Job ID: 52661
Location: Mexico
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
OFFICE LOCATION
Mexico City, Mexico
This offer applies to Merida and Mexico city
LA061
WHO WE ARE
The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”
WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
The Water Program aims to achieve large-scale and impactful conservation initiatives to secure benefits for people and nature. In this context, the Water Resources Specialist contributes to the analysis, design, and development of conservation strategies in support of the Mexico Water Program and the Freshwater Strategies, that aims to mainstream nature-based solutions in the water sector to improve climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, water security and advance community development outcomes. This position reports to the Mexico Water Program Director. The program is currently undergoing an operational transition from Monterrey and the Mexico Valley watersheds to the Selva Maya-Mesoamerican Reef and Mesoamerican Forest Bridge iconic landscapes. These sites may be expanded based on needs and opportunities, looking for water security outcomes in terms of water supply in quantity and quality, watershed and freshwater biodiversity conservation, and strengthening resilient communities and ecosystems against climate change and extreme hydrometeorological phenomena. The Specialist will assist the Water Program in Mexico, providing a combination of technical guidance and expertise project design, implementation, and evaluation
WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Support the Water Program Director to define freshwater conservation priorities and strategies in Mexico, both in current or new geographies, looking for healthy, connected, and resilient ecosystems, functional landscapes and resilient communities.
• Provide scientific support to develop and implement efficient conservation actions and assess impact.
• Work with colleagues across TNC to provide technical and scientific inputs to maximize the impact of interventions related to freshwater protection, following the Conservation by Design methodology.
• Coordinate the team and conservation actions on the ground, ensuring the technical soundness of implemented activities.
• Ensure proper financial follow up of the project under his/her supervision, including financial planning, budgeting, tracking expenses, reviewing financial reports, ensuring proper financial execution, complying with internal procedures, etc.
• Collaborate to develop project proposals and concept notes, particularly from a technical-scientific perspective.
• Collaborate to develop operational and financial reports for donors.
• Provide input for communication materials.
• Contribute to ensure the strategic alignment of the Mexico´s Water Program with the TNC Shared Conservation Agenda (SCA).
• Contribute to ensure that all projects are adequately reflected and updated on the Hub, TNC’s progress-tracking tool
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
• In coordination with the Water Program Director and the rest of the team, contribute in the design and implementation of a comprehensive, science-based water strategy for the iconic places, following TNCs methodologies and in coordination with the Mexico Conservation Programs, Regional and Global Units.
• In coordination with the team, support the development of a comprehensive water portfolio for the Selva Maya-Mesoamerican Reef and Mesoamerican Forest Bridge.
• Collaborate in cross planning between programs in Mexico, Regional and Global Units.
• Ensure the effective implementation of science-based conservation actions on the ground
• Ensure impeccable technical and financial execution of projects under his/her supervision. Financial responsibility may include working within and managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, tracking expenses, etc.
• Implement Conservation by Design (CbD) and other conservation and planning tools for existing and new initiatives.
• Support and in occasions lead the development of proposals and reports for internal and external audiences.
• Maintain updated different information systems to ensure the proper documentation of goals, outcomes, indicators, etc.
• Prepare and attend periodic review meetings/reports as required by TNC and external partners.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Make independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment, managing up when required, ensuring coordination with the Water Program Director and other co-workers.
• May require frequent travel domestically and occasional work outside of business hours in accordance with TNC & local guidelines.
• Maintain transparent, effective, timely & appropriate communication through department meetings, one-on-one meetings, email, IM (Instant Messaging), and regular interpersonal communication.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
• Bachelor, Hydrology, Ecology, Forest/Freshwater & Habitat Management, Biology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science degree or similar, and 7 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience coordinating complex initiatives that combine planning, a science based approach, community engagement, field operations, etc.
• Experience with current trends and practices in conservation, land management, freshwater, and natural resource preservation.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance in teams of 2 or more members.
• Experience in working effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Web Browsers, basic ArqGis and project management software.
• Expereince with communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and Spanish.
• Expereince in explaining conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Expereince in thinking strategically and the initiative to work independently while effectively functioning as part of a larger program team.
• Expereince with self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Capacity to solve complex problems and comply with deadlines, independently and with minimal supervision.
• Expereince with ethics
• Able and willing to travel in Mexico and internationally, always following security guidelines to prevent COVID-19
• Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
• Applicant must be legally eligible for Mexican employment.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Masters degree in Hydrology, Ecology, Forest/Freshwater & Habitat Management, Biology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
• Fundraising experience, with emphasis on writing proposals and reports, cultivating donors, and coordinating with development teams.
• Excellent business storytelling.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing watershed conservation initiatives.
• Experience working with Mexican government and NGOs.
• Able to hold the course in complex or even adverse situations.
• Optimistic and with outstanding people’s skills.
• Proven ability to build a network of stakeholders and support for a project.
• Driver’s license and willingness to travel by car to conduct fieldwork.
• Preferably based in Mexico City or Mérida
WHAT WE BRING
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.
APPLY NOW
To apply for job ID 52661, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ . Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.
An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.
Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.
