Africa Donor Engagement Coordinator

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which include a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want some additional insight into TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

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 talents and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion are keys 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 has worked to foster a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across millions of acres. 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 countries where we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa is built on 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 socioeconomic development. Together with our partners, we are working toward critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, and sustainable food production—and we are tackling the twin global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, which adversely impact Africa’s nearly 1.4 billion people.

What We Can Achieve Together

The Donor Engagement Coordinator is a key member of the Africa Development Team, working to coordinate and execute donor travel to the region. Donor travel is a key fundraising strategy; a pillar of donor engagement. The coordinator is responsible for working with a variety of stakeholders to organize meaningful experiences for supporters and prospective supporters to see TNC’s work on the ground in Africa for the purpose of learning and contributing financial resources to support the work.

The Donor Engagement Coordinator will work towards meeting the strategic priorities of the team by helping to deliver successful and meaningful donor experiences. This includes coordinating with fundraising colleagues, conservation teammates, team leadership and external stakeholders to plan detailed itineraries executed with professionalism and precision. They will manage, track, and report on data related to donor travel, and stay updated on market trends and industry standards. They will participate in managing travel budgets and help to implement processes and practices in order to improve program effectiveness, based on in-depth understanding of TNC’s travel policies and procedures. The Donor Engagement Coordinator will communicate effectively and distribute information to assist the team in making decisions, solving problems, and improving workflow.

We’re Looking for You

This role is open to candidates based in any country where TNC operates in Africa (Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia), with a preference for locations that have a heavy presence in the tourism industry, namely, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. The coordinator will report to the Africa Donor Engagement Strategist, who is based in the eastern United States.

The ideal candidate should have a background in travel planning, with strong communication skills and a proven track record of managing multiple high-level trips at once. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of fundraising professionals and contribute to the ongoing mission of The Nature Conservancy’s Africa Region.

The Africa Development team values emotional intelligence, flexibility and collaboration. We pride ourselves on being valuable contributors and partners to our colleagues around the world that we work with every day. If you are motivated to be part of some incredibly meaningful efforts in the service of people and nature and the planet we share, we hope you will apply today!

What You’ll Brin g

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Provide travel and administrative support to the Africa Development Team, make day-to-day decisions within the scope of work assignments and prioritize work independently.

• Plan up to 10-12 trips per year, exercising independent judgment based on experience and analyses.

• Coordinate multiple trips with differing levels of complexity at once, working within defined timelines and budgets.

• Work with a variety of stakeholders, including external travel professionals, donors, and TNC colleagues on detailed planning and internal coordination.

• Ensure compliance with TNC’s travel policies and procedures.

• Financial responsibilities include working within a budget, analyzing and developing invoices, and delivering on contracts with tourism providers.

• May supervise contractors, volunteers, and/or temporary staff.

• Identify routine problems and utilize existing resources for resolution, referring difficult questions and problems to the supervisor.

• Be willing to travel and work flexible hours as needed

• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

• Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.

• Work within the scope of program’s strategic goals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years’ experience in the travel industry across Africa, or equivalent combination.

• Experience building relationships with staff, customers and vendors.

• Experience generating reports and interpreting data.

• Experience in business writing, editing, and proofreading.

• Experience working across teams.

• Experience, coursework, or other training in principles and practices of high-end travel.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience are appreciated.

• Ability to analyze information for the purpose of coordinating and planning activities and solving problems.

• Ability to use existing technology to achieve desired results.

• Ability to work under pressure and perform repetitive tasks.

• Experience interpreting guidelines to achieve desired results.

• Experience with databases and spreadsheet software.

• Knowledge of current trends in the travel industry.

• Strong organization skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or v