Conservation International is seeking a Senior Director of Tourism Finance to lead the design and implementation of ecotourism financing initiatives. The goal is to protect nature as a source of food, fresh water, livelihoods, and a stable climate. The role focuses on identifying viable ecotourism opportunities within priority Key Protected Areas (KPAs), developing funding roadmaps, and managing concessional lending programs through CI Ventures. This position follows a hybrid work structure, based in Nairobi.
Key Responsibilities
Assessment & Analysis: Conduct rapid assessments of priority KPAs to identify viable ecotourism opportunities and perform gap analyses (policy, infrastructure, biodiversity, access to capital) to determine specific funding needs and implementation roadmaps.
Facility Design: Lead the design and implementation of an ecotourism financing facility, ensuring alignment with CI’s conservation and organizational priorities.
Lending Management: Responsible for the development and scale-up of CI Africa’s concessional lending program for protected areas (CI Ventures), including deal and pipeline management of tourism-linked transactions.
Financial Structuring: Collaborate with the Structured Nature Finance lead on structuring financial transactions (debt, equity) and managing internal approval processes, including risk assessments.
Strategy Development: Develop alternative and innovative funding strategies for the tourism finance facility.
Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively engage stakeholders, including tourism partners, protected area managers, government, NGOs, and funders, serving as a trusted point of contact for the organization.
Compliance: Ensure compliance with CI policies, funding agreements, and local requirements.
Working Conditions
Typical office environment with a hybrid work structure.
Local and/or international travel required for 30% or more of the time, often in remote or difficult travel conditions.
Qualifications and Experience
Education: Bachelor's degree in (Conservation) Finance.
Experience: 10 or more years of working experience in the ecotourism sector, conservation finance, or a related field.
Geographic Expertise: Experience working and/or traveling in diverse geographies, including East and Southern Africa.
Financial Proficiency: Strong financial skills with in-depth knowledge of various financial products (debt, equity) and the design of innovative financing structures.
Strategic Understanding: Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of ecotourism as a contributor to conservation and its impact on diverse stakeholders.
Soft Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong stakeholder management and coordination skills; ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
Language: Fluency in English is required.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Conservation International application portal. Please visit Conservation International on phh.tbe.taleo.net to submit your application.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the recruitment portal. Click the following link to access the application page: Apply here.
