Aquaculture Program Director (Full Time; Remote)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES

• Work closely with the Advisory Services unit to ensure actionable aquaculture information is available to industry;
• Participate in relevant advisory groups (e.g, IDH, Science-based Target Network) to facilitate SFP’s aquaculture work, strategy, and fundraising;
• Work with Communications to develop an updated organizational profile for SFP on aquaculture issues with external audiences;
• Support the Markets Team and push retailers, food service companies, and suppliers to advance sustainable aquaculture sourcing policies and best practice;
• Maintain sufficient understanding of government aquaculture policy and management in key producer countries to inform market intervention opportunities;
• Provide expert input and direction to enable ecosystem/landscape/jurisdictional-level improvements to aquaculture management practices and policy in key sectors (shrimp, salmon) and geographies (major producing regions of key sectors);
• Maintain relationships with local and international organizations working in the field to ensure sustained improvements catalyzed by SFP and/or led by industry.
• Lead collaborations focused on aquaculture (e.g., Certification and Ratings Collaboration, Aquaculture Stewardship Council) on behalf of SFP to increase impact and reach;

• Provide leadership to assigned SR(s):
• Engage industry (i.e., major buyers, importers, suppliers) in Supply Chain Roundtables including sector supply chain mapping to identify priority companies, outreach, engagement and education of priority companies, leveraging SFP partners and major buyers, and liaising with other NGOs to engage their partners supply chains.

o Build and maintain relationships with industry participants, and strategically recruit new participants.

o Contribute to the development and implementation of a global strategy for making production under the SR’s scope more sustainable.

o Support the aspects of operating roundtables including communications, reporting and evaluation.

o Generate income from SR participant companies, such that funding can be used to cover up-to-date FishSource profiles for T75 covered by the SR.

• Drive improvements to move toward and achieve Target 75 and other strategic goals

o Maintain routine communication and gather intel from field teams (SFP team and external), science/analysis teams, supply chain, and retailers/market (SFP partners and external).

o Guide the SR to send requests for specific ecosystem improvements, depending on the intel gathered, to the exporters/processors, producers, AIPs, governments, and/or others.

o Working with the Markets Team, line up retailer/market leverage as needed to push SRs to make requests and to support SRs when they make requests

• Participate in senior management team calls and other cross-divisional working groups as needed to integrate aquaculture across the organization and share lessons learned.
• Supervise and provide leadership for direct-reporting position(s):
• Lead organizational strategy on aquaculture in conjunction with the Senior Implementation Team and Aquaculture Matrix Team.

o Aquaculture Information Manager

• Manage project-based contractors to ensure success of program deliverables.
• Work closely with the Development Team to grow the aquaculture program through fundraising including collaborating on new grant proposals and donor reporting.
• Facilitate development of an updated SFP aquaculture strategy for 2025-2030.
• Manage and report on budgets for aquaculture work where allocated.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work within a framework of responsibilities, objectives, and deadlines without (or with limited) in-person supervision
• Bachelor’s degree in aquaculture management and sustainability, marine conservation, market-based conservation, or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in program management and cross-divisional team management
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the seafood industry, based on at least 10 years’ experience working in or with the private sector
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships of trust and influence with industry audiences
• Scheduling flexibility to facilitate interactions with globally dispersed colleagues
• Excellent communication skills in English (speaking, reading and writing), including ability to present complex issues effective to industry audiences and to be persuasive and credible
• Personal qualities of honesty and integrity, and a commitment to conservation
• Cultural awareness to work and communicate effectively with diverse colleagues and stakeholders
• Ability to work comfortably and effectively in a mostly or fully online environment: work-from-home arrangements, strong practical knowledge of productivity software and/or platforms (i.e., Word, Excel, email & other common business communication tools), ability to learn new technology with ease, etc.
• A high level of strategic awareness and an understanding of how to guide a multi-stakeholder body toward consensus and collective action
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate concurrent projects and coordinate work with external collaborators

DESIRABLE QUALITIES

• Understanding of aquaculture as production industry, not just a science
• Master’s degree in relevant field of study
• Familiarity with life cycle analysis, carbon reporting platforms, and blue carbon concepts
• Understanding of ecosystems approaches to natural resource management and habitat protection and regeneration.
• Experience in regulator and policy-maker engagement.
• Experience working with and managing programs funded by international institutions (e.g. FAO, UNDP, GEF, World Bank)

LEVEL OF EFFORT

COMPENSATION

APPLICATION