The PRANA Project Director will provide leadership, management, and strategic direction for the project and is responsible for advancing the implementation of the project activities to meet the project goals, demonstrate best practices, provide training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success, develop key partnerships and lead on establishing TNC as a major conservation partner in the crop residue management and regenerative agriculture in India. Under the supervision of the TNC India Managing Director, the Project Director will lead a team of about (10) ten technical staff members as well as a group of implementing partners. They will serve as the key liaison with government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations, the academic community, and local farmer institutions. They will be responsible for building alliances with priority businesses and key stakeholders and engaging local communities to harness influential support. To be successful the PRANA Project Director will need to negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, and landowners to achieve the Project’s stated outcomes. They will play a leading role in managing policymaker relationships and in securing further ongoing funding for the project.
The PRANA Project Director will define, prioritize, and is accountable for the Project’s deliverables and results. They will implement organizational measures of success and ensure that performance indicators, objectives, and goals are effectively met, and track expenditures to keep the project on budget. They may participate on several internal working committees to ensure the highly effective coordination of the PRANA project within TNC’s larger global Bezos Fund deliverables and global priorities.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Lead the implementation of a four-year strategy and the day-to-day operations of this collaborative, complex, and high-profile project, providing strategic vision, leadership, and technical direction while accountable for project deliverables, project monitoring, and evaluation, and reporting.
- Coordinate the work of a team of other professionals and manage large contracts.
- Establish and maintain close relationships with relevant government agencies, NGOs, private sector companies, and research institutions.
- Develop and lead the implementation of annual work plans that are directly aligned with the project theory of change and seek high levels of impact.
- Ensure that the project activities comply with TNC policies and procedures, including financial standards and legal requirements.
- Identify and address challenges emerging from the implementation of the project and explore and test ideas for removing obstacles to implementation.
- Ensure quality data is produced timely for both internal project management and external reporting purposes.
- Lead the use of a set of management tools that permits proper planning, management, and results reporting.
- Coordinate with other TNC staff in locations around the world including Earth Bezos Fund grant and Global Priority teams.
- Oversee a large project budget.
- Assist the fundraising team by reviewing donor communications as well as assisting with proposal development.