Executive Director, Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust (the “PIPA Trust”) was legally established in 2009 as a corporate body under the laws of Kiribati.  Its primary activity is to utilize its assets to provide support for (a) administration and operation of the PIPA Trust; (b) management of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area; and (c) ensuring that exploitation of the resources of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area remains limited or prohibited.  The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (“PIPA”) encompasses marine and atoll habitat and is currently one of the largest marine protected areas (MPA) in the Pacific. 

About the Position

The PIPA Trust seeks the services of an Executive Director to manage its operations from its headquarters in Tarawa, Kiribati.  The primary role of the Executive Director will be oversight and coordination between the PIPA Trust and the Government of Kiribati, specifically the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) and the PIPA Implementation Office (PIO) in the development and execution of the PIO’s annual budget and work plan.

A significant amount of the Executive Director’s time will be devoted to fundraising and in-house planning and strategy with the PIPA Partners and Board (Government of Kiribati, Conservation International, New England Aquarium, Waitt Foundation/ Oceans 5). The PIPA Trust seeks to raise $25 million USD for its endowment, with an interim target of $13.5 million. The Executive Director will prepare a fundraising strategy, and only after such a strategy is professionalized and approved by the Trust Board, identify and meet with potential donors, develop proposals to potential donors, negotiate the terms of grant agreements with donors, and travel globally in connection with fundraising efforts.

In addition, the Executive Director will be responsible for the overall management of the PIPA Trust, subject to the supervision and control of its Board of Directors, which currently consists of representatives of the Government of Kiribati, Conservation International, the Waitt Foundation and the New England Aquarium. The Executive Director will represent and promote the PIPA Trust’s interests in dealings with the Government of Kiribati; local and international conservation NGOs; local and international businesses that impact biodiversity or are potential donors; multilateral and bilateral international donor agencies; and local and international media. The Executive Director will be responsible for the development and implementation of long-term strategic plans, annual operating plans, internal operations manuals and policies, annual budgets and financial updates for consideration and approval by the PIPA Trust’s Board.

The Executive Director will be hired by the PIPA Trust for an initial one-year appointment, subject to renewal on the basis of job performance.

Job Qualifications:

1. An undergraduate degree from a recognized university is required, and in addition, an MBA or MS in Resource Management, Environmental Science or Policy graduate degree is preferred.
2. Demonstrated skill and experience operating in the public-private environment, with emphasis on knowledge of the Pacific Island public sector functions.
3. Demonstrated skill, experience and success in marketing and fundraising with an emphasis on raising funds from multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, foundations, and corporations.
4. Familiarity with biodiversity conservation issues and protected area management activities with a preference for candidates with specific experience in marine settings.
5. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, and the ability to work with groups and organizations both within and outside Kiribati.  Experience in working with international aid and development agencies, foundations and corporations will be of the greatest importance.
6. Be a highly energetic, self-starting, entrepreneurial and creative individual who can express/recognize ideas, opportunities, and communicate goals and objectives clearly.
7. Exemplary verbal and written skills in English.  Fluency in I-Kiribati is strongly preferred but not required.  Non-I-Kiribati candidates must possess a willingness and interest to learn the language.
8. Familiarity with the Pacific Islands region.
9. An ability and willingness to travel internationally on a regular basis.
10. Demonstrated organizational and management experience in administering staff, developing and implementing a detailed budget and other resources.
11. Demonstrated ability and experience in engaging with high level Government as well as international and development agencies’ leadership; and  
12. Experience working with and reporting to a Board of Directors, interacting with Board members and submitting memoranda and reports thereto.
13. I-Kiribati citizenship or residency is strongly preferred but not required. Off-island candidates must be willing to relocate to Tarawa within 60 days of hire.

Application:

Interested applicants are requested to send a cover letter and CV in electronic form to the PIPA Trust Board via:

Greg Stone, Conservation International (gstone@conservation.org)

and

Meghan Jeans, New England Aquarium (mjeans@neaq.org)

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 30, 2016.

Status:                       Full time, one-year contract (with planned extension on an annual, performance-based basis)

Reports to:                Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust Board of Directors

Location:                   Tarawa, Kiribati

Travel Required:      25% early on, up to 50% as fundraising becomes the highest priority