Associate Director, Agriculture Finance

What We Can Achieve Together

Global demand for food, fiber, and energy is accelerating, intensifying pressure on natural ecosystems and driving climate change. In South America, TNC has long worked to halt deforestation linked to cattle ranching, soy production, and other land use change. A core strategy has been developing innovative finance mechanisms that help producers expand beef, soy, and agroforestry production without further habitat loss.

To scale this work, TNC, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco (IFACC) initiative in 2021. IFACC mobilizes companies, financial institutions, and investors to accelerate deforestation and conversion‑free finance across Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. As of December 2025, 26 signatories have deployed nearly US $1billion aligned with IFACC’s Environmental and Social Framework.

IFACC also supported the creation of Catalytic Capital for the Agricultural Transition (CCAT), a Brazilian fund providing subordinated debt to expand deforestation‑free soy, cattle, and agroforestry production. Launched in 2025 with US $50million, CCAT is managed by Vox Capital, with TNC serving as Impact Advisor. Building on this momentum, IFACC is now expanding globally, engaging financial institutions, supply‑chain companies, and catalytic capital providers to channel capital towards a more sustainable agricultural transition.

The Associate Director, Agriculture Finance provides sophisticated business, financial, and economic expertise to address conservation challenges. The role supports the Director of Agriculture Finance to build a new global initiative, drawing from the success of IFACC and CCAT in Latin America, in close coordination with UNEP and WEF. The Associate Director will be a member of the IFACC Steering Group, comprised of senior staff from TNC, UNEP, and WEF.

The position is a 3‑year, term‑limited role, with opportunities for extension or conversion to a permanent position based on performance and funding availability. The preferred location is Arlington, VA, USA, but other locations where TNC can hire will be considered, and the role may be remote, in‑office, or hybrid.

The Associate Director will lead key projects and direct strategies within the global agriculture finance initiative:

• Collaborate with TNC global teams, field teams, UNEP, WEF, and other partner organizations to design and implement the new global agriculture finance initiative in support of TNC’s 2030 goals.
• Build partnerships with companies, lenders, and investors in the agribusiness sector to secure deforestation‑free finance.
• Contribute to the IFACC Steering Group, advising on strategy, governance, and partnership execution.
• Negotiate complex agreements and contracts that align financial returns with environmental impact.
• Lead project development, execution, and reporting for high‑impact finance mechanisms.
• Provide analytical and project management support to maintain clarity of objectives, timelines, and outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of experience in a private sector environment such as management consulting, investment banking, or a leading conservation organization or government entity, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience developing and implementing complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment.
• Experience leading and managing large‑scale projects, working with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements with financial and agribusiness partners.

• Experience working with sustainability and finance issues in the agribusiness sector.
• Experience working with companies, lenders, and investors in the agribusiness sector.
• Multilingual skills and/or multicultural experience appreciated.
• Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• International work experience desirable.
• MBA or a similar degree with significant coursework in finance or economics.