Senior Officer, Conservation Support (Conservation Finance) (Hybrid)

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world's remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew's global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia's Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity.

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew's ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Conservation Support

Conservation Support works across Pew's environment portfolio to ensure development of robust policy positions and strategy, provide specialized expertise, assist in developing and launching of new bodies of work, and provide for internal and external coordination, including coordinating Pew efforts around major international meetings.

Conservation Support is an integral part of the broader environment team, which currently focuses on establishing and improving marine protected areas; protecting ocean life on the high seas and in the deep sea; improving fisheries management, ending illegal fishing, and reducing harmful fisheries subsidies; preventing ocean plastics; protecting coastal habitats; and protecting Chilean Patagonia and Australia's Outback and oceans.

Position Overview
The Senior Officer, Conservation Support is a cross-cutting role that will serve as a resource on conservation finance issues across Pew's environment portfolio. They will deploy their knowledge and understanding of a variety of conservation finance approaches and their experience of developing and securing conservation financing deals to negotiate innovative financial solutions with an array of potential partners, investors, and other funding sources. This is a new position which will build Pew's capacity on conservation finance as these initiatives grow in importance.

Initial focus will be in two areas: Enduring Earth, an ambitious collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and ZOMALAB to refine and apply the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model to ensure durable and scalable conservation outcomes around the world; and Pew's work in securing financing streams to support coastal wetlands protection, management, and restoration in multiple countries.

The Senior Officer may be located in Pew's Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, London, or Brussels offices and is eligible for up to 60% telework. The Senior Officer may also be based in a home office located in the financial hubs of New York City, Frankfurt Germany, Berlin Germany or Luxembourg. The Senior Officer will report to the Project Director, Conservation Support, who is based in the Washington, DC office.

Responsibilities

• Develop and pitch financing solutions for coastal wetlands protection, management, and/or restoration to potential investors and funders, in support of Pew's coastal wetlands project. Build partnerships to deliver on these solutions. Write proposals as needed.
• Identify, assess, and secure innovative funding streams (public, private, blended, market-based etc.) which can contribute to PFP deals and deliver sustainable financing solutions over the long-term.
• Work with Pew's Enduring Earth team to develop strategies - including assessing a variety of financing options - to construct and secure PFP deals in early stages of development. Input into financial modeling to identify fundraising needs, including sensitivity and risk analyses.
• Use technical expertise and thought leadership on conservation finance to expand and deepen Pew's internal understanding and application of these concepts to support conservation goals.
• Develop project agreements and research plans, monitor activities, and work with external partners to ensure proposed timelines and key deliverables are met.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with key private sector, government, public funding, and nongovernmental partners and alliances. Maintain strong internal relationships across Pew's environment portfolio.
• Represent Pew publicly at conferences, seminars, and official forums. Participate in or lead Pew delegations to relevant international and intergovernmental meetings.
• Effectively communicate complex financial concepts to non-specialist audiences, such as in policy briefs, papers, written analyses, and as a media spokesperson for Pew on matters of conservation finance.
• Experience of successfully working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and on projects in diverse contexts.
• Help to develop and implement new strategies and approaches to address environmental issues.
• Contribute to and participate in departmental and institutional projects and activities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• At least ten years of applicable experience, with a focus on conservation finance.
• Demonstrated skills in negotiation and deal-making. Experience of designing and securing conservation finance deals.
• Ability to efficiently synthesize information and make recommendations on how to proceed.
• Results-oriented style, with focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals.
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Able to convey complex ideas and technical information in compelling ways.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills; media-savvy and politically astute.
• Responsive to user needs. Excellent listening skills.
• Ability to achieve results in a complex working environment.
• Demonstrated business judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters.
• Flexible, resourceful, and results oriented.
• Experience working within a diverse set of contexts and cultures, ideally in both developed & developing countries. Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with colleagues and partners from diverse backgrounds who may have disparate or conflicting goals or approaches.

Travel

Domestic and international travel expected approximately 20% of the time.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.