Senior Officer, Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands

POSITION DESCRIPTION

THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Senior Officer, Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands

(Protected Area Management and Conservation Finance)

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew’s global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia’s Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity. 

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew’s ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands

South America’s Pantanal and Gran Chaco regions are among the most ecologically significant tropical wetlands and dry forests on Earth. This area spans parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina and contains thousands of plant and animal species and provides vital aquatic habitat, nutrient renewal, migration routes, and flood control for millions of animals and people living downstream. The region’s extensive ecosystems are currently threatened by deforestation, drought and intensification of wildfires related to climate change, and thus urgently need conservation action.

The project works with the policy framework in each country to solidify and expand protection of the extraordinary biodiversity of the Pantanal-Gran Chaco region. Pew partners with local and international conservation organizations, government agencies, and Indigenous governments and organizations to improve management of and expand protected areas, support Indigenous organizations and communities in the management of their territories, promote sustainable management for ranching lands, and to advance long-term conservation financing mechanisms for durable protections.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Project Director, Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands, the Senior Officer will lead efforts to develop long-term financing and improve the management of protected and conserved areas in the Pantanal-Gran Chaco landscape.

The Senior Officer will focus on identifying and pursuing finance, conservation, community development, and fundraising goals that support improved management of protected and conserved lands in the region. This will include collaboration with consultants, partners, government officials and other key stakeholders, as well as facilitating the project’s engagement in public policy and advocacy related to conservation finance and improved management. This position requires demonstrated leadership in public or private sector organizations focused on promoting sustainability and conservation.

The Senior Officer will be located either in Santa Cruz, Bolivia; or elsewhere within the South America region following evaluation by Pew.

Responsibilities for the Pantanal-Gran Chaco Project:

• Foster a work environment that inspires excellence, values impact, encourages transparency, builds mutual trust and respect, embraces and values diversity, and is collaborative, caring and compassionate. Under the Project Director’s leadership, manage aspects of Pew’s Pantanal-Gran Chaco initiative related to improving the management of the region’s protected and conserved areas. This includes organizing and coordinating high-level meetings, commissioning and conducting research, and managing strategic partnerships.
• In collaboration with relevant Pew staff and senior management, assess opportunities to expand or develop new financing strategies for protected and conserved areas in Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.
• Coordinate the development of priority financing initiatives in collaboration with Pew’s Pantanal and Gran Chaco team, consultants, and in-country partners.
• Provide technical guidance to Pew’s Pantanal and Gran Chaco team on financing frameworks, sustainable financing mechanisms, public resource allocation, and effective management.
• Support the Project Director in establishing and cultivating strategic alliances and launching joint initiatives with international organizations, foundations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, Indigenous organizations, and other institutions in the region.
• Promote best practices and innovations in protected area management and conservation in the Pantanal Gran-Chaco through public policy engagements and outreach efforts.
• Prepare regular updates for senior management and other audiences summarizing the initiative’s efforts and achievements toward financial sustainability of the region’s protected and conserved lands.
• Lead analysis and research within the framework of the Pantanal and Gran Chaco strategy to gather scientific, policy, and technical information on protected area conservation lands finances and management in Latin America.
• Represent Pew in external events online and in person, including meetings with national and local governments, multilateral organizations, and other institutions.
• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree in public policy, economics, business, natural resources management or related studies preferred.
• Generally, a minimum of 10 years
• Fluency in both English and Spanish is required, competence in Portuguese is desired.
• Significant experience in project management, financial mechanisms, and government engagement.
• Experience working with local and regional governments.
• Experience in the management of protected areas or other forms of conservation lands, including development of management plans, monitoring systems, and staff training programs.
• Acute political awareness and understanding of issues from a non-partisan perspective.
• Demonstrated experience building relationships across individuals and organizations with a range of interests and perspectives.
• Capacity to lead group discussions with individuals working in different roles and countries; skilled in training and guiding team members with a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
• Demonstrated experience meeting deadlines and effectively developing and moving projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Effective professional writing skills in both English and Spanish. Effectively communicates ideas, thoughts and concepts clearly and concisely and in a compelling way, both written and orally.

Travel
Travel up to 25% of the time to cities and remote locations in Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and throughout Latin America, and to the United States as necessary.

 Work Authorization 

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.   

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

This position offers a competitive salary and benefit program.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics.