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Shark Biodiversity Initiative Manager
Shark Conservation Fund Overview:The Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) is a collaboration of philanthropists dedicated to restoring ocean health through sweeping shark and ray conservation. Our goal is to help maintain the vibrancy of the world’s oceans by halting the overexploitation of sharks and rays and to prevent extinctions through strategic, collaborative, and catalytic grantmaking. SCF takes a comprehensive approach by deploying the full policy cycle – research, regulation, and enforcement. Aimed at achieving systemic change of shark and ray management on a transformative scale, we leverage our strategy to achieve four main objectives:
- Regulate Global Trade
- Protect the Most Endangered Species
- Combat Unsustainable Fishing
- Expand Existing and New Marine Protected Areas (MPA) to Benefit Sharks and Rays
The Shark Conservation Fund is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Shark Biodiversity Initiative: SCF is developing a new, 10-year global initiative to protect the biodiversity of our oceans called the Shark Biodiversity Initiative (SBI). The SBI is the first-of-its- kind, global effort that dedicates the financial, strategic, and human resources needed to protect sharks and their habitats, which are critical for ocean health. To achieve this, the initiative will bolster, strengthen, and enhance existing and future MPAs by including shark protections. The new initiative will leverage public-private partnerships to establish 100 Shark Biodiversity Zones - areas specifically designed to protect sharks from key threats, reduce mortality and protect critical habitats.
Position Overview: Reporting to the Executive Director, the SBI manager will work with philanthropic, scientific, NGO, and government partners to identify and secure the protection of important shark conservation sites through the establishment of Shark Biodiversity Zones. Raising funds to support SCF’s role in the SBI will be critical to the program’s success and the manager will play a major role in creating outreach materials, as well as preparing for and participating in meetings with potential funders. The manager will establish and maintain monitoring programs to determine the effectiveness of the Shark Biodiversity Zones and recommend modifications to the program to improve its effectiveness.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the IUCN Shark Specialist Group’s identification of “Important Shark and Ray Areas” (ISRAs) as well as identifying additional potential shark conservation sites as needed.
- Assess the legal, regulatory, and political feasibility of establishing Shark Biodiversity Zones to protect ISRAs and other potential sites.
- Work with MPA funding partners, potential grantees, relevant government officials, and consultants to support the development of Shark Biodiversity Zone proposals.
- Help monitor project performance through analysis of outcome data, grantee reports, virtual meetings, and site visits.
- Produce compelling content for internal and external use in close partnership with SCF’s communications consultant.
- Support the development, implementation, and management of strategies for measuring and tracking program outcomes and impacts against goals and grant requirements.
- Support fundraising for the SBI by developing materials, conducting research, and preparing and participating in meetings with potential funders.
- Represent SCF at external meetings, conferences, and site visits.
- Provide strategic counsel, clearly articulate ideas, and successfully navigate differingpoints of view.
Requirements:
- Strong knowledge and interest in global marine environmental issues and programs, knowledge of shark and ray conservation and MPA issues and programs a plus.
- Strong program management and operations experience.
- Excellent communication skills with a proven capacity to synthesize information andtranslate big ideas into actionable plans.
- Track record of creating data driven reports, memos, and presentations with a sharp eyefor detail.
- Strong analytical and research skills necessary to discern the progress, benefits, andchallenges of program initiatives.
- Keen organizational skills including strong capacity to manage and coordinatesimultaneous projects and successfully prioritize among multiple tasks within a fast-paced organization.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills required to build relationships internally and with MPAfunding partners, current and potential grantees, senior-level government officials,organizations, and important thought partners.
- Highest standards of ethics and integrity, with a history of working in environments thatrequire discretion and confidentiality.
- Listens intently, thinks clearly, and responds effectively to a variety of inquiries andchallenges.
- Collegial, team-oriented, and can-do working style.
- Experience living in and/or working in the international space desirable.
- An advanced degree in environmental science, policy, or law, or equivalent professional experience preferred.
Minimum 9 years of relevant, full-time work experience in public policy, consulting, government and/or related field, direct experience in the marine environment preferred.
Contact: Please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.The Shark Conservation Fund and its fiscal sponsor, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, are equal opportunity employers and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. This is a remote, full-time, exempt position. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and accomplishment. We offer a generous benefits package including health coverage, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays.