Chief Field Officer Pacific

Chief Field Officer Pacific

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Suva, Fiji

The Chief Field Officer, Pacific Field Division (CFO Pacific), Senior Vice President, ) leads Conservation International’s strategy, delivery and impact in Pacific, with a focus on delivering our strategy to conserve nature for the benefit of people, focusing on climate, oceans, and biodiversity. They lead a team of 60+ staff with an annual budget of $8 million.

The CFO Pacific develops and oversees the Pacific strategy by identifying priorities, raising and allocating flexible funding resources, and representing CI to internal and external partners, including high level decision-makers both internally within CI, and externally with donor agencies, governments, and private sector leaders.

This position reports to the Head of Conservation Program and is a member of CI’s Leadership Team that is responsible for overseeing the organization’s strategies and delivery.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and lead the implementation of CI’s strategy for Pacific which includes unlocking sustainable financing in iconic seascapes while building nature-based livelihoods, building capacity and improving governance of governments, poverty alleviation through nature conservation, and working with indigenous people to fight climate change while reducing loss in biodiversity.
• Oversee the Pacific Field Management Unit’s operations team and ensure operational excellence including identification of inefficiencies; fully align operations team with the Pacific strategy, vision and goals.
• Oversee project and program design and ensure quality and alignment with vision and strategy, including oversight of programs funded by public and private donors, as well as REDD+ and/or nature financing programs.
• Lead annual planning and budgeting for the Pacific Field Management Unit in collaboration with CI’s Leadership team.
• Build and implement multi-year plan to increase staff capacity to design and deliver high-quality conservation projects in compliance with CI and donor requirements.
• Lead and manage the Pacific Field Management Unit’s Executive Management Team with a particular focus on accountability, delivery excellence, staff wellbeing as well as a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity throughout the Division.
• Establish and maintain a culture of compassionate conservation that embraces human-centered design for conservation and supports local- and Indigenous-led conservation.
• Identify and pursue new resources for CI’s Pacific strategy, and fundraise from individual, foundations, government, and corporate sources. Identify, cultivate, steward and solicit high-net worth private donors in partnership with CI’s Development teams.
• Oversee public funding and corporate partnerships and ensure alignment with CI’s Southern Cross and the Pacific strategy.
• Communicate progress on regional strategies and action plans internally within CI and externally through media, social media, and targeted communications.
• Represent CI’s work in Pacific with CI board members and other CI bodies to develop high impact partnerships with private sectors, governments, academia and other non-governmental organizations.
• Represent CI with high level government officials and private sector leaders.

People and Resource Management Responsibilities

• Oversee approximately 60+ staff across the Pacific Field Management Unit, including seven direct reports.
• Responsible for an average annual budget of $8m.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position can be based in Fiji, where there is a CI Office.
• The position requires significant travel with up to 50% of time dedicated to travel to countries in the Pacific, and the USA for high level meetings and fundraising. Travel is conducted only when safe to do so and in accordance with CI policies and country-specific mandates or restrictions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• A Master’s/Postgraduate degree or equivalent and more than 15 years of broad conservation and/or natural resource management leadership, strategy development, and program management experience. Experience in the Pacific is required.
• 5 or more years of experience in senior leadership.
• 7 or more years of experience managing teams of professional employees.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high impact conservation projects.
• Demonstrated success in influencing and communicating with national level authorities and private sector leaders.
• Ability to transform research and project results into practical decision-making tools and improved practices and policy for governments, private sector and civil society.
• A proven track record of identifying strategic issues and priorities, developing implementation teams and plans, and serving as the key decision-maker on programmatic, fundraising and operational issues.
• Advanced university degree in conservation and/or development, or related field, or significant equivalent expertise and experience.
• A proven track record of successful fundraising at the $1 million+ level.
• Excellent ability to work in a variety of cultural and political settings.
• Professional fluency in English.

Preferred

• A doctoral degree in conservation, natural resource management and/or development.
• Fluency in any local dialect of the many Pacific language is beneficial.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2026  (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

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.