|
The Vice President, APFD Marine is a new position created to provide high-level strategic vision and guidance, and technical and fundraising support, to focal marine programs in the field division (primarily in the Pacific and Indonesia, but with support and coordination for China, the Philippines, and Timor Leste that will connect to our partnership with the University of Auckland). The VP will provide leadership and support to APFD marine program directors to ensure strong coordination and synergy between the programs, while also working to identify and develop new funding opportunities and productive collaborations with regional Universities and institutions, primarily focusing on Auckland University but also including the Southeast Asia Aquarium in Singapore and other regional institutions. S/he will also play a pivotal role between the APFD and CI’s Moore Centre for Science and Oceans (MCSO), which currently supports a number of important marine initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region (including Pacific initiatives, the seascapes programs in the Bird's Head and Sulu-Sulawesi, and the Coral Triangle Initiative). The VP APFD Marine will report directly to the Senior Vice President of the Asia Pacific Field Division, and will coordinate closely with Asia-Pacific country program leads and marine program directors, as well as MCSO senior management involved in the aforementioned initiatives.
In the initial phase of development of this new role, the VP will focus on providing strategic direction for the Indonesia marine program, the Pacific Oceanscape, Timor Leste and the Philippines. For the Indonesia program, emphasis will be on oversight of the Bird's Head Seascape Transition Phase and fundraising support to the long-term sustainable financing mechanism being developed for the BHS. For the Pacific Oceanscape, emphasis will be on providing a global strategic vision, fundraising, and partnership development. At the same time, s/he will begin the important task of aligning Asia-Pacific marine programs and regional initiatives, and developing strategic regional alliances with institutions such as Auckland University, Resorts World Singapore, and regional donor governments. For all region-wide work, a key element will be to develop two-way engagement with the University of Auckland. This aims to engage University scientists and students in CI’s Asia Pacific-wide marine research and conservation work, including the provision of annual scholarships, and to have key conservation staff and partners from Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor Leste, China, PNG, and Pacific nations come to the University of Auckland for continuing studies. It also includes support to develop marine conservation programs within New Zealand.
This role, especially the percentage of time allocations, will evolve as the marine programs in the region mature. As such, this job description will be revisited and revised annually.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide strategic leadership and project oversight over the Bird's Head Seascape Initiative in Indonesia during its critical transition phase. Provide technical inputs and capacity building/mentoring of those program staff and partners who will manage the program as it becomes a governmental-led initiative. Take the lead role in capitalizing the long-term sustainable financing mechanism being developed for the BHS. Link the work to the University of Auckland through scholarships and exchanges.
- Engineer and build CI's regional approach to marine conservation across the Pacific. Provide technical support and expertise (including for marine rapid biodiversity assessments with the region), develop capacity including exchanges of ideas and best practices, monitor marine project implementation ensuring projects remain on track, and improve alignment across country and regional marine programs including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the larger Pacific Oceanscape country programs. Lead the development of strategic partnerships with region-wide universities, research institutions, and related academic stakeholders. Develop exchanges with the University of Auckland, and include them in fundraising proposals based on their technical expertise.
- Lead Coral Triangle Initiative team and program.
- Develop and implement technical support to the Timor Leste, Philippines and China marine programs and monitor implementation. Devise and implement strategies to support Asia-Pacific marine networking and alignment efforts.
- Identify and leverage fundraising opportunities. Provide technical guidance on funding proposals and involve New Zealand expertise as appropriate. Lead regional "Sojourns" VIP trips with high net worth individuals in the region. Engage with key governmental and corporate donors in the region including in Australia and New Zealand, and lead all engagement with corporate donors and high net worth individuals in Australia. Support development of marine conservation efforts within New Zealand.
- Collaborate with HQ and MCSO leaders to replicate APFD marine initiative successes throughout CI as appropriate
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor
Working Conditions
The VP Asia Pacific Marine Programs position will require significant international travel (about 30%) and travel to remote field sites. The position will be involved in scuba diving, and in leading donor field trips that involve diving.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- A PhD in marine sciences/natural resource management with minimum 15 years’ experience in designing and implementing successful marine conservation initiatives in Asia and the Pacific, with a record of strong conservation performance
- Strong leadership abilities and human resources management experience with ability to marshal staff and resources behind new ways of thinking and approaches to marine conservation within the region.
- Excellent writing and communication skills with strong publication record
- Extensive experience in fundraising and donor relations, with proven record of revenues exceeding US$1million annually
- Strong financial management experience
- Extensive experience designing both marine biodiversity surveys and MPA ecological monitoring programs and mentoring staff in their implementation
- Experience in linking marine conservation programs with marine tourism development, with a deep network of Asia-Pacific marine tourism contacts
- Superb interpersonal skills and ability to employ innovative thinking to deal with cross-cutting and complex issues.
- Strong coordination skills and an ability to manage simultaneous, interdisciplinary tasks
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals and within teams representing different organizations or constituencies, professionally representing CI to these internal and external audiences
- Advanced dive certification
Preferred
- Strong scientific publishing record
- Well-developed network of contacts with conservationists, scientists and donors working in the Asia-Pacific region
- Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia
|
