More than half of global GDP -$44 trillion of economic value-is dependent on nature and its services. Despite the clear economic case for environmental conservation, a significant proportion of global financial flows continue to promote activities that contribute toward the degradation of the world's natural capital. Reorienting global finance toward 'nature-positive' investments that advance ecosystem and biodiversity protection while achieving climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development objectives requires skilled professionals capable of designing novel financing solutions and effectively adapting existing finance tools and strategies to address these opportunities.

Conservation International ('CI'), a leading U.S. conservation organization with offices in more than 30 countries globally, is hiring a Senior Director, Sustainable Finance to lead a diverse portfolio of sustainable finance initiatives in the Pacific Region. This position will serve as a senior level advisor and expert advising internal and external partners on a range of sustainable financing solutions and strategies that advance institutional and partner country climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development goals and objectives in key markets where CI operates.

The ideal candidate will possess knowledge and expertise across multiple finance domains including, but not limited to debt capital markets, structured and project finance, private market funds and instruments, etc. and will be able to advise the design, development, and deployment of financing solutions at multiple scales.

This position will report to the Vice President, Sustainable Finance, Asia-Pacific Region. Eligible work locations for this position include [Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii]. Candidates should be available to start immediately upon completion of hiring process.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and programmatic decision-making in identifying, originating, and developing new, innovative, and strategically aligned projects and programs that support country, regional, and institutional climate, environmental, and sustainable development objectives.
• Support the development of core sustainable financing expertise and staffing capacity in support of strategic, institutionally-aligned initiatives.
• Serve as key subject matter expert and advisor on public, private and/or blended financing strategies relevant to the alignment of nature protection and sustainable development in both maritime and/or oceans and terrestrial/land-based contexts.
• Together with financial institution partners, design, prototype, and develop financing products, instruments, and mechanisms that have the potential to catalyze institutional investment in planet positive projects and investments.
• Support the identification, compilation, analysis and both fundamental and environmental and social factor screening of underlying 'green' and 'blue' sector investment opportunities.
• Cultivate and manage global, regional, and national network of bilateral, multilateral, and private sector financial institutions including institutional investors, commercial banking institutions, private market investors and asset managers, philanthropic foundations, national governments, industry associations, and civil society partners to elevate the visibility of Conservation International's sustainable financing work in the Pacific and Oceania and to support and reinforce a robust sustainable finance ecosystem in the region.
• Mobilize capital for proposed strategies and/or initiatives, and to advance development of program/practice area within CI, including funding proposal development and other fundraising efforts to identify and secure new sources of funding for strategic projects.
• Lead and oversee the design, development, implementation, and management of complex projects, including contributing to funding proposal, budget, and workplan development, developing staffing and consultancy plans, and overseeing project execution.

Education, Experience, Skills & Abilities:

• Education and professional experience equivalent to a combination of a post-graduate degree or equivalent in conservation, economics, finance, sustainable finance, sustainable development or a related field, and 10+ years or more of broad conservation sustainable finance or research and other relevant experience, including demonstrated ability to function as an agent of change, strategy development, and program management.
• Five (5) or more years of direct supervisory experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas of finance: debt capital markets, project finance, blended finance, private equity and/or debt funds. In each case, candidates should possess prior experience in transaction origination, structuring, diligence, negotiation, and execution and demonstrate the ability to formulate and present investment strategies and recommendations to executive-level decision makers supported by strong qualitative and quantitative analyses.
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and demonstrated capabilities in all aspects of credit and financial analyses and modeling; experience conducting in-depth fundamental macroeconomic, microeconomic, and political risk analyses in emerging markets contexts.
• Strong planning, organization, and prioritization skills and direct experience managing and supervising complex, large-scale programs/projects/transactions involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate strong relationships with national governments, bilateral and multilateral development institutions, public and private financial institutions, policymakers, academics, and other experts on matters related to sustainable finance and investment.
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, synthesize, translate, and communicate complex financial and non-financial data, information, and concepts to diverse audiences. Superior presentation development and delivery skills with experience presenting to public and private sector executives and decision-makers.
• Ability to work effectively in individual and team-based settings; experience working with diverse groups in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated fundraising and funding development track record.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results within tight deadlines; comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, highly matrixed environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
• Willingness and desire to travel internationally between 30% and 50%.

Additional Qualifitcations (preferred but not essential):

• Progressively responsible experience in debt capital markets, leveraged finance, project finance and related disciplines in a development context.
• Experience in the analysis, design, and structuring of investments in distressed sovereigns, including but not limited to, issuance, restructure and/or repurchase of sovereign debt to generate funding in support of national climate adaptation and/or mitigation, nature conservation, and sustainable development objectives.
• Working familiarity of ocean and land-based sectors including, marine and terrestrial protected areas, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, forestry, and other primary production sectors.
• Familiarity with green, blue, and other thematic bond principles and standards.

This is a remote working position, therefore all Australian locations will be considered

Frequent international travel between 30% and 50%, in some cases to remote locations