Global Fisheries Improvement Lead

Organisation Overview

Blue Ventures is an award-winning marine conservation organisation working to rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities. We’re committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and where there is a fundamental unmet need to support human development.

Summary Job Description

We are currently recruiting a fisheries professional to lead Blue Ventures’ small-scale fisheries improvement efforts worldwide. This position will play a driving role in developing and implementing a strategy that harnesses global seafood supply chains in order to incentivise and reward sustainable management in one of the western Indian Ocean’s largest small-scale fisheries. Our vision is to create a replicable model for small-scale fishery improvement that can be scaled up through other tropical small-scale fisheries in coastal developing states.

The position will have a particular emphasis on coordinating Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) activities in Madagascar through Blue Ventures’ in-country project management team, while also developing and supporting evolving fishery improvement initiatives through partnerships in other territories.

We’re looking for someone with a strong understanding of tropical small-scale fishery supply chains and the seafood business, and familiarity with fishery improvement projects and their role in the sustainable seafood movement. The successful candidate will have a deep and sensitive appreciation of the complex challenges facing coastal African and southeast Asian fisheries; including severe coastal poverty, and an overwhelming reliance on fishing for food and income.

This role requires a dynamic self motivated individual capable of working effectively with diverse actors, from communities and field-based colleagues, to government agencies, research institutions, seafood businesses, and fishery certification organisations. We’re looking for an adept communicator and strategic thinker, capable of translating an ambitious vision for fishery improvement into practical and achievable actions on the ground, underpinned by a strong degree of local understanding, engagement and buy-in. The successful candidate will be capable of building strategic alliances and partnerships, capable of convincing seafood exporters of the business case for investing in fisheries improvement; and of building partnerships with companies in the supply chain who can drive sustainable practice and pay fishers a fair price.

The Global Fisheries Improvement Lead will have responsibility for shaping Blue Ventures’ fishery improvement strategies, including exploring and evaluating new approaches in managing small-scale fisheries in a developing world context, and building socio-economic considerations into the fisheries improvement process to maximise practical benefits to coastal communities, while securing the long-term sustainability of target fisheries. The position will provide close guidance and technical support to Blue Ventures’ field-based teams to deliver fisheries improvement efforts.

We are looking for a creative, open minded and discerning individual, with first rate partnership development, leadership and communications skills, and a strong technical background in small-scale fisheries management. The successful candidate will thrive in environments that are dynamic, fast-paced, collegiate and ambitious, and have a proven track record in delivering high quality written work, and in communicating effectively and professionally with diverse audiences, ranging from fishing communities to conservationists and technical specialists.

The role entails working as part of an interdisciplinary and international team, with excellent opportunities for professional development. The successful candidate will report to Blue Ventures’ Conservation Programmes Manager, and will be based in one of our UK offices in London or Bristol, with regular overseas travel to work with partners and field teams.

Application process

Applicants should apply using the online form via the Blue Ventures website, by Friday 20th October.

Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and first-round interviews may be conducted with short-listed candidates before the application deadline.

All shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.