Fund Director, California Fisheries Fund

Environmental Defense has established the Oceans Enterprise unit to achieve breakthrough improvements in marine fisheries management. It will do so by developing and implementing new solutions adapted from existing private sector commodity and property management approaches, and by promoting these approaches with ocean resource users and regulators.

Where solutions already exist, Oceans Enterprise will provide fishermen and regional fishery management councils with the necessary technical expertise to implement these systems. Where solutions do not yet exist, Oceans Enterprise will help create incentive-based tools that draw from existing private sector financing and commodity management approaches. Oceans Enterprise will be at the forefront of the national movement towards a more rational system of fishery management and will solidify ED's position as a leading force in the development and implementation of pragmatic, flexible, and market-based approaches to complex environmental problems.

California Fisheries Fund's mission is to test a new model of reform that marshals capital as a key driver of regulatory change. It will do this by providing capital in the form of loans to California's fisheries to help them transition from the current emphasis on cash-flow to management systems that encourage an emphasis on asset-building such as dedicated, secure access privileges to public trust resources. Planned outcomes include enhanced stewardship of fish stocks and habitats, better jobs, improved profitability and revitalized coastal communities.

The Fund is designed as a revolving fund where recovered investments are realized from investees and "revolved" back into the Fund; therefore, the Fund does not have a predetermined term. The Fund will be established in two phases, Start-up (2007-2010), designed to demonstrate success in up to three targeted fisheries, and Expansion (2010), taking the Fund to full operating scale and targeting an additional 10 to 12 fisheries in California. 

Environmental Defense will incubate the start up phase of The Fund. Assuming the start up phase is a success, Environmental Defense will have the option of continuing to have a management role in the CFF or to spin it off. 

One of the Fund's products will be Fishery Stewardship Loans. As circumstances permit, the Fund will also make Infrastructure Loans and Business Development Loans. Fishery Stewardship Loans will be used to establish fishery associations that will develop reform plans for the fishery, including fishery research, business planning, and implementation planning. Infrastructure Loans will be provided to fund improvements in capacity, storage, processing and collective shifts to new types of gear. Business Development Loans will be provided to individual businesses to finance improvements consistent with the goals of the Fund, including new sustainable gear and equipment, product innovations and marketing. 

The projected capitalization of the Fund in the Start-up phase is $8 million. Of this amount $5 million will be in the form of grants and $3 million in debt. The debt portion of $3 million will be in the form of Program Related Investments (PRIs) and funding from investors looking for a combination of social and financial returns. 

Position: 

California Fisheries Fund is seeking to hire a Fund Director to be based in California to lead the project through the start up phase with the existing team. The Fund Director will report to Environmental Defense's Managing Director of Oceans Enterprise. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

* Oversee and manage all aspects of Fund start-up and operations, including coordination with the Fund Manager 
* Lead the development of the investment pipeline
* Lead the due diligence processes in terms of social/community, environmental and financial criteria 
* Actively participate in the development and implementation of capitalization strategy and fundraising 
* Monitor accountability to criteria associated with each source of loan fund capital i.e. State, private, PRI, etc), in cooperation with the Fund Manager
* Participate in the establishment of a Fund Advisory Committee ("FAC"), including the identification and appointment of all FAC members, to advise on program development, general oversight, and to grant preliminary approval to the fisheries selected for consideration under the Stewardship Foundation loan program 
* Assist in the establishment of a Fund Credit Committee ("FCC") to review and approve all loans made by the Fund
* Develop and follow standard templates for reporting mission impacts and business performance in conjunction with the FCC 

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be able to manage a diverse workload in a busy work environment. 

* Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline; MBA preferred 
* Demonstrated project management skills 
* Demonstrated interpersonal communications skills
* Ability to collaborate and form trust based partnerships, both at the grassroots and at the institutional level, with fisheries, bank authorities, multi-stakeholder entities (FAC, FCC) and with State authorities 
* Ability to work at the grassroots or community level and to negotiate agreements with community organizations in the early stages of development " Excellent internal and external communication skills " Demonstrated history of successful negotiations * Experience in carrying out project due diligence and risk analysis
* General understanding of basic financial criteria and loan structures 
* Ability to fundraise and interact with donors and other partners 
* Ability to carry out and deliver timely and detailed reporting
* A basic understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing California fisheries * Experience in mission based investments and fisheries management is desirable 

If interested, please email, fax or mail your cover letter, resume and salary requirements. 

Cheryl L. Pickard, PHR HR
Generalist Environmental Defense
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20009 

Environmental Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.