Job Opportunity for Program Associate, Regenerative Agriculture at The Nature Conservancy in New Delhi

Job Title: Program Associate, Regenerative Agriculture

Status: Salaried

Job ID Number: 54547

Date: Jan 2024

Organizational Overview:

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 5,800 diverse staff, including more than 900 scientists, all of whom  support conservation in 79 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 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.

What We Can Achieve Together:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Program Associate – Regenerative Agriculture assists in advancing the regenerative agriculture initiatives in  collaboration with the Lead – Regenerative Agriculture. Essential functions include grants and contracts management,  budget tracking, drafting monthly and quarterly progress reports, evidence generation from field pilots through field visits  and providing overall administrative oversight to all the various aspects of TNCC initiative on regenerative agriculture (50% of the time). Program Associate – Regenerative Agriculture will work to develop and collaborate with a network of TNCC  field colleagues to support the adoption of key Regenerative Agriculture initiatives along with partner and other  consultants’ engagement by managing the reporting process, monthly calls, planning execution and follow up from  meetings, and coordination. The Program Associate – Regenerative Agriculture will also initiate work related to literature  review, analysis, conceptualizing new proposals and projects, support in organizing stakeholders’ consultations/workshops,

etc (50% of the time) to operationalize Regenerative Agriculture strategy of the organization. This position reports to the  Lead – Regenerative Agriculture. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Manages various aspects of Regenerative Agriculture initiative, from developing and implementing work plans,  coordinating events, managing grants and contracts, undertaking research, and reporting on projects, as well as other  ongoing project management needs. Carry out project implementation activities in a timely manner and within budget  as per the work plans of the assigned projects.

• Establishes, tracks, and maintains optimal standards of performance for program to ensure high quality deliverables are  met on time and budget.

• Prepares project reports, memoranda, articles, papers, and presentations related to the program for internal and  external audiences.

• Develops draft TORs and partner agreements, manages contractor hiring process, and ensures contractors meet all  deliverables as defined. 

• Supports partner engagement activities, including coordinating regular partner meetings, overseeing grant coordination,  reviewing reports, and identifying challenges and opportunities in collaboration with the Lead – Regenerative  Agriculture. 

• Organizes stakeholder consultations, workshops and other meetings as per requirements of project. Prepare agendas  and minutes of the meetings. May act as a project liaison within and outside of the organization. 

• Undertakes special projects, such as research on scientific, socio-economic and financial aspects of relevance to the  program through literature review, analysis and proposal writing. 

• Works with the Conservancy’s Communications Team and contractors to develop and disseminate various  communication products related to the program.

• Periodic domestic travel; may involve infrequent international travel as per program requirements. 

• Incorporates cross disciplinary knowledge to support project objectives. 

What You’ll Bring:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in business, Finance, Policy, Resource Management or related field and 3 years of related experience  or equivalent combination. 

• Experience supporting complex projects and strategic initiatives in an unstructured environment. 

• Analytical and project management experience.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Biodiversity/ Conservation Agriculture / food systems / Agro-ecology or any other field relevant for  regenerative agriculture is desirable with 5-8 years of experience in similar profile.

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

• Self-starter with ability to generate work plans with limited support in line with the overall conservation strategies.

• Willingness to learn and develop expertise in new conservation strategies, economic drivers, management tools, and  global affairs. Academic work/professional experience in agriculture and/or environment field is not essential but will  be considered favorably. 

• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization and with partners.

• Experience of preparing budget proposal, donor reporting and liaising with multiple partners. 

• Experience contributing to proposal development, business plans and/or strategy development will be viewed  favorably.

• Experience of working on consortium projects is desirable. 

• Strong writing, verbal communication and presentation skills.

• Proficiency in Excel and strong quantitative abilities.

• Go getter, quick learner and business acumen are desired skill sets.