Nature Bonds Strategy Lead

The Nature Bonds program is a priority initiative within The Nature Conservancy that works to generate new funding and new commitments by governments for conservation and nature-based climate action that drive biodiversity conservation, resilience, nature-compatible employment, and sustainable economies, such as the recent Ecuador Nature Bond.

The Nature Bonds Strategy Lead oversees the Nature Bonds project portfolio – both future projects and the implementation of closed transactions – and guides our strategy to secure durable conservation and climate outcomes through sovereign debt solutions. The Strategy Lead provides strategic direction and management for the program’s outcomes and establishes the overall conservation priorities aligned with TNC’s 2030 Goals. They are responsible for overall program funding, resources, and budget.

The Nature Bonds strategy is “co‑led”, meaning it is a close partnership between TNC’s Protect, Nature Vest, and Regional teams and is overseen by a multi‑division Steering Committee. The Strategy Lead works with workstream leads to identify and resolve internal and external bottlenecks and barriers, mitigate risks, and identify pathways for adaptive management of individual projects and for the strategy as a whole.

They also elevate and address issues as necessary to the Strategy’s Steering Committee.

The Nature Bonds Strategy Lead supports regional TNC Business Units in closing and implementing a targeted portfolio of prospective projects and an existing portfolio of closed projects by appropriately allocating technical and financial resources across the portfolio to successfully deliver our long‑term conservation and nature‑based climate outcomes. These outcomes include achieving effective and durable 30×30 protections, addressing climate mitigation and adaptation through nature‑based solutions, and advancing nature and climate outcomes through sustainable bioeconomy initiatives.

The position directly oversees a small and able team of Global Protect staff who support and/or lead the conservation planning and outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, implementation, administration, and/or cross‑organizational coordination. This team works closely with a much larger disbursed team in local business units and global programs to effectively deliver on the goals and projects under the Nature Bonds strategy.

As such, the Lead will need to manage and oversee the strategy in a way that closely collaborates with and leverages the strength of the organization across direct and indirect reporting lines and will act as a leader, facilitator, and mediator to bring the team together under a shared vision, culture, and goals. The Strategy Lead demonstrates a proven track record of, and commitment to, radical collaboration and co‑leadership of complex programs.

They work in close partnership with their counterpart in Nature Vest (TNC’s impact finance wing) to advance the Strategy and deliver a successful portfolio and its outcomes for nature. They inspire a One Conservancy culture with leadership and staff from The Nature Conservancy’s Impact, Finance and Markets Division, Regional Programs, Public Policy and Funding, and Protect, Provide, and Climate programs.

They are responsible for engaging key internal and external partners, from cultivating and stewarding donors and engaging with philanthropy teams, to elevating strategic communications internally and externally, and engaging governments and private sector stakeholders. They also serve as one of the primary points of contact and liaison for The Nature Conservancy’s involvement with Debt for Nature Coalition and evaluate how TNC can support the broader partnership portfolio to advance high‑quality debt projects to achieve more conservation and climate outcomes through radical collaboration with others.

This position is part of the Global Protect Lands, Waters, and Oceans Business Unit and reports to the Global Managing Director, Global Protect, with oversight from the Nature Bonds Strategy Steering Committee, comprised of executive leadership from the different units that comprise the Nature Bonds…