Conservation International (CI) protects nature for the benefit of humanity through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance. CI is leading the Keystone Protected Area Finance Initiative (KPAF) to strengthen the financial stability of Africa's Keystone Protected Areas (KPAs) through technical assistance facilities that build conservation finance capacity at the global, national, and KPA level.
The Senior Director, Tourism Finance will provide strategic leadership for CI's Tourism Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), overseeing the development, implementation and scaling of tourism-based conservation finance solutions across priority KPAs. The workstream aims to increase tourism investment and visitation to KPAs, generating greater revenues through entry, activity, lease and other fees, by de-risking destinations for private-sector investment (land and air access, brand identity, policy, planning, affordable finance).
Key responsibilities:
- Lead strategic direction, performance and delivery of the Tourism TAF; oversee consulting partners and technical service providers.
- Serve as CI's lead technical authority on the Tourism TAF and provide thought leadership and progress updates to senior leadership.
- Lead resource mobilization, developing donor, investor and partnership opportunities.
- Engage tourism operators, investors, government conservation and tourism authorities, donors, development finance institutions and protected area managers.
- Collaborate with the Structured Nature Finance team on structured finance transactions for tourism.
- Supervise TAF staff and consultants, manage the budget and donor compliance obligations.
Required qualifications:
- Undergraduate degree in Tourism, Conservation, Business, Finance or a related field (postgraduate preferred).
- 10+ years' experience in the tourism sector, including leading complex tourism, conservation or sustainable development initiatives across East and Southern Africa.
- Strong track record in business development, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and client management.
- Understanding of conservation finance; technical experience in market assessments, tourism diagnostics and destination management.
- Strong stakeholder management skills; fluency in English (Portuguese and/or French a bonus).
Full-time; ~30% travel within Africa. Preferred locations: Cape Town or Johannesburg (South Africa) or Nairobi (Kenya); candidates in other CI Africa locations (Botswana, Liberia, Angola, Madagascar) may also be considered. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in an African country where CI operates without visa sponsorship.
Application Deadline: November 20, 2026 (11:49 PM EST) *Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, early submission is encouraged.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter via the Conservation International careers portal. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, early submission is encouraged.
https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/applyRequisition?org=CONSERVATION&cws=39&rid=2805