International Policy Officer - Regional Fisheries Management Organizations at Global Fishing Watch

Background 

Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, GFW became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. Our major focus is on commercial fishing because it is the most widespread human activity at sea, the most impactful on ocean health, and the most crucial for global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all. 

The Position

The International Policy Officer - RFMOs will play a pivotal role in advancing Global Fishing Watch’s international policy objectives by engaging with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing for and attending RFMO meetings, advocating for policy changes, conducting bilateral meetings with member countries, and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders. Their work will focus on regional, aligning with the specific needs and dynamics of different RFMO regions. This role demands a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills and a deep understanding of international fisheries management.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

RFMO Engagement:

• Prepare for and attend RFMO meetings (for up to five RFMOs), ensuring GFW’s positions and objectives are effectively communicated.
• Develop and submit policy proposals and position papers to influence RFMO decision-making processes.
• Monitor and report on RFMO activities, decisions, and outcomes relevant to GFW’s mission.
• Continuously monitor new developments, research, and regulatory changes in relevant fields to ensure policy recommendations remain current, adaptive, and evidence-driven.

Policy Advocacy:

• Develop policy positions grounded in evidence, scientific research, and best practices.
• Advocate for the adoption of policies that promote sustainable fisheries management and combat IUU fishing within RFMOs.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and subject matter experts, to gather relevant input and refine and validate policy recommendations.
• Track global and regional policy developments, assessing their impact on GFW’s objectives.

Relationship Building:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with RFMO member countries, secretariats, and other key stakeholders.
• Conduct bilateral meetings with country representatives to discuss and negotiate policy positions.
• Represent GFW at international conferences, workshops, and other relevant events.

Strategic Planning:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of GFW’s 2030 strategy.
• Identify opportunities for GFW to engage in new or existing RFMOs.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to the Director of International Policy and senior leadership team.
• Ensure the international policy team’s work within RFMO’s is communicated and disseminated internally. 

Communication & Reporting:

• Draft detailed reports and briefings on RFMO meetings and other relevant activities.
• Communicate complex policy issues and RFMO developments to diverse audiences, including the media, public, and GFW partners.
• Collaborate with GFW’s communications team to promote GFW’s policy positions and achievements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with other GFW teams, including Applied Research, Product, and Global Programs, to align policy initiatives with organizational goals and leverage internal expertise.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support fundraising efforts by contributing to grant proposals and reports for funders, as well as providing input to the Executive team.
• Assist other International Policy initiatives as required.
• Provide support for office administration tasks when needed.

Candidate description

Required

• Education: Advanced degree in International Relations, Environmental Policy, Marine Science, Law, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in international fisheries management, policy advocacy, or related fields. Experience working with RFMOs (especially WCPFC and IATTC) is highly desirable.
• Skills and Knowledge:
• Strong understanding of global fisheries management issues and RFMO processes.
• Sound knowledge of marine conservation policies and international institutions to protect marine ecosystems and resources.
• Capacity to engage in public affairs and navigate political environments.
• Capacity to build and maintain strong networks and relationships.
• Flexible task management with the ability to balance diverging demands and interests, work independently, and take on additional responsibilities when required.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage a heavy workload, setting realistic deadlines, and maintaining a flexible and positive approach to problem solving.
• Impactful communication skills, including excellent written and verbal communication in English, and the ability to communicate complicated messages clearly to different audiences.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, with excellent research skills and the ability to present extensive technical information in a simplified form.
• Ability to compile ideas into concise proposals and verify own conclusions.

Workload Expectation: Experience has shown that to be effective, an RFMO Officer will spend around two weeks preparing briefing material and coordinating positions with stakeholders attending a RFMO meeting. As the meetings are normally of one-week duration, a single meeting may require 3-4 weeks of work. 

As each RFMO has two or more meetings each year, and you will cover up to five RFMOs, the role will require significant travel and time away from your working location.

Preferred

• Proficiency in another language, particularly French, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, or Spanish, is preferred.
• Sound knowledge of legislative processes and policy formulation.

The successful candidate will meet most, but not necessarily all, of the criteria above. If you don’t think you check all the boxes, but believe you have unique skills that make you a great fit for the role, we want to hear from you!

Please submit a CV with your relevant experiences and a cover letter conveying your interest in the position and how your previous experiences would support you to be successful in this role. We look forward to getting to know more about you!

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Additional Information

Note: The application period for this role closes on October 9, 2024

Reporting to: Director of International Policy

Manages: NA

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not supported at this time.

Location: This is a remote role, but candidates must be legally authorized and based in the following countries to be considered. : Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, UK, USA

Permanent/Fixed Term/Contractor: Fixed term - 2 years

Full Time hours: Yes 

Recruiting process: Recruiting Process: A cover letter along with a CV will be requested to see how your experience and interest connect to the position. We expect the cover letter to allow applicants an opportunity to explain details on how their skill set aligns with the role and provide a better understanding of their suitability for the position. If selected for consideration, the hiring process for this position will include an initial call with our Talent Acquisition team, followed by a formal 45 minute interview with 1-3 team members. Candidates advancing beyond this round will be asked to take a technical assessment and/or submit a representative code sample. Lastly, a final interview with 2-4 teams members to review your assessment and assess functional skills.

Compensation: A compensation range for this position is US$ 80-90K per year for US-based employees. GBP 45-55K per year for UK-based employees. IDR400-550,000,000 per year for Indonesia based employees - For applicants located outside of these locations/ranges, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire. Compensation is commensurate with experience and will vary depending on the hired candidate’s country of residence, in accordance with local laws and regulations. GFW offers pension/retirement, health and other benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment. The position may be a GFW employee or consultant, depending on the country of residence  

Equal opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.