Program Manager – Protecting Ocean Wildlife

Remote, Remote, United States of America

ABOUT US 

Established in 2006, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is a US-registered nonprofit that operates globally, dedicated to marine conservation. Our mission is to foster a world where oceans thrive, seafood is sustainably sourced, and everyone can access sustainable seafood. Through collaboration with seafood buyers and retailers across the supply chain, we work to restore depleted fish stocks, mitigate the environmental impacts of fishing and aquaculture, address social issues in the fishing industry, and enhance economic opportunities for fishers and their communities. Our Supply Chain Roundtables (SRs) provide a platform for seafood suppliers to collaborate in a non-competitive setting, driving improvements in fishery and aquaculture practices, management, and policy. Visit us at www.sustainablefish.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

ABOUT THE JOB

If you have a broad command of project management and implementation, this position will empower you to contribute in a meaningful way and make a difference in important ocean conservation efforts. SFP is looking for someone whose experience and personal values and interests align with our mission. We embrace our inclusive culture and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

This role provides support to the Biodiversity Team and manages the Protecting Ocean Wildlife initiative, including project management and implementation, monitoring of grant delivery, and outreach to seafood industry stakeholders. The Ocean Wildlife Manager is responsible for implementing programs to reduce the numbers of marine endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species harmed by fishing activities. This position will have a special focus on SFP’s programs to reduce whale entanglements in pot and trap fisheries in the US and Canada. 

Key Responsibilities/Activities: 

Implementing SFP’s Protecting Ocean Wildlife Program (75%) 

• Provide management of grant deliverables and programmatic work relating to reducing the entanglement of whales and other marine wildlife in pot and trap fisheries. 
• Manage outreach, events, and communications to seafood industry stakeholders to educate them about entanglement issues and solutions. 
• Liaise with other NGOs, government programs, gear manufacturers, and Fishery Improvement Projects working on whale entanglement issues and coordinate alignment with SFP efforts and partners. Represent SFP on roundtables and other collaborative efforts. 
• Serve as the lead expert at SFP on pot and trap fisheries, marine wildlife impacted by entanglements, and solutions (both regulatory and gear innovations).
• Work closely with the Markets Team to catalyze the seafood supply chain so that it requires best practices in bycatch mitigation in pot and trap fisheries, and is informed and updated about entanglement risks and solutions. 

Program Management (25%)

• Coordinate and implement activities within the Protect Ocean Wildlife initiative. Specifically, provide management support to the Biodiversity Director in new and ongoing projects under the Protecting Ocean Wildlife program portfolios. 
• Monitor program implementation and contribute to reporting on projects work via SFP platforms to enable progress evaluation against program targets. 
• Develop and revise various communications (eg, reports, web pages, press notes, etc.) targeting different audiences and ensure they align with SFP’s communications needs and donor guidelines.
• Attend seafood shows, sustainability conferences and other events as necessary to inform SFP’s work to stakeholders, provide seafood sustainability trainings, share lessons learned and raise awareness of SFP’s unique approach of using market influence to promote change in fisheries sustainability.

Essential Qualifications and Skills: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Minimum 3 years’ experience working in marine conservation 
• Good attention to detail and a demonstrable understanding of the scientific issues that underpin sustainable fisheries management.
• Strong multi-tasking skills, including the ability to coordinate the work of others
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to present complex issues effectively to diverse audiences and to be persuasive and credible
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships of trust and influence with industry audiences
• Personal qualities of honesty and integrity, and a commitment to conservation
• Flexibility to effectively balance independent initiative with team collaboration
• Ability to work comfortably and effectively in a fully online environment:  work-from-home arrangements, strong practical knowledge of productivity software and/or platforms (i.e., Word, Excel, email & other common business communication tools), ability to learn new technology with ease, etc.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with absolute confidentiality
• Travel Required approx. 25-49 days per year; mostly domestic travel
  

Additional/Desirable Qualifications and Skills:

The ideal candidate will also have a marine biology background and experience, as well as a good understanding of the global seafood sustainability movement and leading marine conservation NGOs.

Compensation: The total compensation range for the contract term is USD $70,000 to $80,000.

APPLICATION

If you think that this job would benefit from your skillset and background, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t think you’re the “perfect fit.”  This position is part of a highly diverse team and we are always looking for new talent to contribute from unique or under-represented perspectives.  As an equal-opportunity employer, SFP encourages candidates of all ages, races, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, religions, physical abilities, and other diverse attributes to apply.

Qualified candidates please apply below and attach the following:

• Resume/CV

• Letter of interest highlighting your interest in applying your skills in a conservation nonprofit setting (no more than 1 page)