Senior Vice President Conservation Finance

Senior Vice President Conservation Finance
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. The urgency and momentum for climate and nature action mean our expertise and experience are increasingly in demand.
A major pathway to scale up our impact is by developing novel ways to finance the long-term stewardship, protection and restoration of nature. We do this by blending public and private financing, creating replicable business models that deliver return on investments, developing new financing approaches and vehicles, and convening and advising partners to increase demand for investible high-quality projects.
POSITION SUMMARY - This position is ideally based in the US (Arlington or New York), London (remote), Brussels or Singapore. CI could sponsor work authorization for candidates unable to work in these locations.
Conservation International seeks an outstanding nature finance leader with the breadth of experience and ambition to lead and grow CI's conservation financial efforts including the setup of a billion-dollar strategy, advising market leaders and investors, developing Conservation Finance partnerships, scaling up deeply impactful SMEs, building a portfolio of early-stage carbon projects and pioneering innovative financial instruments like nature bonds, biodiversity credits and the next generation of debt-for-nature swaps. Your leadership will help CI sequester over one billion tons of carbon, restore millions of hectares of ecosystems, and influence the global approach to Conservation Finance.
You excel at using finance to drive nature conservation, restoration, and low-carbon and nature-positive development. As a strategic partner to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors, you will oversee CI's conservation and climate finance strategy, business development, investment processes, fund management, advisory services, and fundraising. Your leadership on market-based instruments and Conservation Finance will help protect and restore the planet while benefitting its people.
You will have experience in a global finance organization, ideally leading on a range of financing instruments in emerging markets. You will provide superior team leadership and be compelling in speaking with commercial investors, multilateral investors and foundations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The incoming Senior Vice President will lead Conservation Finance for a growing, global organization with 1,600 staff in 30 country offices across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. CI has deployed over $500 million of investment in the environment in more than 45 countries through a mix of financial mechanisms and to date has transacted $12.7m in carbon credits from projects. In addition, CI advises on investments by partner entities totaling over $2 billion.
Specifically, you will:

• Develop and lead CI's ambitious Conservation Finance strategy including the pursuit of billion-dollar opportunities to close the biodiversity funding gap and meet organizational strategic outcomes through climate and nature finance.
• Lead the team developing and deploying conservation and climate funds managed by CI and its partners.
• Provide advice to world-leading financial institutions on their nature investment strategies.
• Provide guidance and direction to a market-leading team of carbon finance professionals and work across CI to originate, structure, and finance a portfolio of high-quality Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) carbon projects.
• Expand CI's impact and return-seeking portfolio of SME investments, including Conservation International Ventures.
• Drive innovation and impact across the range of instruments, including trust funds, debt swaps, loans, loan guarantees, nature and carbon finance, insurance, conservation agreements, and payment for ecosystem services.
• Substantially develop CI work on biodiversity credits.
• Lead fundraising for climate finance initiatives and support major private and public (Global Environmental Facility, Green Climate Fund, bilateral development agencies) fundraising proposals that have a finance angle.
• Provide strategic advice to the Executive Team and CI's Board of Directors.
• Provide superior team leadership to the globally distributed Conservation Finance Department team of 40 staff. Oversee staff, budgets, programs and projects.
• Drive impactful collaboration across CI teams and with external partners.
• Communicate externally and internally about the importance of expanded Conservation Finance and its impact on nature and people.

You will report to the Chief Operating Officer and have direct access to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Team.
WORKING CONDITIONS

• Willingness to travel to offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
• 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 (preferred) or equivalent combination of education/experience in Finance or related field.
• 15 years experience with at least five years in a senior leadership position in global finance, ideally in private finance with relevant emerging market and nature/climate expertise.
• 7 or more years of experience managing teams of professional employees.
• Experience in managing investment funds and launching and scaling new nature or climate finance initiatives, ideally in emerging markets (for example, trust funds, debt swaps, loans, carbon finance, conservation agreements, and payment for ecosystem services).
• Experience in developing private-public partnerships for nature, climate or development finance.
• Wide range of experience in investment, including structuring deals and investment advice.
• Strong experience with climate-related issues, business development and fundraising, including experience with carbon transactions (origination and implementation) and track record of success in securing corporate climate partnerships.
• Extensive knowledge of financial markets, as well as demonstrated experience in the development of Conservation Finance and carbon deals.
• Evidence of deep collaboration and strong network of individuals and institutions in restoration and climate, including experience convening a broad range of individuals.
• Demonstrated carbon finance knowledge and experience, including voluntary markets, and use of high-quality standards such as Verra and the Gold Standard.
• Experience in working in or with development finance institutions.
• Experience in leading a large team across different locations. Skilled at getting individuals, teams, and leaders to perform at a higher level and drive impact at scale.
• Strong collaboration, coordination and mentoring skills.
• Commitment to support CI as a global, growing, organization committed to climate and nature.

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.