Senior Program Manager in SOUTH AFRICA

Senior Program Manager - Sustainable Bioeconomy

NatureFinance (NF)

About NatureFinance

NatureFinance is a Swiss-based, international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to aligning global finance with an economy that works for nature, climate and people in a rapidly warming world.

Through a fully remote team based all over the world, we operate as a kind of think tank and solutions lab, helping develop and pilot innovative financial instruments and policy reforms that (1) help support countries in particular to address the vicious cycle of debt, climate and nature crisis, (2) help make financial systems and economies more resilient and adaptive in a rapidly warming world and, (3) ensure that natural capital is valued and harnessed as a driver of sustainable development and economic opportunities. Our strategies are driven by a deep attention to the urgent, interrelated climate and nature loss challenges facing low- and middle-income countries, particularly in an increasingly disruptive geopolitical and economic context.

Senior Program Manager: Role overview

NatureFinance is seeking an experienced mid-career professional to help shape and implement our evolving body of work on advancing an equitable nature economy. This portfolio sits at the critical intersection of finance and the real economy. The Senior Program Manager will focus specifically on efforts to advance an equitable and sustainable global bioeconomy, with a focus on Africa. The role requires the ability to engage in political processes, bring deep knowledge of sustainable finance and its links to the real economy, and identify catalytic interventions where NatureFinance can help unlock ambitious action and innovation with the potential to impact at scale.

Under the guidance of the Nature Economy Lead, the successful candidate will work to gather strategic stakeholders, build coalitions and incubate new initiatives that explore innovative financial instruments, policy frameworks, and initiatives to advance a sustainable bioeconomy at scale. This will ultimately include managing specific partnerships with national and sub-national governments, multilateral platforms (e.g. G20, BRICS), global and regional institutions, civil society and the financial and business sector, drawing on support and expertise from NF’s team across a wide range of geographic and economic contexts. NatureFinance is currently working with external partners to seed an independent Bioeconomy Financing Hub for Africa, which this role will lead on advancing for NF, including helping guide our own direct contributions around innovative financial instruments and policy engagement on the continent.

Key Responsibilities

Below is a list of initial responsibilities that the Senior Program Manager for Nature Economy will take on, to be refined and elaborated periodically in conversation with the workstream lead and as part of our strategy development process.

• Working closely with the Nature Economy Lead and external stakeholders, especially from the G20, the Government of South Africa and African regional institutions and civil society, to support high-ambition efforts to accelerate a sustainable bioeconomy (including the G20 Global Bioeconomy Initiative).
• A key initial part of the role will specifically be helping manage and deepen NF’s partnership with the Government of South Africa and related stakeholders around advancing bioeconomy and sustainable finance-related initiatives during their G20 presidency.
• Support the incubation of new stand-alone initiatives, instruments and financing efforts to drive forward an ambitious agenda around a sustainable bioeconomy, with an initial focus on NF’s an emerging bioeconomy financing hub partnership in Africa with FSD-A/ANCA.
• Help drive, shape and oversee research, technical inputs, government and private sector partnerships, convening, coalition-building around bioeconomy efforts, particularly in Africa.
• Work to identify practical opportunities to drive forward enabling regulatory and market architecture and policy incentives that help support a sustainable bioeconomy.
• Contribute to writing proposals and preparing budgets for fundraising in the Nature Economy workstream related to the sustainable bioeconomy agenda.
• Manage grantees or consultants involved in work packages, projects and tasks. Support grant reporting and compliance,
• Work closely with colleagues across NF’s workstreams and geographies to identify new synergies and opportunities to advance our organizational goals with new stakeholders/in new contexts.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7-10 years of experience working on sustainable finance and economic development issues in low- and middle-income country contexts.
• Economic policy expertise and experience working on issues related to the bioeconomy (e.g. regenerative agriculture, blue economy, biofuels, circular economy, etc...) and “green” economic transitions, preferred.
• Strong familiarity with the latest regulatory and disclosure initiatives and developments at the nexus of nature (climate change, biodiversity), the global financial system and related oversight institutions a plus.
• Project management experience in global, fast-paced environments, with the ability to draw on expertise across teams and partners, fostering collaboration and thriving in a non-hierarchical culture.
• A highly independent, resourceful and driven personality that is driven to achieve goals in a proactive and energetic way.
• Multilingual capabilities are a plus, with English fluency required.
• Excellent writing skills, including an ability to synthesize a range of inputs and data points to form evidence-based arguments which appeal to private sector and policy making audiences
• Exceptional communication and relationship management skills, involving high-level stakeholders from public, private, multilateral, philanthropic, non-profit sector
• A high degree of emotional intelligence with an ability to work collaboratively across issue areas, geographies and teams
• Entrepreneurial and innovative outlook, with a passion for identifying creative points of impact and leverage in rapidly evolving fields and institutional contexts.
• Strong networks in with policy makers and private sector actors in the continent of Africa and specifically in South Africa a plus

Personal Attributes:

• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respect for diverse cultural perspectives, especially in the context of working with different geographies, cultures and backgrounds.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work environments.
• Integrity: High ethical standards and a commitment to confidentiality and professionalism.
• Initiative: Self-motivated with a proactive approach to work and the ability to drive initiatives independently.

Terms

The role will be full-time, working remotely, with a preference for a candidate based in/willing and able to relocate to South Africa. The ideal start date is August 1, 2025, with flexibility.

Due to the characteristics of NF's business and the position, the team member might be required to do some trips. NF can determine the means of transport. The gross salary will not be affected by this, and NF will either supplies cash in advance or reimbursed in full all costs associated to the business travels including but not limited to flights, hotel, and other expenses associated with the business trip.

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and requirements for the Senior Program Manager for Nature Economy at NF. The Senior Program Manager for Nature Economy may be requested to undertake additional activities to support the NF team, as per the Nature Economy Lead request. This role requires flexibility and a collaborative approach to ensure the smooth functioning of NF operations.

NatureFinance is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We look forward to welcoming a dynamic individual who shares our passion for aligning finance with nature-positive outcomes.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their 2-page resume and a targeted 1-page cover letter detailing their qualifications and experience related to this position's requirements. Applications should be sent to operations@naturefinance.net by May 28th Application materials developed with the assistance of AI will not be considered.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, NF may not be able to respond to every applicant. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.