Senior Director, Tourism Finance - Conservation (Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg)

Conservation International is seeking a Senior Director of Tourism Finance in Nairobi, Kenya, to lead a major initiative for sustainable finance in ecotourism across East and Southern Africa. The role involves designing and executing financing facilities, conducting assessments, and structuring financial transactions. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in ecotourism or conservation finance, with strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
Role OverviewConservation International is building a flagship initiative to unlock sustainable finance for Africa's most critical protected areas through ecotourism development. As Senior Director of Tourism Finance, you will lead the strategic design and execution of a continent-scale ecotourism financing facility, directly mobilizing tourism revenue to support conservation management and biodiversity protection across East and Southern Africa.

This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of conservation, finance, and sustainable enterprise. You will report to senior leadership and work across multiple partners—from government and protected area authorities to tourism operators and international donors—to de-risk ecotourism investments, structure innovative financial products, and scale CI's existing concessional lending program to maximize conservation outcomes.

Key ResponsibilitiesConduct rapid assessments across priority protected areas to identify commercially viable ecotourism opportunities and quantify revenue-generating potentialPerform detailed gap analysis of policy, infrastructure, biodiversity, and capital access barriers; translate findings into phased implementation roadmapsLead design and launch of a new ecotourism financing facility, including instrument selection, pricing, risk frameworks, and operational proceduresStructure complex financial transactions (blended debt/equity, concessional loans, guarantees, innovative instruments) and manage internal approval workflowsOversee portfolio of conservation lending deals; expand and operationalize CI Ventures across KPAs in partnership with co-management stakeholdersDevelop alternative financing strategies (e.g., revenue-linked debt, impact bonds, risk guarantees) to address ecotourism-specific funding challengesEngage and align diverse stakeholder groups—tourism operators, protected area managers, governments, NGOs, funders—to secure buy-in and resolve competing prioritiesEnsure full compliance with CI policies, donor agreements, and local regulatory requirements across all jurisdictionsRepresent CI externally as trusted advisor to government, private sector, and development partnersRequired Skills & Experience10+ years of professional experience in ecotourism development, conservation finance, development finance, or closely related field; at least 5 years in leadership roles involving transaction origination and deal managementProven track record closing conservation or impact finance transactions, including structuring debt, equity, or blended instruments from origination through operational monitoringDeep financial design capability: expertise in debt products, equity instruments, concessional lending, guarantee mechanisms, and innovative financing structures (e.g., revenue-linked debt, blended finance)Regional expertise in East and Southern Africa, including direct experience navigating political economy, regulatory landscapes, and capital market constraints across multiple countriesBusiness development and client management: demonstrated success identifying financial opportunities, pitching solutions to institutional and private investors, and closing multi-stakeholder partnershipsStakeholder engagement mastery: ability to translate between conservation priorities, finance discipline, and tourism operator pragmatism; proven conflict resolution in complex, multi-party environmentsStrategic judgment in fast-changing contexts: comfortable reprioritizing under uncertainty, managing competing stakeholder demands, and operating with minimal supervision in remote and challenging environmentsExcellent written and verbal communication in English; ability to articulate complex finance concepts to non-finance audiences and defend decisions to boards and donorsBachelor's degree in Finance, Conservation Finance, or related field; postgraduate qualification in Finance, Business, or Conservation preferredAbility to work in remote locations and difficult conditions; willingness to travel 30%+ internationally, often in challenging infrastructure settingsSalary & BenefitsEstimated salary range: KES 550,000 – 850,000 per month, depending on location (Nairobi typically on mid-to-upper end; Cape Town/Johannesburg may vary by local market).

Benefits typical for international NGO sector include health insurance, retirement contributions, professional development funding, and flexible working arrangements.

Who Should ApplyIdeal candidate profile:

Finance or business professional with 10+ years in conservation, impact, or tourism financeTrack record of structuring and closing deals in emerging markets or difficult operating environmentsGenuine passion for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism developmentComfortable bridging technical finance, conservation science, and local operator knowledgeSelf-starter who thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with competing stakeholder demandsWho should NOT apply:

Candidates with only theoretical finance knowledge or no closed dealsPure conservation professionals without substantive finance design and transaction experienceThose unwilling to travel extensively to East/Southern Africa or work in remote locationsIndividuals who require heavy supervision or struggle with multicultural team environmentsHow to ApplyPrepare a resume (2 pages max) highlighting deal experience, specific geographies worked in, and quantified impact/KPIs from past rolesWrite a cover letter (1 page) addressing: (a) your most complex conservation/impact finance transaction and lessons learned; (b) your experience in East/Southern Africa and relationship with key stakeholders; (c) one innovative ecotourism finance idea you'd proposeSubmit both documents via the application portal link providedShortlisted candidates will be invited for panel interviews with CI finance, conservation, and regional leadership teamsImportant NotesPosition locations: Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town, or Johannesburg; candidate will select primary baseWork arrangement: Hybrid model; office and remote days to be clarified during interviewsTravel commitment: 30%+ international travel expected, including to remote protected areasEqual opportunity: CI hires based on merit and qualifications; committed to inclusive recruitmentNo specified deadline — apply as soon as possible; review will begin immediatelyEligibility: Must be eligible to work in chosen country; valid work authorization required