Communications Manager (Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Fresh Water (Africa-focused)

The position will be based at either of the TNC Africa offices in Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia

We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which include a and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want better insight into TNC? Check out our or .  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “You’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve to tackle global challenges such as climate change, habitat, and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

The Communications Manager develops, manages and implements a broad range of communications initiatives to advance innovative and large-scale global biodiversity conservation efforts to protect 30% of the planet. They will work directly with and under the direction of various leaders across global and regional teams, and with a focus on Global Protect’s work in Africa. This is a one-year term position with the opportunity to extend depending on program needs and budget. Candidates based in Africa are preferred.  

The Communications Manager for Global Protect will work toward meeting conservation and policy goals by developing, coordinating, and promoting strategic communications materials and managing projects for communications initiatives, both through global channels and in partnership with regional marketing teams. They will serve as the lead liaison on various projects with internal and external partners in order to advance specified outcomes for key Protect strategies, including Enduring Earth (Project Finance for Permanence), Nature Bonds, and the 30×30 Accelerator, with a specific focus on Protect work in Africa. They will develop plans, budgets and schedules with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members, create compelling internal- and external-facing communications materials, and lead project teams to successfully achieve those goals in the most impactful and cost-effective manner possible. In doing so they ensure coordination between multiple TNC departments, TNC partners, vendors, donors and volunteers, and work with appropriate team members to gain approval for key decisions.

The Communications Manager may work in close cooperation with any or all of the following: Conservancy senior leadership and staff, donors, trustees, Board of Directors members, vendors, public agencies, Indigenous leaders and corporate and NGO partners. They will lead diverse activities, analyze situations, evaluate alternatives, project outcomes, and implement solutions in order to improve effectiveness.

As Communications Manager for Global Protect, you will:

•            Implement integrated communications campaigns and strategies around geographic-specific PFP/Enduring Earth and Nature Bonds projects.

•            Elevating TNC’s profile and recognition in innovative large-scale global conservation across diverse media outlets and communications platforms.

•            Creating strategic communications plans designed to achieve specific results among targeted audiences to advance specific PFPs, Nature Bonds projects and other 30×30-focused initiatives.

•            Identifying communications opportunities and risks.

•            Leading on the creation of critical communications materials such as key messaging, videos and written articles, social media content, press releases, and tools needed by Protect staff to advance objectives.

•            Providing strategic communications advice to country teams as needed.

•            Increasing TNC Global Protect visibility and impact at high profile global events, such as the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP).

•            Other communications support as assigned by Director of Communications, Global Protect.

•            Work collaboratively and in consultation with communications and marketing colleagues across TNC to bring Global Protect content to life for targeted audiences.

•            Manage and serve as a team lead on high-profile Global Protect initiatives in African countries, such as Kenya and Gabon.

•            May supervise professional, administrative staff and/or agency support.

•            Manage assigned budget, evaluate results and develop recommendations for corrective strategies as needed. 

•            Responsibility and accountability for achieving project goals and objectives.

•            Resolve complex issues independently within program area.

•            Opportunity to act independently within program goals.

•            Occasional travel may be required.

•            Other related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have all or some of these qualifications. If you don’t have all of them, apply anyway and tell us about your skills and experience:    

•            Experience working with communities in Africa.

•            Experience working on international teams, and across time zones.

•            Multilingual skills appreciated.

•            Excellent writing skills and high detail orientation.

•            Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and, occasionally, non-traditional hours.

•            Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience preferred.

•            Strong interpersonal communication and collaborative skills

•            Experience managing a budget.

•            Experience developing stakeholder networks.

•            Experience working within a large, matrixed organization.

•            Familiarity with communication technologies and best practices. 

•            Knowledge and application of current and evolving trends in relevant discipline.

•            Experience working with remote-located teams and/or supervisor(s)

•            Passion for environmental and sustainability issues and belief in TNC’s mission

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and a minimum 7 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing and implementing media strategies and measuring results.
• Experience writing, editing and proofreading messages for targeted audiences.
• Experience cultivating and managing client relationships.
• Experience developing media relations networks.
• Experience implementing and managing multiple complex projects.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with communities in Africa.
• Experience working on international teams, and across time zones.
• Multilingual skills appreciated.
• Excellent writing skills and high detail orientation.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and, occasionally, non-traditional hours.
• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience preferred.
• Strong interpersonal communication and collaborative skills
• Experience managing a budget.
• Experience developing stakeholder networks.
• Experience working within a large, matrixed organization.
• Familiarity with communication technologies and best practices. 
• Knowledge and application of current and evolving trends in relevant discipline.
• Experience working with remote-located teams and/or supervisor(s)
• Passion for environmental and sustainability issues and belief in TNC’s mission

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our on nature.org/careers. 

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

To apply for job ID 55442, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at . Need help applying? Visit our page or contact .

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.