Program Director
Mesoamerican Reef Leadership Program Mexico City, Mexico
Background
Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C. (www.fmcn.org), Mexico’s premier private source of funds for conservation and sustainable development, is launching a new program to create a unique brand of conservation leaders in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) Ecoregion – an important coastal/marine ecosystem complex shared by Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico (state of Quintana Roo).
The Program is designed to attract highly qualified early or mid‐career professionals from different sectors. Selected “fellows” will benefit from custom‐made training opportunities and incubation of new ideas. The training itself will be outsourced, thus ensuring that we keep a lean program structure.
The program director position is ideal for someone who is results oriented and seeks a challenging role to attract, discover, support, and embolden the next generation of MAR leaders that will forge a new brand of development that takes a truly long view to economic, environmental and social well‐being of a region that is home to several million people and the longest barrier reef in the Atlantic Ocean.
Principal Responsibilities
The Director is expected to shape and grow the program into an internationally recognized leadership training initiative. Externally, the Director plays an important role in articulating the vision of the Program and maintaining strategic relationships with diverse partners in the private sector, government, academic institutions and the nonprofit sector. The Director will be engaged in decisions about the long‐term institutional home and headquarters of the program.
Examples of specific responsibilities include:
develop application materials and procedures and manage the selection process
link the program to a network of knowledgeable individuals and organizations who can partner in identifying candidates and offer financial and technical support
work with advisors and partners to design the leadership development curriculum
negotiate and manage contracts and partnerships for the delivery of training and support
manage convenings and networking of the selected leaders, and
monitor program progress and report to the President of Fondo Mexicano, advisors and others.
Professional Qualifications
Proven professional capacity and experience in managing a learning network or capacity building program, applying skills in candidate selection, content/curriculum, training sessions, meetings, convenings, etc.; working with providers and consultants; receiving and responding to feedback; assessing progress and reporting to donors and stakeholders.
Advanced degree or certification, or evidence of professional studies, in a discipline highly relevant to the program (including but not limited to business management/administration, organizational development, regional planning, international relations, education, program evaluation, conflict resolution).
Strong entrepreneurial spirit and a well‐developed ethic for people and the environment.
Familiarity with at least some portion of the region (sufficient to evaluate and support candidates on the basis of likely contributions to long term sustainability and conservation).
Existing network of contacts and relationships with potential advisors and partners (training and development programs, NGOs, business networks, universities, leadership networks).
Ability to accept a high degree of personal leadership and accountability, manage adaptively and seek creative solutions to diverse issues.
Ability to contribute to raising resources (cash and in kind) to support the program.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills in both Spanish and English.
Education/experience specifically focused on aspects of leadership and its development.
Professional experience and residence in the MAR region is highly desirable.
Experience with recruitment and selection processes highly desirable.
Experience with web‐based and other innovative approaches to building peer groups highly desirable.
How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter, resume and three professional references before September 30th, 2008 to:
Ms. Elizabeth García
Search Committee – Leadership Program
Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza A.C.
egarcia@fmcn.org