Community-led Finance Global Advisor

Within The Nature Conservancy’s Office of Equitable Conservation, the Community‑led Economies & Finance (CLEF) team works to place Indigenous Peoples, local communities and smallholders at the center of the economic and financial systems that affect their lands, waters and livelihoods. This senior technical strategist role reports to the Director of Community‑led Economies & Finance and drives how financial mechanisms can serve Indigenous Peoples and local communities, designing a portfolio of work that spans direct access to finance for IP&LC organizations, financial inclusion for communities and community enterprises, and the reform of conservation finance instruments to embed equity, participation and community governance.

• Strategy & Technical Leadership: Advance and co‑develop the team’s strategic approach to community‑led finance in collaboration with regional, local and global teams — grounded in Indigenous rights, self‑determination and equitable governance principles.
  • Provide thought partnership on reform of mechanisms such as PES, conservation trust funds, IP&LC‑led funds, green and blended finance, and social protection instruments.
  • Identify emerging opportunities in global conservation finance (e.g., biodiversity funds, debt‑for‑nature mechanisms, climate finance facilities), evaluate enabling conditions and advise on accessing, governance and benefit‑sharing.
  • Advance financial inclusion strategies that connect community enterprises to savings, credit, and banking instruments, including village savings and loan models and sustainable lending partnerships.
• Portfolio Management: Shape and prioritize a portfolio of finance initiatives across multiple regions and conservation activity stages with regional, local and global teams; develop terms of reference, manage contracts, review deliverables and advise on consultancy design.
  • Coordinate with responsible teams to define how the portfolio measures results and success, linking initiatives to TNC’s 2030 Goals and the institution‑wide project portfolio.
• Cross‑Team Contribution & Knowledge Sharing: Coordinate across Equitable Conservation to embed community‑led finance perspectives into broader divisional strategy; co‑develop replicable frameworks, guidance documents and evidence products; facilitate cross‑regional learning.
• Collaborate with Adjacent TNC Teams: Embed community‑led finance approaches into broader organizational strategies with Impact Finance & Markets, Tackle Climate Change, and regional finance leads.
• Contribute Financial and Economic Analysis: Provide investment pathway design, financial viability assessments for value chains, and cost‑benefit analyses for scaling decisions.
• External Engagement: Build and manage partnerships with external organizations (e.g., multilateral development banks, research institutions, peer conservation organisations, IP&LC‑led networks); represent the team at multilateral events and policy platforms; support fundraising and donor cultivation.

• Minimum of 6 years of related experience in community finance, conservation finance, development economics or related practice areas; alternatively a combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in development economics, public finance, conservation finance, international development or related field.
• Experience in community finance and demonstration of depth in at least one of: IP&LC‑led fund design, PES or results‑based mechanisms, conservation trust funds, blended or impact finance, microfinance/community banking, or social protection instruments.
• Direct experience working with or in service to Indigenous Peoples, local communities or community‑based organisations (not solely advisory roles external to those communities).
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, Indigenous rights, self‑determination and community governance in processes and outcomes of financial and development work.
• Experience managing complex projects across multiple geographies and coordinating with partners over whom there is no direct supervisory authority.
• Strong analytical, quantitative and communication skills, and ability to…