POSITION TITLE: CHINA PROGRAM DIRECTOR
SUPERVISOR: Region Managing Director
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Director is responsible for all aspects of leadership and management of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC’s) China Program. The Director will:
* Establish conservation goals, strategies and monitoring milestones.
* Represent and advance TNC’s conservation interests with key ministries and agencies of the Chinese government.
* Manage and maintain strong working relationships with partners including academic institutions, NGOs, corporations and various government sectors.
* Promote the China Program’s goals with TNC’s conservation and fundraising entities, and with US and Asia-Pacific-based donors from both the public and private sectors.
* Design, manage and be accountable for the China Program’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, of which the government relations strategy is a critical component.
* Produce measurable conservation results while maintaining organizational values.
* Ensure that priority outcomes are achieved within the China Program’s areas of responsibility; contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of cross-boundary priorities that address critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies.
* Serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC for internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners). Cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.
* Oversee in-country fundraising and marketing for the China Program. Approve budgets; set priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals. Support philanthropy and fundraising efforts, resources and external affairs staff to cultivate and solicit donors (private, bilateral and multilateral government) in order to meet the China Program’s direct fundraising goals.
* Manage, recruit and retain China Program staff team to fulfill the goals and objectives of the country program.
* Ensure that TNC’s in-country infrastructure and activities meet local legal and tax requirements and comply with TNC’s policies & procedures.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
* Experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, government, or for-profit business, including demonstrated experience producing results and meeting program/department goals within a Western value system.
* Complete fluency in spoken Mandarin and English.
* Knowledge of current and evolving political and policy trends in China.
* Extensive management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team. Proven experience in budgeting, staffing and performance management.
* Demonstrated success working with and inspiring partnerships.
* High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards. Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
* Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong external affairs focus. Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective.
* Well organized and self-directed; politically savvy and a team player.
* Successful experience in marketing or fund raising desired.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
* Proposes and implements procedures to enhance overall performance in accordance with short and long term objectives.
* Participates in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs, or making decisions, which typically have broad organizational impact.
* Directs major program of strategic importance through management of multi-disciplinary teams.
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
* Makes decisions that may affect organization’s public image independently with little or no opportunity for management collaboration or oversight.
* Decisions may have maximum financial and/or legal impact on the organization.
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
* Recruits, retains, and manages high quality and effective staff.
* Assumes overall responsibility for all activities and goals.
* Accepts philanthropic responsibility for organization-wide project/programs.
* Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met.
* Assumes responsibility and leadership for conservation results for local, regional and global priorities.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
* Superb communication and presentation skills required; must have ability to persuasively convey the mission & conservation priorities of TNC to diverse groups including major donors, corporate executives, board members, partners and others who are critical to the organization’s overall prosperity.
* Cultivates and develops constructive and effective relationships inside and outside the Conservancy.
* Communicates professionally with a wide variety of people of diverse cultural professional and economic backgrounds for the purpose of developing, negotiating and/or implementing programs and projects.
* Presents and represents the program and TNC’s vision in compelling, engaging manner to internal and external audiences as lead spokesperson; practices the Conservancy’s core values.
* Commands attention, can change tactics midstream, and manage group processes during presentations or discussions.
* Delivers effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to employee groups, managers at all levels, board members, and outside organizations.
* Exercises sensitivity to working in an advisory role with partner organizations. Negotiates and monitors TNC’s agreements with Chinese partners.
* Directs, prepares, presents and/or participates in negotiations of project proposals with governmental, bilateral and/or multilateral agencies. Works well under pressure.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
* Willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the operating unit and elsewhere as required.
* Flexibility to work long hours during deadline periods.
* Work requires only minor physical exertion and/or physical strain. Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To apply, send cover letter and resume in both English and Chinese to:
Xingmei Sun at recruit@tnc.org.cn, before February 29, 2008. |