Senior Manager, Negotiations & Natural Climate Solutions

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 could be based in Bolivia, Brazil (remote), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, or Suriname

Conservation International has established the Negotiations Program for Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities, a comprehensive training and mentoring program for community-level negotiators. The program includes online and in-person workshops on negotiation strategies and best practices, a network of experienced community negotiators who act as mentors, a case study library, and key resources for community negotiators. The Senior Manager, Negotiations & Natural Climate Solutions is a key contributor to the Negotiations Program and CI’s inclusive partnerships with Indigenous peoples and local communities. The Senior Manager supports a diverse set of activities and works to ensure that program outcomes and goals further Conservation International’s (CI’s) human well-being and conservation priorities and integration with the programmatic areas of the GIPLC Center. Duties include developing and implementing capacity-building programs for negotiating Impact & Benefit Sharing Agreements for market-based solutions, such as biodiversity, Carbon, and other Nature-based Credits, project management, technical oversight, monitoring, and supporting on engagement with Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) partners. The Senior Manager should serve as a technical resource on IPs and LCs issues in conservation, human rights, as well as on Carbon and Nature-based Credits Projects both within CI and beyond. They will work with other Senior staff of the GIPLC Center and other CI Divisions to prospect and amplify the funding portfolio directed to IPs and LCs. 

This role works across CI to build strong relationships to advance program initiatives. They represent CI and work to build alliances with community and external stakeholders who are critical to program success, such as partnerships with Indigenous peoples' organizations, NGOs, governments, and UN agencies focused on Indigenous and local community issues in conservation. 

The Senior Manager supports the program’s financial well-being by playing a role in identifying program funding sources and developing and managing funding relationships with partners and prospects. They work with program and HQ staff on proposals and funding initiatives. 

Not responsible for directly supervising others but leads small ad-hoc teams and acts as a technical resource to others. Duties are performed under general direction. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Program Design

• Assess and strengthen work plans, strategies, and objectives for the Negotiations Program for IPLCs and its associated projects.
  
• Lead technical assistance for negotiations for carbon and nature-based credits including land tenure-related issues in coordination with the Director and the field teams.
  
• Co-design and apply metrics for success for the Negotiations Program, and monitor those programs, adapting metrics as needed.
  
• Engage and work with CI Field Division teams to engage with IP and LC partners to incorporate their needs and priorities in the Negotiations Programs and also advise on linkages to other programmatic areas of the GIPLC Center.
  
• Identify capacity-building needs within CI and with external colleagues related to negotiating effective and equitable Carbon and Nature credit agreements and support efforts to address capacity gaps. Apply creativity and resourcefulness where needed to address gaps and implement new approaches.

Implementation & Technical Assistance

• Lead implementation of program activities related to negotiations in carbon projects and other nature-based credits, including landscape/project/activity-level budget management and adaptive management in collaboration with field teams and operations leads.
  
• Build partnerships across CI and with outside partners, serving as a representative of the program and the organization and as a trusted point of contact for the Negotiations Program.
  
• Promote information sharing through the development of resources and training materials, including the expansion of resources related to the Indigenous Negotiations Resource Guide.
  
• Build stakeholder understanding of the importance of supporting communities in negotiations by developing fact sheets, pitch decks, statistics, and related communication materials.
  
• Provide technical assistance to field teams, partners, and communities regarding negotiating effective, equitable, and inclusive carbon and biodiversity credit Agreements
  
• Design and deliver capacity-building workshops and materials related to negotiations for carbon and biodiversity credit Agreements.

Fundraising

• Identify areas of potential alignment between Negotiations Program work and other CI projects and strategies, to leverage existing funding effectively.
  
• Contribute to program financial sustainability by identifying funding opportunities. Partner with the team and other CI staff to co-develop funding proposals to support and expand negotiations programming.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Approximately 20% international travel and some domestic travel.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree or relevant experience in social sciences (anthropology, human geography, sociology, political science, law) or related field.
  
• 5 to 7 years of experience related to the social dimensions of conservation in a corporate, consulting, academic, public sector, or NGO environment.
  
• Proven experience and understanding of carbon projects, climate finance, climate adaptation, or emerging nature credits market.
  
• Proven ability to work effectively across cultures, establish and manage effective collaborations.
  
• Strong organization skills, with ability to prioritize and manage high volume and varied tasks and meet deadlines.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  
• Experience working in an international environment.
  
• Proficiency in Spanish.

Preferred

• Master's degree
• Proficiency in French or Portuguese.
  
• Familiarity and understanding of social/political/legal contexts of negotiations and IPs and LCs in Latin America.
  
• Knowledge and understanding of communal negotiation processes.
  
• Ability to synthesize and communicate information to partners and other stakeholder groups.
  
• Resourcefulness and ability to work proactively and independently.

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.