International Policy Officer – UBO

Background: Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, GFW became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. Our major focus is on commercial fishing because it is the most widespread human activity at sea, the most impactful on ocean health, and the most crucial for global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all.

The Position

How can groups that are profiting from illegal activities at the expense of seafood sustainability and biodiversity protection be made to face the consequences of their actions, if we do not know who ultimately benefits and therefore cannot penalise them? Where rules are clearly not complied with, authorities need to be able to deliver effective sanctions. The ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) of a vessel is often almost impossible to identify, hidden behind layers and layers of complicated and opaque corporate structures. The information of the true beneficiaries of financial and narcotic crimes is made available to authorities that need it, and yet despite the use of fishing vessels to traffic drugs, arms and in broader maritime security concerns there are no requirements for beneficial ownership information of fishing vessels to be made accessible.

This role will be dedicated to advancing policies on UBO. Internationally – through collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Member States. Regionally, through working alongside Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) and their Member States – and – nationally, through supporting our core countries in Africa and Latin America to amend their policies.

The Candidate will have significant experience in securing policy changes in the fisheries sector, a strong understanding of the complexities of UBO and the ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. Reporting to the International Policy Director and working closely with our Program, Product and Research teams to align our international and national efforts, they will ensure we succeed in achieving greater governance, transparency and usefulness of vessel ownership information.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Secure progress across five key fisheries nations relating to their policies to collect, maintain, publish and share fisheries beneficial ownership information
• Deliver policy changes that secure beneficial ownership as a new field on the authorised vessel lists of three RFBs
• Lead a coalition of partners to obtain inclusion of beneficial ownership data into the Global Record as a requirement

Leadership and Management 

• Establish strategic and cross-departmental goals, objectives and key results to achieve our goals with key country partners
• Maintain a budget
• Develop, coordinate, and enforce systems, policies, and procedures
• Ensure a safe, secure, welcoming, and legal work environment

Required

• Undergraduate degree in environmental/marine sciences with a focus on data analysis, or equivalent professional experience
• Advanced French and/or Spanish speaker
• Five plus years of experience working with governments and/or community organizations to understand and assist with their policy needs
• Proven experience in implementing environmental/fisheries projects that support government and community management in the field
• Knowledge of fishing vessel registration systems and their role in fisheries management
• An understanding of the use of data to support policy and decision making, ideally in environmental/fisheries contexts
• Confidence in communicating with a diverse set of stakeholders with differing perspectives
• Highly organized, analytical, detail oriented and self-motivated
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently to a very high standard of detail
• Ability to take ownership of projects and communicate project updates to stakeholders in a transparent and proactive manner
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines while performing in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Preferred

• An understanding of other languages
• An understanding of the complexities and internal communications surrounding collaboration in a global matrix and remote organization
• Experience in the field of fisheries data and statistical analysis
• An understanding of about sustainable fisheries and biodiversity

The successful candidate will meet most, but not necessarily all, of the criteria above. If you don’t think you check all the boxes, but believe you have unique skills that make you a great fit for the role, we want to hear from you!

Additional Information

Note: The application period for this role closes on December 16, 2024

Reporting to: International Policy Director,

Manages: None

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not supported at this time.

Location: This is a remote role, but candidates must be legally authorized and based in the following countries to be considered: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Panama, Senegal, Spain, UK, USA

Duration: until October 2028

Full Time hours: Yes

Recruiting process: Recruiting Process: A cover letter along with a CV will be requested to see how your experience and interest connect to the position. We expect the cover letter to allow applicants an opportunity to explain details on how their skill set aligns with the role and provide a better understanding of their suitability for the position. If selected for consideration, the hiring process for this position will include an initial call with our Talent Acquisition team, followed by a formal 45 minute interview with 1-3 team members. Candidates advancing beyond this round will be asked to take a technical assessment and/or submit a representative code sample. Lastly, a final interview with 2-4 teams members to review your assessment and assess functional skills.

Compensation: A compensation range for this position is US$ 85 – 95K per year for US-based employees –  USD  20-30/h for employees based in Brazil – USD 20-33/h for employees based in Argentina – USD 55-65k for employees based in Costa Rica. For applicants located outside these countries, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire. Compensation is commensurate with experience and will vary depending on the hired candidate’s country of residence, in accordance with local laws and regulations. GFW offers pension/retirement, health and other benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment. The position may be a GFW employee or consultant, depending on the country of residence  

Equal opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.