Marine Program Officer – Western Indian Ocean

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

TNC Africa Oceans Strategy focuses on securing large-scale ocean protection by supporting effective marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries and community-led conservation approaches. Our work seeks to establish sustainable financing to enable conservation outcomes at large marine ecosystem scale, by supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as local capacity, with emphasis on linking science and communities to habitats protection, restoration and management. TNC envisions sustainable fisheries that are managed in a way that results in viable local fisheries, stable supplies of seafood, thriving coastal communities, biodiversity conservation, and a healthy ocean, rivers and lakes. TNC’s Africa fisheries work aims at safeguarding productive marine fisheries for ecosystem health as important foundation for food and livelihood security. Our vision is for aquaculture to grow with the least environmental impact. TNC has established partnerships with several non-government and government agencies to support coastal and marine fisheries and coastal community-led conservation throughout Africa where TNC operates. The current main focus is the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) particularly the Coastal Kenya, Zanzibar Islands, coast of mainland Tanzania, Seychelles and South Africa while also connecting with the greater WIO region.

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Marine Program Officer – Western Indian Ocean (WIO) works to support development and implementation of Africa Fisheries Strategy in collaboration with the Conservancy’s Africa Ocean Protection and Resilience team and other TNC staff as appropriate. They will advance TNCs agenda in the WIO by providing technical and scientific support in implementation of effective and impactful strategies to advance fisheries and coastal community-led conservation goals under TNC’s Shared Conservation Agenda. The role involves working closely and in partnership with fishers, local community, fishing industry, scientific community, government, and non-government organizations in the WIO region and beyond. The position is within TNC’s Africa Ocean Protection and Resilience Strategy team and will be based in the Conservancy’s Mombasa Office in Kenya, reporting to the Africa Fisheries Strategy Manager. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements. This is an initial 3-year term limited position with an extension of tenure subject to performance and availability of funds.

We’re Looking for You:

The position will manage projects and provide technical and scientific support for elements of TNC’s Africa Fisheries Strategy. The position supports the coordination and implementation of priority projects and acts as a technical resource on sustainable fisheries and coastal community-led conservation. The position will apply a diversified knowledge of fisheries-related scientific principles and practices to a broad variety of assignments, from research, analysis and writing, capacity building, strategy development, project coordination and management support, and engagement with private sector seafood actors and traceability systems.

The responsibilities and scope for this position are:

• Provide project management support, leading desk-based research and analyses, and co-leading local and international training workshops with country programs.
• Provide technical support towards strengthening or building successful community-led governance models (e.g. fisheries Beach Management Units, Community Conservancies, Community Forest Associations, Shehia Fisher Committees, fisher cooperatives, etc) for sustainable fisheries and coastal management
• Lead development of program-level Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework for the fisheries and coastal community-led conservation initiatives.
• Establish and implement locally managed marine areas and community-based natural resource management plans
• Ensure creation of incentives that drive community benefits, sustainable management and livelihoods that build lasting support for conservation.
• Ensure development and implementation of coastal community-led conservation and fisheries strategic initiatives in Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, South Africa and the greater WIO region with particular focus on Coastal Fisheries (including FishPath approach), Large-Scale Fisheries and Sustainable Aquaculture Programs as well as strengthening policy frameworks that contribute to preventing and deterring Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing at national and regional levels for effective fisheries and ocean governance.
• Contribute to the development, reporting and management of the Africa Fisheries Strategy.
• Building partnerships and working with fishermen and fishing communities, internal and external scientists, and with seafood industries and NGO partners to enhance collaboration and synergy in implementation of the Conservancy’s Africa Ocean Protection and Resilience Strategy.
• Foster cross project learning and strengthen a Community of Practice for the sharing of best practices and lessons learned for adaptive management.
• Ensure development and management of work plans and large project budgets
• May involve working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• The position will involve frequent travel domestically and internationally, evening and weekend hours.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree in natural resources management, conservation, or another related field of study with 5 years of related work experience in conservation practice, project management, policy, fundraising or other related experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience on community-led conservation, fisheries management and marine science and conservation
• Experience conducting or working on fisheries-related scientific research, ecosystem interactions and coastal zone management.
• Experience in developing supportive and collaborative partnerships with other non-profits, community groups and/or government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in developing monitoring and evaluation approaches and frameworks
• Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Knowledge of key actors and current trends, threats to fisheries and marine biodiversity in the WIO, and practices related to management and protection at a national and regional scales.
• Strong technical writing and data analytical skills, interpretation, and presentation of information to a broad range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Experience in analyzing data and using statistical packages such as Excel and other analysis tools

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with the coastal fishing communities.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience are appreciated. Fluency in Swahili is an added advantage.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of field travel (at least 40%) domestically and internationally.
• Politically savvy.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, Retirement Pension Stipend, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colours, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.