POSITION SUMMARY - This position will be based in one of CIs offices in South Africa (Johannesburg or Cape Town) or alternatively Maputo, Mozambique.
The Transaction Advisor, Conservation Finance will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a number of financial deal transactions with key partners in Mozambique and South Africa. The Transaction Advisor will support the building out of various conservation financing mechanisms across CIs SA and Mozambique landscapes of focus that will enable the long-term continuation of programs to protect and restore both terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, promote sustainable and inclusive livelihoods and economies, enhance protected area management, and maintain and increase carbon sequestration. In particular, the position will provide technical and transactional support as well as institutional strengthening to conservation partners in both Mozambique and South Africa.
The role, reporting to the Conservation Finance lead for SA & Mozambique, will deep dive into investment deal opportunities identified within the projects in these two countries and be responsible for driving these investment opportunities through deal development processes to eventual execution. The role will require in-depth knowledge and experience of leading in deal origination (including due diligence processes and financial analysis), deal structuring, and execution (including negotiation of legal documentation) of various finance mechanisms. In addition, the successful candidate will deploy their extensive transaction experience with financial institution investment products (including experience with loans, bonds, debt restructurings, private equity, and project finance) and capital markets solutions. This position will support the building out of the Conservation Finance deal portfolio in SA & Mozambique, and in doing so contribute significantly to the broader Conservation Finance portfolio within CI.
The work includes deal co-ordination and management, managing relationships with various stakeholders including potential investors, project developers, and implementation partners, project pipeline origination and portfolio management, financial analysis, due diligence, and conducting investment transactions from origination to closing. It will require working in close coordination with CIs local programs to identify opportunities for financed conservation interventions: assessing their feasibility, designing their implementation, proving them out for maximum impact, and scaling them more broadly across CI, partner organizations, and commercial actors. The role will collaborate with the broader network of Conservation Finance professionals across CIs global and regional teams where necessary to draw on best practices and share lessons learned.
Responsibilities
Design & Development of Conservation-Linked Deal Transactions with the Government of Mozambique :
- Drive engagements with various partners (NGO, service providers/ consultants, DFIs/donors) to due diligence and evaluate/ assess the feasibility of long-term financing mechanisms for conservation protection and management in Mozambique (e.g., payments for environmental services, debt-for-nature swaps, endowment funds, sustainability bonds, etc.)
- Provide technical deal structuring expertise and advice to both the Mozambique government and core conservation partners in Mozambique on the design and development of these long-term financing mechanisms for conservation protection and management in Mozambique
- Support the Conservation Finance lead and conservation partners to launch pre-identified sustainable financing mechanisms in the GLTFCA.
- Support CI and partners to build out their capacity for further sustainable financing deals within this focus area for CI.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- The Transaction Advisor, Conservation Finance will be based in CIs South Africa Field Division (CSA), reporting to CSAs Conservation Finance team lead with matrix lines to CIs Conservation Finance Division.
- Normal office environment with up to 35% local, regional, and international travel for meetings and field site visits.
- Availability to deal with pressing business, emergencies, and unanticipated challenges or opportunities that may arise related to CIs institutional needs or management, including outside of normal office hours.
- Ability to work extended hours to meet deadlines.
- We reserve the right not to appoint any candidate to this position
- This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
- This is a 1-year fixed-term assignment.
Required
- Bachelor's degree with 7 or more years of relevant professional experience in corporate finance/investment management, development finance, impact investments, related disciplines, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated expertise and transactional experience leading in the design, structuring, and implementation of development and/or sustainable finance mechanisms, such as payments for environmental services, carbon offsets, carbon credits, debt-for-nature swaps, endowment funds, impact investments, sustainability loans or bonds, etc.
- Demonstrated knowledge and in-depth experience of capital markets products, trends, and participants.
- Experience with the design and management of large and/or complex programs and projects, including demonstrated ability to manage complex projects or deals involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Brings with them a network of corporate/ financial institution relationships.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and networking skills.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and with limited supervision.
- Proven ability to set and focus on priorities to meet deadlines.
- Fluency in English.
- Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity with existing and emerging nature and climate financing trends, including, but not limited to those related to global, regional, and local carbon and environmental (e.g. biodiversity, water, nutrient) markets and trends.
- MBA or equivalent credential.
- Fluency in Portuguese or experience working in an environment with multiple languages.
Application Deadline: June 14, 2024 (11:49 PM EST)
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.
As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.
