Coral Reef of the High Seas Coalition Director

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Conservation International

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Remote

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Coral Reef of the High Seas Coalition Director

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

The Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition is a global alliance of partners convened by Conservation International that aims to protect coral reeds in areas beyond national jurisdiction, also known as the High Seas. The Coalition seeks to generate the science, strategic communication, and political support that is necessary to catalyze action. It does this by convening experts and organizations focused on the conservation that previously worked in isolation. Currently, the Coalition is working on a campaign to support the protection of the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges, two seamount chains in the southeastern Pacific, and is starting work in the Emperors Seamounts in the north Pacific.

The Coalition Director will provide technical and programmatic support and oversight for the Coral Reef of the High Seas Coalition, maintaining and building the coalition, and leading it towards collective impact. The director will manage all aspects of the project life cycle including project planning, fundraising, work plans, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on deliverables and project status. The director will ensure compliance with project standards, donor requirements, and project alignment with institutional priorities. The director will provide scientific leadership for the Alliance. The director will represent CI and the Coral Reef of the High Seas Coalition as a key technical resource and build alliances/engage key external stakeholders including government and NGO officials, donors, and others critical to project success. The director will manage and monitor project budgets and write donor reports as required and will collaborate on and lead efforts to secure project funding, expand the project pipeline, and manage funding relationships with key partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Oversite

  • Lead collaborative processes with Coalition members to set the vision and strategy of the coalition
  • Manage all aspects of the project life cycle including project planning, fundraising, work plans, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on deliverables and project status.
  • Ensure compliance with project standards, donor requirements, and project alignment with institutional priorities.
  • Manage subgrants and contracts for coalition partners and activities
  • Develop and manage budgets of all coalition donors.
  • Actively fundraise for coalition activities. Identify potential funders and develop funding proposals
  • Develop regular progress reports on coalition activities, including bi-yearly reports to donor and annual reports to coalition membership.

Coalition Coordination

  • Lead monthly meetings with key Coalition members to plan upcoming activities and track progress made.
  • Lead planning and execution of annual meetings with broader coalition members.
  • Keep broader coalition membership engaged through regular communication
  • Maintain all coalition documents, contacts, and calendar of events

Science Leadership

  • With coalition members, set and oversee the delivery of scientific priorities for the coalition’s work
  • Coordinate and contribute to the development of science articles that highlight the importance of conserving priority regions on the high seas.
  • Coordinate and contribute to the development of abstracts and presentations at relevant conferences.

Policy Leadership

  • Coordinate engagements with relevant high seas policy fora, including BBNJ, RFMOs, ISA, CBD. Coordinate with coalition members and CI policy team on ways to synergize engagements. Coordinate communications with heads of delegations of key countries and develop background policy briefs wherever these could advance coalition conservation goals.
  • Build relationships with key government officials, particularly in foreign and environmental ministries of key countries. Use coalition content to highlight how national priorities can be advanced at various policy fora and regularly offer support. This will require working closely with key coalition members who are best connected to each government office.

Communications

  • Maintain a curated library of images and videos that speak to the importance of protecting priority areas on the high seas.
  • Coordinate the development of factsheets and StoryMaps that synthesize key information from coalition science articles in an impactful way. Work with coalition members and CI editorial team to craft key messages, as well as the CI design team to develop layouts that make use of curated imagery.
  • Work with the CI communication team to develop press releases and media pitches for upcoming coalition publications or expeditions. Closely coordinate these with communication teams of all relevant coalition partners.
  • Coordinate the development of videos that synthesize key information from coalition science articles in an impactful way.
  • Maintain coalition website, Twitter account, and YouTube account.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • This position is open within the United States.
  • Potential travel to project sites, including expeditions, and other office locations.
  • Comfortable working out of doors for extended periods.
  • Ability to work extended work hours to meet project deadlines.
  • Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
  • For the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, all US-based Conservation International staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This mandatory vaccine requirement applies to all staff working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site in CI US offices. CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines. Requests for reasonable accommodations or exceptions related to medical or religious reasons will be considered. Candidates are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Ph.D. in ocean science (preferably with a specialty in deep-sea ecosystems) or an advanced degree in international ocean policy.
  • 7 years or more related experience, preferably in the science, policy, or conservation of high seas
  • Direct project management experience, preferably in the conservation, NGO, advocacy, or related arena.
  • Excellent technical and analytical skills.
  • Excellent organization and time management skills.
  • Experience building and maintaining trust-based partnerships
  • Team player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • A record of success in influencing and partnering with key stakeholders and raising funds.
  • Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.

Preferred

  • Fluency in Spanish preferred

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

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled