Manager, Human Rights and Pacific Fisheries

Conservation International (CI) protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY – This position is based in Suva, Fiji 

Global estimates from the International Labor Organization (ILO) indicate that up to 2 million workers in fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture are subjected to forced labor. Labor exploitation in the seafood industry is not geographically bounded, but occurs globally, in exclusive economic zones, on the high seas, and throughout the entire supply chain.

The Western Central Pacific Ocean supports the largest tuna fishery in the world, providing more than half of the global tuna supply. Within this region, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Solomon Islands, the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries requires increased investment to strengthen governance, capacity amongst fish workers, local civil society organizations, and the private sector to support social wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

CI’s long-term vision of fish worker-driven governance requires fish workers who have the capacity, information, and support systems to fully participate in human rights due diligence processes, and private sector actors, government, and civil society have improved awareness of their human rights duties and responsibilities.

As a part of the Asia-Pacific Field Division, through this role, the Human Rights and Pacific Fisheries Manager will lead a project to strengthen and align market transformation, governance reform, and civil society efforts to comply with regional and international human rights frameworks and achieve lasting sustainability and equity within Pacific tuna fisheries in the RMI and the Solomon Islands. To achieve these objectives, the Manager will support the development and implementation of capacity building trainings for both human rights duty bearers (government, industry, civil society) and rights holders (fish workers and their communities). The Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining the partnerships and relationships across stakeholder groups necessary to successfully complete the project. The Manager will also take leading technical role in the review, analysis, and assessment of relevant human rights and fisheries regulation, policy, and frameworks, and the development of guidance for governments, civil society, fish workers, and industry stakeholders.

The Manager will serve as the primary focal point for the technical and administrative aspects of the project, including project management, planning, implementation, tracking and reporting on deliverables and project status. The Manager works to ensure project results meet project standards and project deliverables are completed on time and within budget.

RESPONSIBILITIES

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive the overall implementation and management of the project activities and deliverables, acting as the lead for both administrative coordination for the project as well as a technical expert, ensuring all project deliverables are completed.
• Manage consultant contracts and subgrants to local, regional, and international partners.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and management processes, including coalition building across communities, private sector, civil society, and government.
• Apply comprehensive human rights risk assessments, with the intention to design and deliver training curricula and guidance on influencing the improvement of human rights in the tuna fishery.
• Establish and lead a community of practitioners from civil society, industry, and government partners to co-develop project activities, exchange information, and improve collaboration.
• Project liaise and act as point of contact, both internally and externally; gather, develop and share project information, actions plans and deliverables with internal and external project stakeholders.
• Ensure partner/stakeholder standards and interests are represented and incorporated into project deliverables. Review for compliance to partner/donor agreements.
• Function as a key advisor and knowledge expert of project information.
• Represent CI and ensure effective communications and information sharing between all partners and stakeholders, including government.
• Identify trends and corrective actions to resolve problems and ensure future project efficiencies. Help identify tools, resources and training that will facilitate project success.
• Manage the preparation of reporting summaries and project narratives. Present regular updates to the donor.
• Perform related duties as agreed with immediate supervisor.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with local fishing regulations, Human Rights legislations and laws.
• Support and promote learning events on human rights/Fisheries to design approach for all potential opportunities across the technical programme.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Periodic travel to project sites throughout the Pacific region, particularly to the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, and other regional office locations.
• Comfortable working out of doors for extended periods.
• Ability to work outside the normal work schedule to meet project deadlines.
• This role will be a fixed-term assignment until October 2026, with the possibility of extending at the end of this period.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Marine Science, Social Sciences,  Environmental Sciences and Conservation or any other relevant field.
• 4 to 6 years related work experience in human rights law or policy, fisheries policy and management, ocean governance, marine conservation, or other related field.
• Ability to proactively diagnose problems and identify solutions.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse works groups in a multicultural environment.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results.
• Strong partnership / relationship
• Familiarity with Pacific regional governance arrangements, including the PNA, WCPFC, SPC, and FFA, including specific knowledge of the Harmonized Minimum Terms and Conditions for crew.
• Knowledge of key international human rights and ocean governance frameworks, such as ILO core conventions, ILO C188, UNCLOS, FAO Voluntary Guidelines, PSMA.
• Familiarity and experience with human rights risk assessments, such as the Social Responsibility Assessment (SRA).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects or initiatives involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, with proven ability to turn vision and strategies into outcomes.
• Proven ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. Adept at working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities with limited supervision.

Preferred

• Advanced Degree in relevant field
• Familiarity with the FFA/ILO/IOM/UNODC project Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels.
• Experience working in the offshore fisheries sector in the Pacific Islands region.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: February 14, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.