The Indo-Pacific Tuna Program Micronesia Project Director oversees TNC’s tuna work in Palau and supports the Program’s Director(s) in developing and executing the Program’s strategy in the broader Micronesia region.
The Project Director will oversee a body of critical technical support in Palau on the domestication of Palau’s tuna fisheries including, Palau’s fisheries electronic monitoring program, national anchored Fish Aggregating Device program, and the development of market infrastructure to deliver sustainably-harvested seafood products to local markets. The Project Director will serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community. They will develop and deepen key partnerships with public & private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and the private sector to catalyze innovative conservation strategies. They will liaise with TNC’s Micronesia Program Director to align the Palau tuna domestication work with TNC’s broader Palau engagements. The Project Director will also support the Indo-Pacific Tuna Program Director on the design and execution of a range of technical support activities across the broader Micronesia Region, including in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands.
- May supervise staff at remote locations.
- Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget.
- Writes requests for proposal (RFPs) for grant/contract funding for program.
- Frequently makes independently strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context.
- Negotiates complex agreements, in a political environment.
- Frequent travel domestically and internationally, evening and weekend hours.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups, the private sector, and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
- Must be willing to live in Palau.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross cultural experience appreciated. Fluency in Palauan language preferred.
- 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Politically savvy.