External Affairs Manager, Asia Pacific

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Manager, External Affairs, Asia Pacific supports the advancement of The Nature Conservancy’s public funding and external engagement priorities across the region. Reporting to the Director of External Affairs, Asia Pacific, this role plays a key regional function in contributing to the implementation of the One Conservancy Public Funding Strategy, with a strong emphasis on building and managing relationships with targeted public sector entities and securing public funding in support of TNC’s 2030 Goals. The Manager will engage with major public institutions, governments, multi-lateral agencies, NGOs, public officials, influential individuals, and TNC staff to support the positioning of TNC with public sector entities, as a leading organization for the design and delivery of conservation work in the Asia-Pacific region. The Manager also works with TNC’s global strategy teams, Science and Field Conservation staff, other External Affairs departments and with TNC’s Operating Units to further conservation goals, policies and strategy.

This role is a two‑year fixed‑term position with the possibility of extension, subject to work performance, business needs, and funding availability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Manager contributes to TNC’s conservation impact by strengthening our strategic engagement with public sector entities, supporting the co-creation of projects, and enhancing internal capability to both locate and capture public funding for TNC and influence the nature and scope of public funding policy, relevant to achieving TNC’s 2030 goals. Key functions include:

Implementing the Public Funding Strategy

• Support implementation of the One Conservancy Public Funding Strategy across Asia Pacific, including the achievement of Organisational Key Results related to the amount of public funding captured in a fiscal year and the anticipated value of the pipeline of public funded projects going into the next fiscal year.

• Identify and assess public funding opportunities across Asia Pacific.

• Support prioritization of public sector engagement to maximize funding outcomes and provide direct support to TNC Business Units to capture prioritised public funding through either selected competitive calls for proposals or through collaborative project formulation where projects are co-designed with targeted public donors.

• Align regional actions with global strategy to drive coordinated engagement with priority public donors.

• Facilitate co-creation of projects with governments, bilateral and multilateral donors.

• Monitor and prepare reports and recommendations on public fundraising efforts to global and regional leadership.

Strengthening Public Sector Relationship Management

Under the direction of the nominated TNC Relationship Manager for a specific PSE, develop and strengthen relationships with targeted public sector entities (PSEs) and their representatives in Asia Pacific, including national governments, development partners, and public donors.

• Support and record strategic, coordinated engagement approaches consistent with TNC standards for PSE engagement.

Enhancing internal capability

• Add to and promote internal awareness and use of BBCRM, the HUB, and the guidance and tools archived in the Public Funding Knowledge Bank, relevant to public fundraising.

• Manage and improve capacity building materials for designing and documenting conservation projects for public donors and deliver theory and practice training sessions and mentoring services to selected staff involved in public fundraising activities.

• Provide subject matter expertise in presenting project designs in logical frameworks, drafting text related to managing the project’s risks, and describing project governance arrangements and approaches to monitoring and evaluation of project compliance and impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Capacity Building

Enhance the capacity of TNC staff to:

• Build and manage relationships with public sector entities.

• Navigate public donor systems and requirements.

• Develop competitive, fundable project designs and documents.

• Support delivery and use of relevant tools, training, and learning platforms.

Project Design & Proposal Development

• Support teams to design, document, and package projects for submission to public donors.

• Strengthen quality, consistency, and competitiveness of proposals.

Internal Coordination & Approvals

• Facilitate cross-functional coordination required for proposal development.

• Support teams in securing internal approvals for submission to public donors.

• Promote consistency and adherence to organizational processes.

Knowledge Management

• Build and maintain institutional knowledge of priority public donors in Asia Pacific.

• Track donor priorities, processes, and engagement strategies.

• Provide strategic advice on which public sector entities to prioritize for engagement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, environmental policy, international development, management or other relevant field and 5 years of government relations or corporate sector experience, or equivalent combination education/experience.

• Fluency in English.

• Analytical and project management experience. Demonstrated experience in successfully developing and implementing complex projects in an unstructured environment.

• Experience developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.

• Proven communication and presentation skills.

• Proven negotiation skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with governments, public sector entities, or multilateral institutions.

• Experience supporting relationships with external partner organisations, proposal development and/ or managing donor-funded projects.

• Knowledge and expertise in developing theories of change, logical frameworks, result chains and related methodologies.

• Experience working in Asia Pacific.

• Familiarity with public funding mechanisms and agencies, including knowledge and application of current and evolving trends in public funding.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and management abilities.

• Experience coordinating with people in difference locations and cultures.

Pay Grade : 8

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 visit Glassdoor.

One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.