Senior Director, Tourism Finance

About the role

Conservation International is looking for a Senior Director, Tourism Finance to lead its Tourism Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) workstream in Nairobi. The role sets strategy, oversees implementation, leads resource mobilization and manages the TAF team and budget.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction, performance and delivery of the Tourism TAF, setting priorities and ensuring program objectives are met.
• Oversee the selection, management and performance of strategic consulting partners and technical service providers.
• Serve as CI's lead technical authority on the TAF, giving strategic guidance and regular progress updates to internal teams and senior leadership.
• Lead resource mobilization by developing donors, investors and partnership opportunities, and build a stakeholder base of KPAs, industry, investors, funders, government partners, protected area managers, co-management partners and NGOs.
• Develop and deliver external-facing materials, briefings and engagements, and provide cross-functional leadership so TAF initiatives align with CI's conservation priorities.
• Roll out complementary structured financial transactions on tourism with the Structured Nature Finance lead, and ensure compliance with CI policies, funding agreements and local requirements.
• Supervise TAF staff and consultants, manage the TAF operating budget, achieve resource mobilization targets and oversee donor compliance and funding risk.

Required profile

• Undergraduate degree in Tourism, Conservation, Business, Finance or a related field; postgraduate degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in the tourism sector, leading complex tourism, conservation or sustainable development initiatives across diverse geographies, including East and Southern Africa.
• Strong track record in business development, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and client management.
• Experience managing complex multi-stakeholder projects and working in a multicultural, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Fluency in English required; Portuguese or French is a bonus. Field travel is expected.

Required skills

• Demonstrated understanding of conservation finance, trends and innovations.
• Technical experience in market assessments, tourism diagnostics and destination management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.