Managing Director, Operations & Finance -Africa

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 Nairobi, Kenya

The Managing Director, Finance and Operations – Africa is a senior leader responsible for the strategic financial and operational management of Conservation International’s Africa Field Management Unit (FMU). The role ensures financial integrity, risk mitigation, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across all country programs and sub-regions. The position provides strategic guidance to finance, accounting, grants and contracts, operations, and compliance teams, including oversight of three direct reports and sub-regional finance leads across Africa. This role is a critical enabler of effective program delivery and sustainable growth, and collaborates closely with global colleagues and HQ staff to deliver CI’s mission

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Act as a senior advisor to the Africa Chief Field Officer, Vice President – Africa, and sub-regional leadership on financial strategy, institutional health, and investment planning.
• Enable data-driven and informed decision-making by leading the development and integration of division-wide financial analytics, performance metrics, and scenario planning.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and Communications, to champion long-range financial planning that aligns funding models with strategic priorities.
• Lead cost-benefit analyses and high-level financial modeling to anticipate funding shortfalls and develop contingency plans.

Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Reporting

• Oversee the development and delivery of internal and external financial reports and dashboards.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete financial reporting, including variance analysis and insights to inform course corrections.
• Lead division-wide budgeting and multi-year financial planning processes, including integration with major revenue proposals.
• Oversee grants administration and donor reporting, ensuring robust compliance with donor agreements and CI policies.

Operational Effectiveness and Business Planning

• Drive division-wide operational planning and annual workplan consolidation to align with financial and strategic priorities.
• Gather, analyze, and report division performance metrics and lead efforts to improve operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with leadership to align division outcomes with CI’s organizational strategy and results frameworks.
• Support the deployment and effective use of CI systems and tools, ensuring staff have the capabilities and access required.

Donor Engagement and Resource Mobilization

• Partner with development teams to support financial inputs into fundraising strategies, donor proposals, and financial sustainability models.
• Oversee financial compliance and risk mitigation related to grant-funded activities, including proactive identification of financial vulnerabilities.

Risk Management, Audit, and Compliance

• Lead financial risk assessments, audit preparedness, and enterprise-level compliance initiatives across the Africa portfolio.
• Identify and escalate areas of high financial, legal, or operational risk and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure consistent application of CI's policies, internal controls, and donor compliance protocols.

Systems Strengthening and Innovation

• Drive continuous improvement of financial and operational systems through digital transformation, ERP optimization, and process redesign.
• Roll out standardized tools and strengthen the use of data for predictive analytics and decision-making across programs.

Leadership and Capacity Building

• Build and lead a geographically distributed team of finance and operations professionals.
• Promote a culture of performance, accountability, service orientation, and learning.
• Serve as a visible and trusted subject matter expert on financial and operational matters within the FMU and with external stakeholders

Additional Responsibilities

• Align finance and operations functions with internal client service expectations and CI’s strategic objectives.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration, and maintain key partnerships across CI divisions.
• Support programmatic and systems rollouts, providing strategic guidance on financial and operational integration.
• Serve as a change leader to drive adaptation, innovation, and alignment with CI’s evolving global strategy.

People and Resource Management Responsibilities

• Manage a large, geographically distributed team through three direct reports and functional leads in finance, grants and contracts, operations, and compliance.
• Accountable for major and complex budgets, including oversight of donor-funded projects.
• Lead hiring, performance management, and succession planning for finance and operations staff.
• Ensure that donor resources are used in full compliance with donor agreements and CI’s fiduciary responsibilities.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some days remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Chartered accountant accreditation (e.g., CPA, ACCA, ICAN).
• 10 or more years of experience in senior financial leadership, with a track record of managing complex donor-funded programs in Africa.
• 2 or more years leading finance and operations teams in INGOs or multinational organizations.
• Strategic financial leadership and enterprise planning
• Strong business acumen and operational problem-solving skills
• High ethical standards and sound judgment
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and systems transformation
• Advanced analytical and forecasting capabilities
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Fluent in the use of ERP systems and digital finance tools
• Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced, high-stakes environments

Preferred

• Master’s degree
• Experience working across African countries and regions.
• Fluency in French, Portuguese, or other major African languages.
• Deep alignment with and passion for CI’s mission and conservation objectives.

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

Application Deadline: July 14, 2025  (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.