Large Scale Fisheries Project Director – Europe and Africa

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Large-Scale Fisheries Project Director leads The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to work with governments and other stakeholders to design, implement, and scale electronic monitoring (EM) programs that improve fisheries management, transparency, and accountability across industrial fisheries operating in Africa and Europe. The Project Director serves as a principal representative for TNC’s fisheries transparency initiatives, providing strategic, technical, and partnership leadership to advance the adoption of effective EM strategies and the use of fisheries data to support sustainable management decisions.

The location for this position is flexible within countries in Europe and Africa where The Nature Conservancy is a registered NGO and has an established office in Europe (these include Croatia, Belgium, Germany, and the UK) and in Africa (these include Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia).

Essential Functions:

The Project Director establishes TNC as a trusted partner in the design and implementation of electronic monitoring programs. They build strategic partnerships with government agencies, industry stakeholders, regional fisheries management organizations, technology providers, and civil society organizations to strengthen fisheries monitoring and management systems.

The Project Director provides technical support for the design, implementation, evaluation, and scaling of EM programs, including policy frameworks, operational models, governance arrangements, financing approaches, and implementation roadmaps. They work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify barriers, develop practical solutions, and integrate EM data into fisheries management, compliance, and decision-making processes.

The Director develops and manages multi-stakeholder collaborations, builds technical and institutional capacity, negotiates complex solutions, and facilitates policy dialogue to advance effective and sustainable EM programs. They represent TNC in national, regional, and international forums and communicate best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches that accelerate fisheries transparency and accountability

We’re Looking for You:

If you’re looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join our Large Scales Fisheries program as a key Project Director to support biodiversity and sustainable fisheries. Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives across the oceans but you will also support TNC’s ambitious global goals for positive outcomes for both nature and people.

We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to lead our LSF projects across Africa and Europe. Systems Leadership, creativity, and the ability to influence without authority are key in this role. Come join TNC and apply today

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
• Experience negotiating.

Desired Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in fisheries management, marine conservation, natural resource governance, environmental policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or scaling electronic monitoring, fisheries transparency, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), or related fisheries management programs.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing fisheries management policies, regulations, standards, or implementation frameworks.
• Experience working with government fisheries agencies, regional fisheries management organizations, seafood industry stakeholders, and international partners.
• Demonstrated success building and managing complex partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaborations across diverse political, cultural, and institutional contexts.
• Experience securing and managing grants, contracts, and donor-funded programs.
• Knowledge of current trends, best practices, and emerging issues related to electronic monitoring, fisheries transparency, sustainable seafood, and industrial fisheries management.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed, decentralized, and collaborative organization.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Proficiency in French or Swahili is preferred.
• Politically savvy, with demonstrated ability to influence decision-m