Job Opportunity for Lead – Regenerative Agriculture, PRANA at The Nature Conservancy in New Delhi

WHO WE ARE

This is an exciting time at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as we are shifting our strategy for greater impact in the world, seeking to address some of the most complex challenges facing people and nature — issues such as climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient and sustainable.  

Our Mission

TNC’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Rather than viewing development – including economic growth – and conservation as contradictory goals, TNC works to demonstrate how nature has value for people and development and how nature can provide enormous economic benefit. TNC envisions a future where people and nature can flourish together.

Our Vision

A world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfil our needs and enrich our lives. 

The Conservancy Team

We achieve this through the dedicated efforts of our 3,800 diverse staff, including more than 600 scientists, all of whom support conservation in 76  countries and all 50 United States. We are striving to develop a workforce as diverse as the places where we work, and we have a deep commitment to diversity.

Organizational History

TNC is the largest conservation organisation in the world, working in all 50 states in the United States and more than 76 countries. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the District of Columbia on October 22, 1951. TNC is science-based and in every place, we work, we partner with governments, businesses, and local communities. TNC is advancing its mission by protecting and restoring rivers, landscapes and oceans for people and their development at an unprecedented scale; it is transforming the way humanity uses the Earth’s natural resources to sustain ourselves.

Promoting Regenerative and No-burn Agriculture (PRANA) Project: 

NCIS is implementing the PRANA Project in India. The expected outcomes for the successful delivery of this project over four years are as follows: 

• At least 250,000 farmers adopt zero-burn cropping systems. 
• Eliminate of burning on 750,000 hectares of cropland. 
• At least 6 million tonnes of CO2-e mitigation 
• 500 billion litres of water saved from enhanced soil health and better agronomic practices. 
• A pilot financial instrument that incentivizes farmers to adopt no-burn practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will lead the effective implementation of actions to deliver the promotion of regenerative and no-burn agriculture in Northwest India. The work focuses on reducing crop residue burning by 750,000 hectares over the life of the project, implementing different strategies and models and in collaboration with several partner organizations and stakeholders. The Lead  shall  be responsible for delivering the project outcomes including identifying priorities and risks, working with teams to develop strategies and solutions, and implementing the same.. The location for this position is in either New Delhi or Mohali, Punjab. No immigration or sponsorship assistance is provided with this position. Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA reports to the Associate Director – Programs. This position is funded till June 2025, with the possibility for extension subject to funding and meeting project outcomes. 

We seek a dynamic person who can provide technical and programmatic leadership to the program. They will leads and manages key initiatives and projects and ensures quality outputs and outcomes within the agreed timeline and budget. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will provide leadership, management, and strategic direction for the project and is responsible for advancing the implementation of the project activities to meet the project goals and develop key partnerships and lead on establishing NCIS as a major conservation partner in the crop residue management and regenerative agriculture in India. They manage the budget to ensure financial resources are allocated efficiently and lead tracking of expenditures to keep the project on budget. They manage the M&E protocols to assess project impact and adjust strategies as needed. Under the supervision of the Associate Director – Programs, Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will lead a team of about (10) ten technical staff members, as well as a group of implementing partners. They will serve as the key liaison with government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, the academic community, and the local farmer institutions. They are responsible for building alliances with priority businesses and key stakeholders and engaging local communities to harness influential support. To be successful the Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will need to negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, landowners and farmers to achieve the Project’s stated outcomes. They will play a leading role in managing policy maker relationships and plays a role in identifying funding opportunities and securing further ongoing funding for the project. 

Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will be responsible for prioritizing activities and is accountable for the Project’s deliverables and results. The team will implement organizational measures of success and ensure that performance indicators, objectives, and goals are effectively met and track expenditures to keep the project on budget. They will demonstrate agile leadership to adapt project strategies based on changing circumstances or new data and insights. They may participate on several internal working committees to ensure the highly effective coordination of the PRANA project within TNC’s larger global priorities. Position is based in Punjab.
 
WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Lead – Regenerative Agriculture PRANA will undertake the following functions within the overall mandate of the defined project deliverables:

Roles and responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of a 2.5 year strategy (which may extend before the end of contract time) and the day-to-day operations of this collaborative, complex and high-profile project, providing strategic vision, leadership, and technical direction while accountable for project deliverables, project monitoring and evaluation and reporting. 
• Coordinate the work of a team of other professionals and manage large contracts. 
• Establish and maintain close relationships with relevant government agencies, NGOs, private sector companies, and research institutions. 
• Ensure strategies for community engagement, input, and social equity outcomes are prioritized throughout all facets of the project. 
• Develop and lead the implementation of annual work plans that are directly aligned with the project theory of change and seek high levels of impact. 
• Ensure that the project activities comply with TNC policies and procedures, including financial standards and legal requirements. 
• Identify and address challenges emerging from the implementation of the project and explore and test ideas for removing obstacles to implementation. 
• Ensure quality data is produced timely for both internal project management and external reporting purposes. 
• Lead the usage of a set of management tools that permits proper planning, management, and results reporting. 
• Coordinate with other NCIS staff in locations around the world 
• Oversee a large project budget. 
• Assist the fundraising team by reviewing donor communications as well as assisting with proposal development. 
• May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally (when safe to do so) and evening and weekend hours.  

WHAT WE BRING

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• MSc degree and 7 years’ experience in agriculture/conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience of working in a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines. 
• Experience with financial management of a large program.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance. 
• Business development experience, including identifying and cultivating potential donors and clients.
• Experience of working with current trends and practices related to urban issues in India.
• Experience in developing partnerships with government agencies and other stakeholders.
• Experience influencing, developing, and implementing regenerative agriculture programs and/or plans at the district, state, or country level. 
• Proficiency in computing skills, especially in word processing, spread sheet, email and presentation programs.
• Fluency in (i) English and (ii) Hindi or Punjabi. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in agriculture or a related field with 15-18 years’ plus relevant experience or PhD in a related field with 12 years’ relevant experience with strong interest in conservation.
• Extensive experience of regenerative agriculture and climate change projects/issues.
• Knowledge and familiarity with major government, civil society, and corporate sector initiatives for agriculture.
• Knowledge of financial mechanisms such as micro-credit or other rental, lease, or loan programs for farmers/manufacturers.
• Experience in extension services and/or training and curriculum design especially related to agricultural industry and farmers.
• Multi-lingual (knowledge of Punjabi will be an advantage) and multi-cultural with cross-cultural experience.
• Experience of developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Experience in negotiating, influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
• Experience of conceptualizing and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Versatile with strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to diagnose complex problems and identify solutions. 
• Experience developing measurement and evaluation frameworks for projects.
• Experience working in different regions of India and/or internationally.
• Ability to formulate and evaluate broad policies.
• Strong strategic thinker and advanced analytical ability.
• Ability to manage a team and foresee career prospects for all members of the team. 

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION

Nature Conservancy India Solutions Private Limited (NCIS) is a private limited company incorporated under the Companies Act 2013, having it registered office in India in New Delhi. India. It is a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of The Nature Conservancy.  The company currently provides technical consultancy, monitoring & evaluation and other related services in the domain of conservation and environment to its various clients within and outside India.