Pacific Manager, Blue Nature Alliance

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.

The Blue Nature Alliance is a global initiative designed to accelerate the pace, scale, and effectiveness of ocean conservation through partnership. Together with our partners, we are catalyzing more effective and equitable large-scale protections of critical ocean ecosystems for the benefit of nature and people.

The Blue Nature Alliance collaborates with governments, NGOs, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and scientists to identify engagement locations, articulate shared objectives, and design the strategic interventions needed to achieve measurable outcomes for the creation of new ocean conservation areas, and the expansion, improved management, or upgraded protections of existing areas. Also centered on Indigenous peoples and local communities' goals to protect their natural resources and enhance the social and ecological outcomes, equity is core to the Blue Nature Alliance's Ocean conservation work. This approach ensures the legitimacy and durability of marine conservation.

Our goal is to support 18 million square kilometers of new or improved ocean conservation areas by 2027. Based on the needs of each site, we provide a combination of technical expertise, access to a network of partners, and flexible financial resources to meaningfully and measurably advance effective conservation for the long-term

The Blue Nature Alliance is a global partnership founded and co-governed by Conservation International, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Global Environment Facility, Minderoo Foundation, and the Rob Walton Foundation. The Blue Nature Alliance operates as a multi-institutional team with staff housed in several different organizations and across multiple time zones.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, or New Caledonia

The Blue Nature Alliance is currently partnering in a portfolio of eleven sites in the Pacific Region. While all sites are focused on area-based ocean conservation objectives and work through partnerships, each site has differing objectives to secure new marine protections and improve the management of existing protections. The Blue Nature Alliance is looking for a qualified individual with deep knowledge of the political, socio-economic, cultural, and ecological context of the Pacific region to serve as the Pacific Manager to help oversee these existing relationships and grants, as well as provide technical expertise and oversight to ensure the success of this work.

The Pacific Manager will contribute to the Blue Nature Alliance's site engagements team. As its top priority, the Project Manager will provide coordination and project management support to the Pacific and Francophonie Regional Lead, who is the primary conduit for the Alliance's engagement with partners in potential and approved investment sites in the Pacific. The Pacific Manager will drive the successful delivery of Alliance site partnerships through regular contact with grantees and by providing technical experts on ocean conservation and management effectiveness.

Under the Pacific and Francophonie Lead's direction, the Pacific Manager may conduct desktop assessments and backstop the Pacific and Francophonie Regional Lead as they cultivate new relationships and opportunities in the Pacific Islands and francophone sites. The Pacific Manager will co-lead the scoping of these opportunities, the development of engagement strategies for Blue Nature Alliance investment, and the grant-making process.

The Pacific Manager will maintain updated records and documents throughout scoping, grant-making, implementation, reporting of Alliance site engagement, and facilitate the provision of technical support to grantees from the Alliance team and partners to ensure success for assigned sites.

Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Pacific and Francophonie Regional Officer, drive the implementation of engagement frameworks and ensure success for assigned sites.
• Maintain regular contact with grantees and provide assistance to ensure effective delivery on all grant requirements, including progress and financial reporting, safeguard implementation, budget, and workplan amendments. Ensure implementing partner/s and service providers deliver success for the portfolio of site engagements and expected outcomes.
• Under the supervision of the Pacific and Francophonie Regional Officer, engage with policy makers and government officials as needed.
• Identify and flag potential risks, challenges, or barriers throughout implementation.
• Contribute to the production of strategic documents, literature reviews, stakeholders mapping, roadmaps, and high-level notes in coordination with implementing partners.
• Work with Blue Nature Alliance Regional Officers and the Blue Nature Alliance's delivery team to identify potential technical support needs to address capacity gaps or emerging issues in assigned sites as appropriate and coordinate the provision of technical support from Alliance team members and partners as needed.
• Provide direct technical support as needed to advance site-based objectives and to build local capacity
• Regularly communicate with the Pacific and Francophone Regional lead and Blue Nature Alliance leadership on emerging opportunities and changing priorities to inform identification of sites for advanced scoping
• Conduct desktop assessments for potential new engagements, including documenting environmental, social, political and economic context.
• As assigned (focused on francophone and Pacific Island countries) advance the scoping of approved sites, organize a diagnostic assessment with local government, partners, and stakeholders to assess opportunity for Blue Nature Alliance engagement. That may include scoping trips.
• Work in close collaboration and under the supervision of the Pacific and Francophonie Regional lead. As needed, provide technical, planning, administrative, and logistical support.
• Support internal communication and reporting of all Pacific and Francophone sites within the Blue Nature Alliance team, including regular updates of progresses in weekly meetings, in our system tracker and dashboard, on our granting platform.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Typical office environment.
• This position requires working additional and non-standard working hours
• Frequent international travel anticipated, including to remote locations. Travel may cross weekends and, on occasion, holidays to accommodate meeting schedules - International Travel requirement for up to 30%
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
• Priority will be given to pacific island-based candidates.
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• 5 years of specialized experience and partnership management – preferably in the Pacific - in the broad field of ocean conservation and/or political advocacy gained through professional education, training, fieldwork, and practical hands-on experience handling multiple partnerships.
• Sensible to and knowledgeable about Pacific ways.
• Possess a strong network of relevant contacts and the ability to leverage these relationships to advance objectives. Familiarity and connection with the conservation community and enforcement bodies is desirable.
• Outcome-oriented style, with focus on achieving measurable and ambitious goals. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying new opportunities and outcomes, and in pursuing partnerships and strategies to deliver greater impact.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Able to develop and manage productive relationships with colleagues, consultants, partners and others who contribute to the Alliance. Highly diplomatic; able to work productively with a wide array of people and institutions.
• Seasoned judgment. Able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be professional, responsive, and confident in communications with consultants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Media-savvy and politically astute. Strong and persuasive oral presentation and facilitation skills.
• Experience working internationally with a diverse set of governments, communities, and stakeholders in collaborative and respectful ways.
• Must be fluent in English with good writing skills. Fluency in French is a strong plus but not a limit to non-speaking applicants. Fluency in any other language spoken in the Pacific region is much valued.
• Comfortable managing diverse responsibilities and adapting to changing priorities in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to work under general supervision and take initiative to solve problems under the supervisor's direction
• Highly organized with solid attention to detail
  
  

Preferred

• Advanced degree
• Connection to nature, ocean, and people.
• Technical knowledge of ocean policy and regional frameworks, science and fieldwork, and/or Marine Protected Areas and resources management
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to a diverse range of perspectives, including expertise relating to the perspectives of Indigenous peoples, communities of island states and territories, and grassroots organizations.
  
  

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

Application Deadline: September 25, :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.
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