Nature Finance is a focal area for NATURAL STATE, recognizing that there are a multitude of potential impact-based financing structures that can catalyze finance in this space. The initial focus is to develop high-quality, integrated carbon-biodiversity credit, custodian credit, and a rewilding credit. These products will address key issues in the present market, providing measurable and outcomes-based impact data, accessibility to both buyers and sellers, and ensuring equitable benefit sharing with local stakeholders. It is critical to design such structures with the market to combine rigour with requisite simplicity. Given the complexity of “biodiversity” as a concept, these structures will need to be market-tested to ensure buyers understand the proposed metrics.

The Role

The Nature Finance Lead/Director will be responsible for the strategic growth and development of the Nature Finance team, and the development and delivery of innovative nature financing solutions. The role requires technical skills and experience in one or more aspects of finance coupled with strong project delivery and collaboration skills, as well as creativity. The role will report directly to the President of NATURAL STATE, and work with strategic partners and a small, growing team. The Nature Finance Lead/Director will be based in Africa or Europe, with expectations for travel to understand projects, and meet with partners and market representatives. The title will be adjusted based on experience, with the “Director” title reserved for more experienced candidates.

Responsibilities

• Develop an overarching Nature Financing strategy, working with NATURAL STATE’s Senior team, and integrating market research.
• Maintain and expand NATURAL STATE’s strategic partnerships and service providers, bringing together best-in-class skills to collaborate on the financial structuring of the credits or bonds.
• Lead an iterative process of engagement with potential buyers and market representatives to test the palatability of proposed impact measurement systems and financial structures.
• Identify and secure buyers to support product testing and to provide an in-principle commitment to buying pilot credits.
• Direct research on legislative and policy frameworks in key African jurisdictions to inform the structuring of financing mechanisms.
• Manage the development and implementation of metrics to track and report on the effectiveness of the Finance Nature Programme.
• Expand and manage the Nature Finance team to ensure the successful delivery of the plan and budget.
• Support fundraising, including contributing to proposal writing and reporting.
• Develop and deliver presentations, reports and other communications collateral to internal and external stakeholders to communicate project progress and outcomes.
• Serve as NATURAL STATES’s spokesperson in engagement with media on matters of Nature Finance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher and at least five years of experience in the finance sector, designing financial products or managing financial investments.
• Proven track record in strategic planning and project delivery.
• Financial analysis and risk management skills.
• Proven ability to think creatively and generate, design, and deliver novel ideas.
• Productive networks within the finance sector.
• The ability to communicate complex financial concepts to a range of technical and non-technical stakeholders, including landowners, community leaders, investors, regulators, colleagues and the media.
• Passion for NATURAL STATE’s mission and a commitment to making a positive impact for nature.

Optional

• Working knowledge of environmental issues, including conservation, climate change, and biodiversity.
• Carbon market experience.
• Experience in the conservation/nature finance sector.
• Broad knowledge of innovative impact-based financing mechanisms.
• Proven ability to secure project funding, including successful proposal development and maintaining strong relationships with sponsors/donors.