Senior Director, Blue Climate Program

Senior Director, Blue Climate Program

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 open to CI Offices in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Please view a full list of our Global Offices here.

The Senior Director, Blue Climate Program, provides high-level strategic and programmatic leadership to the Conservation International (CI) Blue Climate program within the Center for Oceans and across a highly distributed and networked team at CI. They play a central and visible role in building and maintaining CI’s global leadership in ocean-climate conservation through ensuring the development and delivery of high-impact, high-quality, innovative programs to achieve CI’s vision and goals for ocean - climate solutions for biodiversity and communities including Blue Carbon, Coastal and Ocean Adaptation, Green-Gray Infrastructure, Coastal Resilience and Ocean-Climate policy.

The Senior Director is an essential member of the leadership team for the CI-wide Blue Climate program. As part of the highly-collaborative Blue Climate leadership team, the Senior Director develops and leads the vision and strategic direction of the program. The Senior Director is specifically responsible for ensuring alignment, coordination and maximum synergy of a highly-networked, high-performing team that spans multiple divisions and geographies across the institution and requires strong collaboration around resourcing and execution. As such, the role is responsible for senior-level program management; developing and ensuring implementation of flexible and adaptive team management tools; ensuring strong team cohesion; and developing, implementing and supporting program strategies, initiatives, and outcomes that advance CI’s blue climate goals.

The Senior Director collaborates with staff throughout CI to ensure the blue climate program forms an integral part of achieving organization-wide goals. They continuously represent CI to engage and influence key external stakeholders including government and NGO officials, donors, and other parties that are critical to program success and achieving CI’s Blue Climate and broader ocean goals. As needed, the Senior Director builds and leverages strategic alliances with NGOs, businesses, or other entities that can further CI’s blue climate and related mission.

As part of CI’s Blue Climate leadership, the Senior Director, Blue Climate Program, is responsible for fundraising for Blue Climate programs across CI, including maintaining strong relationships with current donors and actively pursuing new sources of funding, in partnership with CI’s development staff. They play a leading role in facilitating communication and ensuring coordination in fundraising including leading, reviewing, and providing input on proposals. They partner with CI programs and external partners to secure program funding for regional and field activities.

The Senior Director, Blue Climate Program is also a key member of the leadership team within the Center for Oceans and a significant contributor to defining the broader goals and priorities for the Center and CIs Oceans programs. They lead and contribute to Center wide programs and priorities.

The Senior Director, Blue Climate Program directly manages staff within the Center for Oceans and provides strategic leadership to interdisciplinary networked teams. They are a highly respected team leader who can direct, align and inspire staff from across the institution to achieve the goals of the Blue Climate Program. They are a mentor, collaborator and partner to the blue climate program leads and is the essential connector and integrator for a high performing distributed team. They provide broad programmatic, budget, and technical oversight and ensures program compliance with CI policies, program and funding agreements, and local requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programmatic Leadership:

As a member of Blue Climate leadership at CI,

Co-lead development of vision, strategy, goals and priorities for CI’s climate-based solutions to ocean health including Blue Carbon, Coastal and Ocean Adaptation, Green-Gray Infrastructure, Coastal Resilience and Ocean-Climate policy. Position CI as a recognized and sought after leader in ocean climate change initiatives, including blue carbon mitigation, green-gray infrastructure, and adaptation. Ensure the Blue Climate, Center for Oceans, and other programs across CI are aligned and coordinated to achieve CI’s blue climate priorities.

Lead the CI-wide Blue Carbon network team – spanning Center for Oceans, Field Programs, Center for Natural Climate Solutions, Conservation Finance Division, Policy Division, Development Team, Moore Center for Science, and the International Blue Carbon Institute - to ensure maximum impact of CI’s diverse and growing portfolio of blue carbon related programs. Ensure alignment, coordination and maximum synergy of the diverse portfolio of blue carbon activities across CI, including programmatic, financial and personnel management.

