Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Global Fishing Watch is hiring a Director of Program Impact to shape and lead regional and thematic programs addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and marine biodiversity, including support for the 30x30 target and High Seas Treaty. The role oversees distributed teams, partnerships, budgets and fundraising, and integrates technology, data, policy and monitoring, evaluation and learning to deliver ocean governance impact.
Responsibilities
- Lead the strategic and financial development and oversight of GFW’s regional and thematic delivery programs that align with the organizational strategy
- Identify and pilot repeatable implementation models, harnessing our open data and technology, to allow for strategic fundraising and scaling sustainably across new geographic sites, as appropriate
- Collaborate with the CIO and global program senior management team to inform the development and delivery of GFW's long-term strategy, and engage with and develop briefings and materials for the Senior Executive Group as needed
- Identify and react to established or changing ocean governance and fisheries management issues to promote GFW's programmatic goals
- Line manage and support regional / thematic leadership and teams to translate strategic priorities into actionable, funded delivery plans
- Guide and support the development of multi-year strategies and associated budgets
- Establish Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), as directed, manage performance, and foster a collaborative, safe, and inclusive remote work environment
- Identify capacity gaps, review and reassign resources as needed, and coach/mentor staff to ensure the team is equipped to accomplish their responsibilities
- Contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals to advance funding opportunities
- In collaboration with the fundraising team, manage relevant partner relationships and sub-grant review processes, negotiations, and performance monitoring
- Govern delegated departmental budgets, working with Finance to monitor expenditures, prepare forecasts, and ensure compliance with donor rules and regulations
- Ensure value for money can be effectively demonstrated to donors through accurate and timely financial and narrative reporting and activity selection and implementation, as needed
- When required, represent GFW at relevant international conferences, roundtables, and senior bilateral meetings
- Develop and implement partner engagement strategies that advance program priorities and initiatives while ensuring accountability and shared learning
- Support the development of public-facing communications materials and serve as a media spokesperson
- Help develop, track and report on program metrics and learning objectives in coordination with the MEL team
- Promote continuous improvement by integrating monitoring data and feedback into adaptive management practices
Skills
- In this new position, we are seeking an inspiring, strategic leader and accomplished manager who is passionate about delivering lasting impact for our ocean
- The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in international marine conservation and ocean governance, along with a strong aptitude for engaging high-level government representatives across national, regional and international fora
- The position also requires a strong understanding of, and enthusiasm for, leveraging our technology and data to effect change
- They will also bring a creative and collaborative mindset, working closely with Product, Research and Engineering to shape the continued evolution of our technology and data offering
- The Director will bring solid experience in multi-disciplined, remote team management, financial stewardship, fundraising, and embedding MEL into program design and delivery
- An experienced leader, they will have a strong track record of delivering impactful programs, building and developing high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in fisheries management, ocean governance and policy, marine conservation, marine spatial planning, or a closely related field
- The postholder requires a proven track record in high-level, multilateral diplomacy, state-level negotiations, and direct governance experience within Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) contexts and international treaty bodies
- A track record of designing and managing complex projects across multiple geographies or institutional contexts
- Familiarity with all relevant international and regional fisheries and marine governance frameworks, such as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agreement, with the ability to navigate high-level government and international fora
- Familiarity with maritime domain awareness tools and vessel tracking technologies (such as AIS and VMS)
- Strong track record managing multi-million-dollar grant-funded programs
- Substantive senior-level management experience, successfully leading diverse, dispersed, multi-cultural teams
- Experience developing and leveraging partnerships across nonprofit, academic, government and private sector institutions
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for diverse audiences
- Strong, demonstrable, financial management skills, particularly in budgeting and financial reporting
- Demonstrated ability to maintain and contribute to project management systems, track deliverables, and ensure accountability across multiple projects, teams and partners
- Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload consisting of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
- Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, public policy, science, or a related field
- Native or highly proficient in the English language
- Candidates must be authorized to work for GFW without visa sponsorship for at least two years after their start date, or for the entire duration of their contract if on a fixed-term agreement
- Individuals on student visas must be eligible for full-time employment on their visa and have valid work authorization (such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) or equivalent) that remains valid for at least two years or the duration of their contract. Candidates relying on a spouse's visa for work authorization are not eligible, as they must independently qualify for employment
- Candidates must be legally authorized and based in the following countries to be considered: USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Senegal
- Master's degree preferred
- Fluency in French or Spanish is highly preferred
Benefits
- Pension/retirement benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment.
- Health benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment.
- Other benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment.
- Remote role.
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