JOB OPPORTUNITY

Sustainable Landscapes Project Director

SUMMARY:
The Sustainable Landscapes Project Director (SLPD) is responsible for the close management and technicaloversight of all project activities to achieve outputs/outcomes and of creating and executing an exit strategyof the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in Priority Landscapes ofOaxaca and Chiapas GEF 6 (the project). The SLPD leads the planning, execution, monitoring,reporting, and closing of all project components with their respective outcomes/outputs and ensuresconsistent practices throughout the last phase of the project life cycle in close communication andcoordination with CONANP as co-executing agency to achieve the project targets. He/she is responsible forthe follow up of the strategic partnerships and agreements with communities, federal and state
governments, and private sector, overseeing the project partners in kind counterparts and collaboration.
The SLPD will be responsible for the following:
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Supervise, lead, and follow up project outputs/outcomes with the standard of quality and within
the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document.
Follow up in an effective way with the co-Executing Agency CONANP, as well as government andprivate sector partners, and CI-GEF Project Agency regarding all the project activities, outputs andexit strategy to successfully close the project meeting the expected targets.
Develop and facilitate communication with their technical team to design and establish goals forthe appropriate execution of the project.
Coordinate and facilitate both the steering committee and the technical committee strategic
meetings and follow-up, as well as any special committee established for the development of theproject, designing innovative solutions and creative problem solving between groups andindividuals.
Collaborate, seek alignments, and follow up with projects from other donors and organizations
working in these landscapes to advance joint goals in biodiversity conservation, market driven
sustainable production and accessing sustainable financing.
Establish project management practices and procedures to solve problems of moderate scope andcomplexity.
Supervise and manage the existing project team to ensure achievement of the project's biodiversity
conservation goals.
Follow up with sub grantees to achieve the established goals.
Oversee and deliver in a timely manner and accurate monitoring and reporting of project progressin line with CIGEF requirements. This includes the preparation of quarterly technical and financial
progress reports, annual Project Implementation Reports (PIRs), annual work plan and budget,
final report, and independent terminal evaluation, to be submitted to CONANP, nationalcounterparts and CI-GEF Project Agency for approval.

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Work closely with the project’s finance manager to ensure appropriate execution of activities andbudget.
Liaison with the CI-GEF Project Agency for updates and address potential issues and opportunities
related to the project implementation and reporting. Facilitating communication and work with theAgency.
Oversee execution of the Project Grievance Mechanism as well as of the social and environmental
safeguards.
Follow up with partner organizations on the financial mechanisms to ensure the sustainability ofthe Project.
Carry out regular, announced, and unannounced inspections of all sites and activities, and plans inconjunction with the team travels to different sites.
Implement an adaptive management strategy as needed.

KEY RESPONSABILITIES:•Project Management Unit leadership, purpose, and vision:o Supervise and support Landscape Managers to achieve outcomes, outputs, and activities.
Lead the field technical team of the project and provide leadership in team building
including support to the professional development and annual evaluations.
o Facilitate a healthy collaboration withing the team as well as with CONANP staff, to ensure
a multi-institutional team in the execution of the project.
o Engage in frequent, in-person dialogue with team members and with the technical director.
o Provide regular updates on all relevant topics, showing leadership and overall direction
and coordination for all activities and facilitate and support.
o Ensure efficient support in technical guidance to staff to ensure progress is made towards
achieving their own deliverables.
o Promote transparency and collaboration in decision-making and facilitate opportunities forthe professional growth of staff when possible.
o Follow up the directions of action plan of the landscapes in charge to deliver theconservation strategy of the projects.
o Formulate high quality terms of reference for the issuance of contracts and grants
considering: 1. Alignment to the objectives, 2. Adequate planning in the deliverables, 3.
Clear and coherent to the results to be obtained, all the above to comply with the processes
and times of the procurement area.

•Achieve project outcomes and outputs:
o Supervise project implementation and exit strategy based on annual work plans andbudgets.
o Ensure conditions for the proper monitoring and evaluation of the project in Mexico.
o Supervises timely reporting through the work planning tools to CI-CONANP and the CIGEF Project Agency.

•Follow up with building strategic relationships with project partners and the preparation of highquality proposals in response to funding opportunities and donor requirements to ensure Project
financial sustainability.

•Follow up co-financing targets to achieve projects commitments by providing support to CICONANP team in the relationship with donors during project implementation, donor cultivation andproposal development processes.

•Alliances and strategic partnerships:

oMaintain the establishment of excellent working relationships with the project partners inChiapas, Oaxaca, Mexico City and internationally including private sector, NGO´s and othercivil society organizations, academia and relevant Government agencies including
SEMARNAT, CONANP, CONAFOR, CONAGUA, INECC, SADER, BIENESTAR, state
governments, municipal governments with the aim of achieving project outcomes,
matching funds, communication, and strategic collaboration in the field.

