Senior Director, Tourism Finance
Position at Conservation South Africa (Conservation International).
The Senior Director of Tourism Finance will lead the development of ecotourism opportunities in Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas (KPAs), designing financing facilities and supporting sustainable management of protected areas.
Responsibilities
- Conduct rapid assessments of priority KPAs to identify viable ecotourism opportunities.
- Perform gap analysis for KPAs with tourism potential (policy, infrastructure, biodiversity, access to capital) to identify funding needs and develop a roadmap to implementation.
- Lead the design and implementation of an ecotourism financing facility.
- Collaborate and align with other program facilities to ensure consistency with Conservation International’s conservation and organizational priorities.
- Oversee the development and scale‑up of CI Africa’s concessional lending program for protected areas (CI Ventures), including deal and pipeline management of new and existing tourism‑linked transactions.
- In collaboration with the Structured Nature Finance lead, structure financial transactions and manage internal approval processes, including risk assessments.
- Develop alternative, innovative funding strategies for the tourism finance facility.
- Ensure compliance with CI policies, funding agreements, and local requirements.
- Effectively engage stakeholders, including tourism partners, protected area managers, government and NGOs, technical colleagues, funders, and other partners important to program success.
- Represent the organization externally and serve as a trusted point of contact for CI.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Working Conditions
Typical office environment.Local and / or international travel of 30% or more time, often in difficult travel conditions.Ability to work in remote locations or under challenging working conditions.Hybrid work structure : some days from the office and some remotely.Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in (Conservation) Finance.10 or more years of working experience in the ecotourism sector, (conservation) finance, or a related field.Experience working and / or traveling in diverse geographies, including East and Southern Africa.Business development and client management track record.Strong financial skills with in-depth knowledge of and experience with various financial product offerings (debt, equity, and the design of innovative financing structures).Demonstrated understanding of the complexities of ecotourism finances and potential unintended consequences in specific ecosystems.Team player; able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills.Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities.Comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Fluency in English required.Preferred
Postgraduate degree in (Conservation) Finance.To apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter. Application Deadline : December 22, 2025 (11 : 49 PM EST). The position may be filled before the deadline, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Contract
Job function
Management and Manufacturing
Equal Opportunity Employer
Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.
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