Marine Protected Areas Campaign Manager

Living Oceans Society is a non-profit research and public education organization, committed to conserving marine biological diversity to ensure a healthy ocean and healthy coastal communities. We have an office in Sointula, a fishing community on the Central Coast of B.C., an office in Vancouver and a staff member in Ottawa.

Position Overview: 

Living Oceans Society is seeking a Marine Protected Areas Campaign Manager to play a key role in ensuring that a network of marine protected areas (MPA) is established in British Columbia and to coordinate with planning processes underway in the Canadian Arctic. This position provides the opportunity to use lessons learned from MPA processes from around the world to ensure that an effective and comprehensive network is established along Canada's west coast. 

The health of the ocean in B.C. is declining. Habitat is being destroyed by bottom trawling, fisheries mismanagement is resulting in the decline of fish stocks and pollution is contaminating marine waters. Sea lice from fish farms are affecting wild salmon stocks and the provincial government would like to open the west coast to offshore oil and gas development. Currently less than 0.01% of the coast is allocated to no-take marine reserves. In short, industrial activity continues to threaten the ocean and protection standards remain inadequate. The geographical emphasis of this position will be on establishing MPAs in B.C. and, more specifically, the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) Large Ocean Management Area (LOMA).   

Responsibilities:

The MPA Campaign Manager is responsible for implementing the MPA Program at Living Oceans Society. This program is designed to ensure ecosystem based management of the marine environment in B.C. including the establishment of a network of MPAs. Responsibilities for the MPA Campaign Manager will include:

• Collaboration with the Executive Director and relevant partners to develop strategic goals and objectives including (but not limited to) government relations, science, stakeholder outreach, grassroots organizing, public education and communications.
• Development and implementation of campaign activities to meet campaign strategic goals and objectives.
• Integration of Living Oceans Society's strategic goals and objectives with other organizations and coalitions working on MPAs in B.C. and throughout Canada.
• Management of the development of all communications materials for the Marine Protected Areas campaign including: government briefs, publications and on-line materials in consultation with LOS communications staff.
• Identification and effective application of relevant scientific data and analysis to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the campaign.
• Representation of LOS in discussions concerning MPAs with federal, provincial and First Nations governments, stakeholders, scientists and communities.
• Collaboration with other LOS staff to develop and report on funding proposals.
• Preparation and presentation of reports to the LOS Board of Directors, staff, funders or community supporters as requested.
• Collaboration with the LOS Marine Analyst to identify and utilize marine analyses to identify areas that would most benefit from the establishment of protected areas.
• Collaboration with federal and provincial decision makers to identify candidate MPAs.
• Management of the MPA campaign budget to ensure that goals and objectives are met on time and on budget.

Qualifications:

Skills and Attributes:

• Well-developed strategic and analytic abilities.
• Able to set clear objectives, identify and follow priorities, analyze and synthesize complex and disparate data, and distill critical information from diverse and detailed sources.
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate scientific and technical concepts and ideas in a compelling fashion across disciplines and among technical experts and present them to more general audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with staff, partner organizations, the scientific community, and government decision makers.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for working with Web 2.0 and new media.
• Ability to work independently and conduct work by phone and other remote media.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Post secondary education in marine biology, resource management, conservation biology, environmental studies, public policy, political science, or related fields. A master's degree is considered an asset.
• At least two years of proven project management and/or coordination experience.
• Solid understanding of marine ecosystem science and/or policy and its application to resource conservation and management. 
• Familiarity with current and emerging national and international approaches to MPAs.
• Experience developing and using online information systems to develop, manage, and communicate results of scientific research.
• Experience in or understanding of the following will be considered assets:
  • MPAs in general and a strong understanding of MPA policies specific to the Pacific Coast of Canada
  • Marine ecology, preferably of the North East Pacific
  • Ecosystem based management concepts and principles
• Familiar with Web 2.0, on-line and new media applications.

General Requirements:

• Commitment to the Living Oceans Society mission and programs.
• Willingness to travel.
• Good team player, flexible work style, and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Fearlessness, creativity, initiative and perseverance will be considered assets.

Compensation: $45,000 to $50,000 annually plus benefits

Eligibility:

Must be eligible for employment in Canada. Applicants from outside Canada please indicate your eligibility options in your cover letter (i.e. NAFTA work visa, skilled worker visa, etc.). 

To Apply:

Include your Cover Letter, Resume, and Reference Letters and/or Supporting Material in 1 document in PDF or DOC format using the following file protocol: LASTNAME, Givenname_MPACM2008

Please mail, fax or email your application.

Living Oceans Society
c/o ‘Applications'
PO Box 320 
SOINTULA, B.C. V0N 3E0