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Marine Conservation Officer

companyWorld Wildlife Fund, Inc.
locationBelize
PublishedPublished: Published 1 week ago
Marine Conservation
Permanent
Company Description

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, is looking for a Marine Conservation Officer based in our office in Belize. We are looking to hire a passionate, creative and dedicated professional, always willing to push the limits, a great team player and overall a good human being, who understands and appreciates the value of leading by example.

WWF is one of the World's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF Mesoamerica furthers the organization's global mission in Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and regionally in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Working in partnership with an array of public and private organizations, we execute projects in areas such as wildlife and habitat conservation, coastal-marine management, smart farming, sustainable fishing, water security and climate action, as well as lead other relevant activities that contribute to sustainable management of natural resources.

We are driven by the WWF Core Values:

COURAGE. We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it's needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.

INTEGRITY. We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.

RESPECT. We honour the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.

COLLABORATION. We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Job Description

We are looking to hire a passionate, creative, and dedicated professional, always willing to push the boundaries, a great team player and overall, a good human being, who understands and appreciates the value of leading by example.

Main Functions

The Marine Conservation Officer will help to coordinate, execute, follow up, monitor, and ensure technical aptness of activities related to WWF's Marine Program and key projects in the Belize portion of the Mesoamerican Reef. Specifically, the Officer will assist in managing and supervising the execution of a 5-year Blue Action Fund (BAF) project in southern Belize, including all aspects of implementation of marine and species conservation, local climate adaptation initiatives, marine protected areas effectiveness, coordination and follow up with project partners, and serving as local focal point for Environmental and Social Management Safeguards (ESMS). He/she is expected to actively engage with the conservation community in Belize, and work with and network with various local stakeholders.

III. Major duties and responsibilities

  • Lead planning, implementation, and monitoring of the envisaged project activities for the WWF project "Strengthening ecological and livelihood resilience in the Southern Belize Reef Complex" funded by the German Blue Action Fund (BAF), including coordination of project partners, community engagements and ESMS implementation
  • Manage contracts with project partners of the BAF project (e.g., SEA and Humana Belize)
  • Liaise with government and non-government stakeholders and local communities for support in project implementation
  • Ensure optimum utilization of project funds and timely delivery of technical and financial deliverables concerning project interventions
  • Develop project technical progress reports, including comprehensive activity reports for major project interventions
  • Organize and co-conduct meetings, workshops, seminars with communities, stakeholders, and partners
  • Identify sources of data, and collect and compile information to support climate risk and ecosystem service analyses, and MPA management effectiveness as need requires
  • Write and share concept papers/proposals for project replication
  • Complete any other assignment given by the reporting line to accomplish or contribute to any of the organizational objectives not specified here
IV. Working Relationships

  • Internal: Under supervision of WWF Mesoamerica's Senior Program Officer, work closely with the WWF local and regional teams on programmatic and operations related topics, knowledge development, sharing, innovation and professional development, and the like.
  • External: Government departments/agencies, conservation partners in the country, local communities, civil society groups, development agencies, donors, project implementation partners, grantees, universities and other relevant scientific organizations, at national, regional and international levels.
Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience
  • A graduate degree in environmental science, marine science, natural resource management, or a related field.
  • At least 5 years' relevant experience in project management, including executing/coordinating projects, and in participatory processes and interaction with different stakeholders.
  • At least five years relevant working experience with a government or non-government (national or international) organization of high standard and repute.
  • At least three years of experience in Marine Protected Areas management.
  • Have a solid understanding of the socio-cultural mindset, policy environment and regulatory processes in Belize.
  • Computer literate (capable of using MS Office packages).
  • Strong inter and intrapersonal communication skills.
  • English proficiency is a must and Spanish conversation skills will be an asset.
  • Strong communication skills include technical report writing, meeting facilitation and presentation creation.
  • Good conceptual and analytical skills, and ability to think and operate innovatively. Ability to communicate complex messages in an accessible manner for varied audiences.
  • Willingness to travel about 20% of the time is required.
  • Work efficiently under pressure to meet specified deadlines.
  • Comfortable working as part of a team and independently setting and achieving goals and is driven personally to measure success and find opportunities for improvement.
  • Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
  • Identifies and aligns with WWF's core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
    • Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
    • Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
    • Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
    • Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Additional Information

Interested candidates must submit CV, a letter summarizing his/her work experience and ability to meet each of the qualifications for the position including your salary expectation, copy of ID and copy of last education degree; this must be included as a single PDF document with the file name as follows: LastName_FirstName_MarineConservationOfficer Application.pdf This must be submitted directly on our career page

Application Due Date:

Tuesday, November 12th, 2024

WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices because of the applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability.

WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.