Executive Director

North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State of Alaska Retirement Plan

Annual leave and sick leave

Health insurance benefits

Employee-paid 403(b) deferred compensation plan

Job summary

A regional fishery management organization in Anchorage, Alaska seeks an experienced Executive Director to lead its operations. The successful candidate will manage various responsibilities including organizing Council meetings and overseeing fiscal affairs. A Master’s degree in a related field and ten years of experience in natural resource management are required. Significant knowledge of North Pacific fisheries is preferred. The salary ranges from $165K to $195K annually, supplemented with additional benefits.

Qualifications

• Ten years of relevant professional experience in natural resource management with at least 5 years in supervisory roles.
• Knowledge of fisheries management in the North Pacific region preferred.

Responsibilities

• Organizing and managing Council meetings.
• Coordinating necessary analyses and technical information.
• Managing fiscal affairs of the Council.
• Supervising professional and administrative staff.
• Representing the Council in forums.
• Tracking federal and state legislation.
• Communicating effectively with the Council and public.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Executive Decision-Making

Education

Master’s degree in natural resource management or related field

Job description

Join to apply for the Executive Director role at North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is seeking motivated candidates to serve as Executive Director. Interested individuals must apply by COB October 31, 2025.

The Council seeks a strong leader for its staff, with excellent administrative and organizational skills and wide knowledge of natural resource conservation and management matters. The Council is established under the authority of the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to develop and recommend management measures for marine fisheries within 200 miles off the coast of Alaska. For more information on the purpose, background, and activity of the North Pacific Council, see www.npfmc.org.

The position is stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. The salary range mirrors the federal GS-15 scale and is currently $165–$195K annually, with the State of Alaska Retirement Plan, as well as annual leave, sick leave, and health insurance benefits, and an employee-paid 403(b) deferred compensation plan. North Pacific Council staff are not Federal or state employees, although the Federal salary schedule is used and many of the operating policies and procedures mirror those of a typical Federal or state natural resource agency. The Council is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit corporation that receives only Federal funding, with annual budgets of approximately $5 million.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the Council and serves at the pleasure of the Council. Key position duties include the following.

• Organizing and managing up to five Council meetings per year in the open and transparent fashion required by the MSA, to enable fully informed policy‑level decision‑making on important marine fishery conservation and management issues.
• Coordinating the provision of the necessary analyses and other technical information for Council decision‑making.
• Managing the fiscal affairs of the Council, including development and administration of operating budgets; internal financial controls; grant applications and reporting; contracting; and financial audits.
• Supervision and review of professional and administrative staff (approximately 14 persons) to support Council processes and decision‑making.
• Representing the Council in a variety of forums, including conferences and international fisheries delegations where relevant.
• Tracking and responding to proposed or enacted federal and state legislation pertaining to the Council and its fisheries management mission.
• Communicating effectively with the Council and public, and coordinating activities and planning with the National Marine Fisheries Service and other agencies and institutions.

A complete Position Description is appended to this recruitment announcement.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or higher majoring in a field related to natural resource management; relevant biological sciences, socio‑economic sciences, or earth sciences; or public policy.
• Ten years of relevant professional experience in natural resource management or related field, with at least 5 years of experience at or near the level of duties and responsibility described in the position description, including supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and applied experience with, fisheries and fisheries management in the North Pacific region.

Competency Criteria

The Council seeks an individual who thrives when faced with the challenges inherent to this position, and who has the ability to lead staff to execute analyses and projects successfully and within reasonable time constraints. Necessary competencies include the following.

Leadership – leading Council meetings and staff to maintain a culture of high quality work and meeting deadlines.

Communication – effective written and verbal communication skills to convey highly complex scientific, policy, and legal concepts to a wide variety of audiences.

Collaboration and Coordination – ability to establish positive working relationships with government agencies, fishery constituents, NGOs, academics, Tribal entities, and others.

Executive Decision‑Making – ability to make organizational and administrative decisions on a daily basis, develop sound long‑range operational and strategic plans.

Application Process

Provide a personal statement and a complete resume or curriculum vitae by the application deadline. The personal statement should explain your interest in and suitability for the position, should not exceed 1,000 words, and should demonstrate your written communication abilities. The resume or CV should include complete information on academic and professional qualifications and include three professional references. Application materials are to be sent via email to the Council Chair, Ms. Angel Drobnica, at the link provided: https://www.npfmc.org/vacancy-announcement-executive-director/. Please use “Executive Director Position Application” in the email subject line.

Position Description – Executive Director

Updated 9/15/2025

Overview of the Position Duties: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council develops fishery management plans and regulations for the federal fisheries (EEZ) in U.S. waters off Alaska. Key management partners include the National Marine Fisheries Service; the State of Alaska; the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. State Department; the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the North Pacific Council and serves at the pleasure of the Council.

Key position duties include the following (same as above). For a more detailed position description, please visit https://www.npfmc.org/vacancy-announcement-executive-director/.