Global NCS Technical Finance Advisor

The Nature Conservancy • Arlington, IN

2d

About The Position

The NCS Finance Advisor supports global strategy leadership by managing priority projects, particularly those that advance economically viable and equitable forest-focused Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). They serve as a hands-on finance practitioner on the Global NCS team, developing and implementing equitable financial, economic and policy changes that are needed to accelerate the pace and scale of NCS. They advise, provide thought leadership and where appropriate lead on initiatives related to developing equitable financing mechanisms. They work closely with other Global, Regional and Local business units to develop equitable financing mechanisms for NCS as well as serve as a key liaison and informational contact between the Global NCS team and other teams. They work with external actors such as capital providers and community partners to develop, test and refine equitable NCS financing mechanisms. The location for this position is flexible within countries where The Nature Conservancy has an established office. Salary is based on physical working location. No relocation assistance.

The NCS Finance Advisor provides strategic and technical financial and economic support across The Nature Conservancy’s global Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) portfolio. This crosscutting role supports the Global Forests Lead in advancing equitable financial models, enabling conditions, and investment strategies needed to scale forest NCS globally. The Advisor brings direct, practitioner-level experience in climate finance, and may specialize in areas such as forest finance or development economics. They have experience working across a range of financial mechanisms that benefit nature and people (e.g. hands-on work structuring, negotiating, or implementing financial mechanisms such as blended finance vehicles, payment for ecosystem services programs, Indigenous-led funds, or community benefit-sharing arrangements). They will contribute to several key NCS priorities, including, but not limited to: Developing and stress-testing financing roadmaps for key landscapes that build a robust understanding of how to fully finance NCS, including financial modelling and identification of capital sources. Working with country and regional teams across the globe, and where appropriate partnering with Indigenous Communities and Organizations to design and implement equitable finance mechanisms (e.g. participatory fund design, benefit sharing structures, support for Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) aligned finance processes) that support Indigenous Communities and organizations in overcoming barriers faced to accessing climate finance. Building the financial and economic case (e.g. financial modelling, economic forecasting) for NCS forest -based pathways, including climate smart forestry, reforestation and avoided deforestation to articulate the financial and economic potential of nature. This role requires demonstrated conservation and financial expertise, including direct experience with financial structuring, modeling, investment analysis, combined with strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership to work across TNC teams and Indigenous and community partners to ensure that NCS efforts are grounded in robust evidence, sound economic rationale, aligned with global strategy, and positioned for transformative impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or related quantitative field and at least 5 years related experience, in climate, development or conservation finance or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Familiarity and knowledge related to business, governmental, and/or environmental policy and practices pertaining to nature, climate, forests and equitable finance.
• Demonstrated experience structuring, negotiating, and/or implementing financial instruments, with specific climate finance experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly within a financial institution, fund, or equivalent.
• Experience in research, critical analysis, and evaluating information, including conservation or climate financing aspects, from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports.
• Critical analytical thinking and excellent English writing skills are essential.
• Ability to write short memos and / or policy briefs strongly preferred.
• Experience presenting to and/or communicating with government or legislative staff, community or business leaders, program leadership and/or similar audiences.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary context particularly in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, conservation financing, economics, policy, and field implementation teams.
• Excellent time management and people skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing or implementing equitable finance mechanisms, such as community benefit-sharing mechanisms, Indigenous-led funds, participatory grant-making processes, or related approaches.
• Experience with financial modeling, and experience in identifying capital sources across public, private, and philanthropic providers.
• An understanding or experience in finance for landscapes that are high-forest low deforestation.
• Master’s degree.
• Experience Free Prior Informed Consent, the Voice Choice and Action Framework, and other globally recognized IP&LC frameworks strongly preferred.
• Familiarity and knowledge related to business, governmental, and/or environmental policy and practices pertaining to nature, climate, forests and equitable finance.
• Ability to provide technical support to a range of teams spread across the globe through a service leadership approach.
• Ability to develop and drive new ideas and approaches with input and buy-in from the organization.
• Ability to work well in a highly matrixed, decentralized and collaborative organization.
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills and political savvy.
• Must be a team player.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet time sensitive deadlines.
• Fluency in French, Spanish, or Portuguese a plus.
• NGO and/or corporate relations experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advisory support across NCS pathways, including reforestation, climate smart forestry, and avoided deforestation, with emphasis on economic viability and alignment with relevant TNC strategies such as the Global NCS strategy.
• Support the design and implementation of NCS financing plans.
• Support the design and implementation of equitable funding mechanisms with special attention to Indigenous and local communities.
• Conduct or guide strategic technical financial, economic and/ or policy analyses related to forest carbon, biodiversity, nature and/or livelihoods.
• Adapt workflows and processes in response to evolving program needs, priorities, and external conditions.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to co-develop innovative studies, pilot projects, and scalable financial models.
• Support fundraising and donor engagement efforts, including development of technical content for proposals, reports, and communications.
• Provide training, mentorship, and capacity building to TNC staff and partners on the fundamentals of finance, and when relevant economics, and policy.
• Represent TNC in technical forums and working groups, sharing insights and contributing to the global dialogue on natural climate solutions.
• Coordinate with staff across the Conservancy, ensuring that knowledge is captured, shared, and applied across geographies.
• May participate in fieldwork and provide support for NCS research and implementation activities.
• Assists in developing reports, presentations and assessments on relevant topics.
• May serve as a team leader for assigned projects; may require gaining cooperation of team over whom there is no direct supervisory authority.
• Works within a budget to complete projects, negotiates and contracts with vendors and assists with budget development.
• May involve domestic and international travel of 25% or more.

Benefits

• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level