Location: San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC, United States
The Environmental Defense Fund is searching for a Director for their Fishing Solutions Center (FiSC). The Fishery Solutions Center (FiSC) is internationally recognized for expertise in the science, policy and economics of fisheries and in the design of sustainable solutions. The team helps EDF’s partners and field staff around the world assess the challenges facing their fisheries and develop solutions. The Center is the world’s most comprehensive hub for tools, training and information on sustainable fishing and their experts are dedicated to advancing the cutting-edge of sustainable fisheries management, including providing mentoring and training to pracitioners on the ground.
The Director will provide strategic advice and leadership to FiSC in order to support the Ocean program goals, advance cutting-edge knowledge and solutions and help establish the Center as a globally-recognized thought leader on sustainable fisheries management.
For a 4-6 month period, the Director will serve as the Acting Director of the Center while the current Senior Director is on leave. In this capacity, the Associate Director will manage a team of diverse, highly-talented experts driving the program’s science, fisheries management design, training and supply chain/finance work. S/he will provide day-to-day management of the Center’s staff, ensure that the team stays on track to meet their deliverables and support the Program’s regional teams, and serve as the Center’s representative with Program and EDF leadership. S/he will also have primary responsibility for developing and coordinating the Center’s contribution to new geographic areas, with particular attention to the Asia-Pacific region, including decisions regarding strategic direction, new project development and staff deployment. In this capacity, the Director will also interface with other Oceans leadership including regional directors.
Subsequently, the Director will work closely with the Sr. Director on strategy development, advancing thought-leadership, developing new streams of work and executing on key projects as well as continuing to help direct the Center’s staff. The Director should be a seasoned manager, a strategic thinker, an expert on fisheries and sustainable fisheries management, and able to represent EDF in private and public fora. Experience in the Asia-Pacific region is also preferred. S/He will also participate as a member of the Oceans program management team while the Senior Director is on leave and on the Oceans leadership team, contributing to broader program strategy, management, fundraising and coordination.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Work with FiSC leadership to ensure the Center is effectively executing on our responsibilities, most principally supporting the Oceans program goal to advance the transition to sustainable fisheries worldwide.
• Provide direct management to the Director, Operations and Program Management to ensure team is appropriately organized and resourced to meet key deliverables. Help make strategic decisions on resources, including budget
• Provide direct management to Director of Impact to advance thought-leadership on finance and supply chains and ensure progress on capacity building of others, including Oceans staff.
• Provide direct management to Director, Research and Development to spur innovative, relevant research projects; convert key research insights into usable tools; and manage relationships with key university partners.
• Provide direct management to Director, Diagnostics and Design to identify, diagnose and assess regional team needs (including use of the upside model as a diagnostics tool); and develop and apply appropriate solutions in a seamless, effective manner.
• Provide strategic advise and leadership for EDF Oceans’ burgeoning work in the Asia-Pacific region. Lead development of FSC team’s contributions to the Asia-Pacific work and ensure regional projects have the needed technical support and guidance for success. Ensure appropriate coordination.
• In coordination with FiSC team leads, liaise with other Ocean program leaders (e.g. Regional Directors, Chief Scientist, Communications Director, etc) to ensure appropriate coordination on work.
• Serve on the Oceans leadership team contributing to overall program success. During Senior Director’s leave, serve on Oceans Management team to help direct program vision, strategy and execution, including the development of the global strategy.
• Serve as an external EDF authority on issues of effective fisheries management (e.g. catch shares, fishing rights, etc) design and implementation. Regularly communicate in various fora (internal, public, etc) on key areas of expertise, representing EDF and the Oceans program.
• Provide expert advice and consultation to policy-makers, partners, staff and other stakeholders on the purpose, design and implementation of effective fisheries management.
• Develop and lead partnerships, where applicable, with academic institutions, fishery managers, non-profit organizations and others.
• Recruit and develop new talent, including consultants and staff, to grow the cadre of experts on effective fisheries management.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for EDF engagement.
• Interface with EDF senior management, board, trustees and key funders as a program leader and content expert.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Advanced degree in environmental studies, natural resources management, communications, politics or other related field necessary. Ph.D, preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant work experience with demonstrated success as a technical expert and manager. Experience in Asia is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse, strong teams to deliver results.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective strategies that achieve results.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems through innovative approaches.
• Deep understanding of scientific, environmental, business, financial and other issues related to creating and maintaining sustainable fisheries.
• Extensive experience with catch shares, including deep understanding of theory and application.
• Demonstrated ability to lead partnerships with academic institutions and other thought-leaders.
• Comfortable providing expertise to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective teams including recruiting, hiring and managing staff and consultants, to deliver results.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets and administrate grant spending.
• Possess strong organizational and people skills. Be a self-starter, and able to work closely with peers, supervisors, and direct reports.
• Capable of mobilizing scientific, legal, economic, and other experts to advance policy.
• Capable of managing a diverse workload.
• Strong written and verbal skills with the expertise to communicate complex regulatory issues to technical and non-technical audiences and ability to speak publicly.
• Commitment to scientific integrity.