•Operational Excellence and cross-collaboration with other projects and programs:
o Ensure full accountability for operational excellence through responsible financial
leadership, promoting strategic organizational initiatives, proactively communicating tostaff, ensuring timely resolution for areas of risk and liability to CI, as well as setting atone of compliance, in procurement processes.
o Maintain accountability and full compliance for CI’s and CI-GEF’s policies and procedures,
enforce and ensure adherence with local laws, and resolve 90% of audit findings within
180 days (where applicable).

•Contribute to the project management of other relevant projects managed by Conservation andSustainable Use of Biological Diversity in Priority Landscapes.

•Responsible to take input from a cross functional project teams to develop and maintain a detailed
project schedule and execute a high quality, integrated cross-functional plan for projects.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Required (critical to successful job performance. Applicants not meeting required skills may not be hired)
Education:
MSc or higher in environmental sciences or sciences related to sustainable rural development.
Experience:••••••••••••••At least 5 years of proven experience in project management and supervision with an adaptive
management approach.
At least 5 years of experience in engagement and strategic partnership development with key
stakeholders that are not from the environmental sector, in the context of a complex project
implementation.
Proven experience in fundraising, implementation and oversight of monitoring and evaluation andimpacts of projects (conservation, economic and human wellbeing).
Experience working with sectors like agriculture, economy, financial institutions, and the private sector
in Mexico.
Experience in design and implementation of strategic intervention annual plans and strategic planning.
Demonstrated analytical capacity to work in a complex and dynamic environment.
Good team building work and leadership skills with large teams.
Proven experience managing terrestrial and/or coastal projects.
Proven experience in building and managing effective teams, located in more than one geography.
Proven experience in Mexico’s public sector regulatory framework and functioning.
Solid fundraising experience and demonstrated experience leading the implementation ofinternational/multilateral funded projects like GEF, USAID, and/or any other major bilateral ormultilateral donors.
Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality products subject to strict deadlines.
Experience with the execution of environmental and social safeguard management plans.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish.

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Proven track record in writing skills including technical reporting for donors, communicating results toa general audience and peer reviewed publications.
Working experience in rural regions of México with proven abilities to adapt to and understanding of
the various socio-cultural contexts and working conditions across rural landscapes in the country.
Emphasis in applied knowledge of science and adaptive management approaches for project and teamoversight.
Demonstrated experience in managing multi-million, multi-year projects.
Proven ability in broad outreach, including building, maintaining, and managing diverse partnerships
ranging from international donor agencies to local civil society groups.

Abilities:•••••••••••••

Capacity to build strong relationships and negotiate with people from any socio-cultural and economic
background.
Solid negotiation skills with actors from the productive, financial and development sectors based in
Mexico City.
Outspoken and outgoing personality. Proper physical condition for traveling on rural areas as well as
good physical capacities to work on rough terrain,Good capacity to overlook a situation in a short time and make decisions based on existing data.
Experience on conflict resolution.
Strong interpersonal skills and excellence in teamwork.
Demonstrated ability to work under pressure while meeting priorities.
Plan activities using time efficiently in developing realistic work plans.
Creativity for project design and problem solving in a context of multi-million, multi-year, multi-stateprojects.
Delegates efficiently: assigns work and shares authority to develop activities, sets objectively verifiablegoals expectations; evaluates and monitors achievements.
Passion for the conservation of nature and the benefits it provides to people.
Leadership: inspires and motivates others to perform well and is available for employees, accepts andprovides feedback regularly, includes the team in planning and decision-making, facilitates anddevelops subordinates' skills and encourages their growth.
Computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail, Internet. GIS skills are desirable.

Preferred:•Experience working with international NGOs in Mexico.
•Experience working with CONANP-SEMARNAT and in NPAs.
•Good understanding of government programs and public policy, as well as public policies in generalrelated to the environmental and rural sectors.
•Good understanding of value chains, sustainable production (terrestrial and marine), financial
mechanisms, land-use planning, and governance in a context of conservation.
•Experience working in the private sector.
•Experience managing co-financing for projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES/AUTHORITY ALLOCATED:The SLPD reports to the Mexico Technical Director and supervises the technical team of the project andthe operations team. This position has the authority to make decisions in the context of the projectplanning.
WORKING CONDITIONS:••This position is based at CI office in Mexico City, Oaxaca, or Chiapas.
The position requires frequent (60% or more) domestic (including trips on rural roads) andinternational travel.

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Ability to work under pressure.
Confidence and ability to develop good working relationships with all relevant conservation
partners, private sector executives and government officials.
Networking ability and facilitation skills.
Skills for conflict resolution

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Candidates who meet the requirements, please send your CV with relevant experience to:
Email: talentohumanocimx@conservation.org
Subject: “Project Director – Sustainable Landscapes Project”
Deadline to apply: July 7, 2023