The Senior Manager, NCSA Operations oversees the effective execution of TNC’s priority global carbon project portfolio by ensuring consistent visibility, coordination, and performance across projects. The role maintains an integrated view of portfolio health—including progress against timelines, budget performance, and resource needs—and identifies risks and opportunities to support timely, informed decision-making. The Senior Manager also supports the ongoing iteration of the NCSA strategy by facilitating continuous learning, capturing lessons from portfolio implementation, and helping translate insights into strategic improvements and adaptive management approaches.

They support the implementation of portfolio financing mechanisms, including the Bridge Facility, by enabling structured and transparent processes that align funding decisions with project performance and program priorities. The role ensures that financial flows, project milestones, and reporting requirements are coordinated in a way that supports both operational efficiency and accountability.

Working across a highly matrixed and globally distributed team, the Senior Manager connects inputs from multiple systems—including project data, financial information, and fundraising insights—into a coherent and accessible portfolio view. The position leads the design and continuous improvement of streamlined, semi-automated processes and dashboards that strengthen reporting, consistency, and data reliability across the program.

The Senior Manager serves as a trusted advisor to project teams and program leadership, providing structure, guidance, and problem-solving support to improve execution across complex initiatives. The role promotes the adoption of consistent project management, governance, and operational practices, and leverages data tools and AI-enabled approaches to enhance efficiency, transparency, and overall portfolio performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Act independently to oversee and strengthen the operational performance of TNC’s global carbon project portfolio, exercising sound judgment to identify and resolve complex challenges.

• Maintain a comprehensive view of portfolio health, including timelines, budget performance, resource allocation, and delivery across both carbon development and business incubation activities.

• Support the implementation and coordination of portfolio financing mechanisms, including recoverable grants and the Bridge Investment Facility, ensuring alignment between funding flows, project progress, and performance requirements.

• Integrate data from multiple sources (e.g., project reporting, financial data, and fundraising inputs) to ensure consistency, accuracy, and accessibility of portfolio information.

• Lead the improvement and continuous enhancement of portfolio management systems, tools, and dashboards to strengthen visibility, reporting, and decision-making. This will include the development and implementation of streamlined, semi-automated processes that improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and ensure consistency across portfolio operations.

• Support continuous learning and strategic adaptation by capturing portfolio insights and informing ongoing NCSA strategy refinement.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to project teams and program leadership, providing structure, guidance, and problem-solving support to improve execution across complex initiatives. This will include serving as operational resource to project teams, providing guidance on project management practices, systems, and tools.

• Coordinate and influence cross-functional, cross-regional, and cross-program teams in a highly matrixed environment to ensure alignment and effective execution.

• Manage budgets and oversee financial tracking at the portfolio level while supervising one or more administrative or professional staff, including training and professional development.

• Travel occasionally and work long and flexible hours as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience or equivalent combination; 

• 5 years of experience in project, program, or portfolio management, including managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and tracking timelines, budgets, resource allocation, and delivery against milestones.

• Experience working with financial data, including budget management and financial tracking, and familiarity with or exposure to innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., impact funds, loan facilities, recoverable grants, or blended finance structures).

• Experience using data tools and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to improve workflows, reporting, and operational efficiency.

• Completed coursework or other training on project management principles.

• Experience managing project teams and working in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment with the ability to coordinate and influence diverse teams.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear insights for decision-making.

• Experience meeting time-sensitive deadlines. 

• Experience training staff on how to effectively engage with internal and external parties. 

• Fluency in English.

• Experience working in carbon markets, natural climate solutions, conservation finance, or a related field.

• Experience working with business incubation, early-stage ventures, or project development pipelines.

• Familiarity with project or portfolio management methodologies (e.g., credited in Project Management Professional, or Highly Effective Teams, knowledge on Agile, or similar frameworks)

• Experience using project management and data visualization tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms).

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence, communicate effectively, and collaborate across cultures and geographies.

• Ability to write and speak in a language other than English, such as Spanish, Portuguese, or French, highly desirable.

• Ability to develop and drive new ideas and approaches.