Large Scale Fisheries Project Director - Americas

USA The Nature Conservancy; Arlington (VA); Remote; USD 70,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan with match

Remote work

Paid time off

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy seeks a Large-Scale Fisheries Project Director to lead the design, implementation, and scaling of electronic monitoring programs across the Americas. You will build strategic partnerships with governments, industry, regional fisheries bodies, and civil society to advance transparent monitoring and sustainable management decisions.

This remote, multi-country leadership role requires systems thinking, collaboration without authority, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 5+ years of conservation experience or equivalent.
• Experience managing complex projects, including staffing and budgets.
• Supervisory experience and ability to motivate teams.
• Experience in partnership development with nonprofits, government, or communities.
• Experience negotiating.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and scaling of EM programs across the Americas.
• Build strategic partnerships with governments, industry, regional bodies, and civil society.
• Provide technical support for EM policy frameworks, governance, and financing approaches.
• Represent TNC in forums and communicate best practices and lessons learned.
• Develop multi-stakeholder collaborations and facilitate policy dialogue.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Policy development

Strategic thinking

Spanish language

Education

BA/BS degree

Job description

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 the Americas. 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 position is fully remote and can be based in any country in the Americas where TNC is registered as a Non-Government Organization and established employer (these are Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, United States of America; in the Caribbean these are The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands).

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

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 the Americas. Systems Leadership, creativity, and the ability to influence without authority are key in this role. Come join TNC.

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 Spanish is preferred.
• Politically savvy, with demonstrated ability to influence decision-makers and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Salary Information

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $70,000 to $104,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate's qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

What We Bring

• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.
• We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact [e-mail].