Represent the organization and CIs blue climate programs externally. Serve as a trusted and visible point of contact for CI. Build CI’s position as the recognized and sought after leader in ocean climate science, policy and implementation.

Provide empathetic, clear and inspiring leadership for the Blue Climate Team and staff from within the Center for Oceans and across CI.

Directly supervise program and project staff, including overseeing the work of external partners.

Within the Center for Oceans

Provide strategic, administrative and team leadership within the Center for Oceans. Support integration and alignment of programs within the Center for Oceans.

Provide empathetic, clear and inspiring leadership for staff from within the Center for Oceans and across CI.

Manage the blue climate program’s direct budget and finances within the Center for Oceans and ensure compliance with donor requirements and CI policies.

Program Development and Implementation

Provide strategic and technical leadership and support to the Blue Climate team to develop blue climate programs and initiatives to advance CI’s goals. Ensure synergy leverage and integration across all programs and elements of the Blue Climate program.

Lead development and implementation of priority Blue Climate projects.

Ensure effective planning, program development, work plans, and associated partner engagement to achieve the goals and priorities of the blue climate program.

In partnership with key staff from across CI, lead development of the CI-wide blue climate objectives and priorities aligned with broader CI goals and ensure resource distribution is aligned with and supports these priorities.

Identify and address the technical and programmatic gaps and challenges to achieving CI’s blue climate goals.

Develop a broad and diverse network of relationships and partnerships to accelerate and achieve CI blue climate objectives.

Expand and accelerate the impact of strategic external alliances/initiatives (Blue Carbon Initiative, Green-Gray Community of Practice and others) through thought leadership and ensuring relevant CI engagement.

Fundraising and Financial Management

Ensure financial sustainability of the broader Blue Climate program by securing necessary funding and support. Regularly partner with CI programs and external partners on funding proposals and regional/global fundraising efforts.

Partner with CI development staff to identify and develop potential sources of support.

Oversee reporting to donors to ensure accuracy and impact are fully and effectively communicated.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Local and/or international travel of 30% or more, often in difficult travel conditions.

Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.

Flexibility in work schedule in order to accommodate time differences among HQ, regions and field programs.

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.

10 or more years of professional experience.

5 or more years of supervisory experience.

Demonstrated senior-level leadership of complex programs, projects and teams, involving multiple internal and external stakeholders, preferably in global conservation, NGO, advocacy or related arenas. Experience co-leading programs.

Proven ability to turn a vision into outcomes and impact, including demonstrated experience in program development and implementation.

Demonstrated commitment to ocean conservation and nature-based climate solutions globally.

Expertise in ocean and coastal climate science, policy, project development and/or management.

Outstanding people management skills, including experience managing and contributing to high-functioning, multi-disciplinary, networked teams with a mixture of direct, non- direct, and limited supervision lines. Proven leadership skills and success in effectively inspiring and engaging diverse groups in a multicultural environment.

Demonstrated ability to fundraise with governments, foundations, and private individuals, and experience managing multimillion dollar program budgets with numerous sub-grantees and partners.

A record of success partnering with and influencing key stakeholders and building strong, effective, and impactful partnerships across public and private sectors and civil society. Experience working with government agencies, scientific organizations and/or academic institutions preferred.

Proven ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in highly dynamic, resource limited environments. Adept at working in and managing a team in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Superb oral and written communication skills in English.

Experience communicating for broad variety of audiences, including academic, media, web blogs, and funding proposals.

Broad knowledge of ocean and climate conservation and the capacity to rapidly build knowledge in a broad range of technical disciplines. Instinctual curiosity and enthusiasm to learn.

Strong organizational and financial management skills.

Preferred

Language skills (Spanish, French)

Experience implementing conservation programs in the field.

Advanced degree in marine science, environmental management, engineering, sustainable development, or other conservation-related fields.

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

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.

As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.