need and immense opportunity presented by nature as a climate solution. You will continue to build and maintain a respectful and proactive work culture for a diverse, highly collaborative team that spans CI’s Field Programs, Global Programs, and other Divisions. 

If you're passionate about applied science that benefits people through nature conservation and climate action, this role offers a unique chance to contribute to a sustainable future. Join us in making a lasting impact on our planet's well-being. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and coordinate CI’s NCS Roadmap Initiative to deliver on the Initiative’s vision and four key workstreams, in close partnership with the Core Team.  
• Working closely with the Core Team, Senior Divisional Leaders, and CI Executive Leadership, ensure that all NCS Roadmap Initiative activities align with CI’s strategic priorities. 
• Proactively leverage existing and forthcoming NCS Roadmap Initiative science, policy, and communications insights to support increases in NCS ambition and funding by external partners. 
• Create and maintain partnerships internally (in particular with CI’s Center for Natural Climate Solutions, Conservation Finance Division, and the Africa and Americas Field Divisions) and externally, to maintain and drive world-class innovation across the NCS Roadmap Initiative’s multiple dimensions. 
• Lead and/or support the identification and development of the highest priority scientific analyses and publications necessary to underpin the Roadmap’s science-to-action framework, including peer-review publications in high-impact journals to ensure the Roadmap’s transparency and legitimacy. 
• Lead specific Roadmap work packages in region(s) or scientific domain(s) related to areas of interest and deep expertise. 
• Lead and/or support communications for the Roadmap internally and externally, in close collaboration with relevant CI teams, across a broad range of stakeholders, including facilitation of high-level meetings and workshops as needed. 
• Lead and deliver on new multi-million-dollar funding opportunities for the NCS Roadmap Initiative and other relevant strategic institutional goals. 
• Partner closely with the Initiative’s Program Manager to keep the initiative on track on a day-to-day basis, with program management, budgeting, donor reporting, and communication of success stories. 
• Provide mentorship for junior colleagues as they develop into the next generation of NCS leaders. 
• Manage direct reports as needed (currently 1.5 full-time employees) and as the Roadmap initiative continues to evolve. 
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in a typical office environment. 
• Travel up to 25% may be required. 
• Flexibility in the work schedule (occasional night and weekend work) may be necessary in order to accommodate time differences between HQ and the regions. 
• 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

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant, interdisciplinary subject area, with substantial training/research in the natural sciences/climate change. 
• 10 or more years of experience leading and conducting research at the nexus of applied science and policy related to climate change mitigation through land and/or coastal interventions. 
• 5 or more years of supervisory experience. 
• Proven ability to successfully interpret, synthesize, and apply scientific information, data, models, and approaches to achieve practical conservation and/or development results. 
• Demonstrated experience building and leading coalitions of partners to design and implement a major climate-related initiative. 
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining key external relationships with partners including donors, NGOs, academics, community and Indigenous peoples’ coalitions, corporations, and multilateral organizations.  
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives, through both independent research and through leading/managing teams of researchers, implementers, and communicators from diverse disciplines and across multiple institutions. 
• Proven leadership experience supervising others, whether as direct reports or as multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Demonstrated success in securing major funding from public and/or private sources for research and/or implementation of NCS-related programs and projects. 
• Exceptional English language communication and facilitation skills, with an emphasis on distilling complex scientific concepts for a variety of audiences. 

Preferred

• Ph.D. degree.
• Expert-level knowledge of how to integrate quantitative and qualitative data in support of developing nature-based solutions to climate change. 
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS, SAS). 
• GIS and spatial analytic skills. 
• Significant field research or work experience in CI’s focal regions. 
• Strong multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary skills, including proficiency in articulating evidence-based policy recommendations. 
• Experience working with communities and stakeholder engagement. 
• Proficiency in one or more additional languages commonly spoken in CI’s focal regions, particularly Spanish, Portuguese, or French. 

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.