Senior Marine Technical Advisor, Indonesia

Job Description

Organization Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US-headquartered non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes and seascapes, presence in more than 60 countries, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

WCS Indonesia Program Overview

WCS has worked in Indonesia since initial field surveys in the 1960s and opened a formal country program in 1997 under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Forestry (MoF). The WCS-Indonesia Program has a full-time staff of almost 300 and an annual operating budget of over US$10 million. To achieve our mission, we work in close coordination with our government partners and through associated partnerships with a variety of government, non-government, private sector, and academic bodies.

To deliver our new Indonesia country strategy (2022-2026), we are structured under five core thematic Programs: Marine; Forests; Wildlife Trade & Policy (WTP); One Health; and Rights & Communities. These Programs are supported by crossing-cutting Science & Technology and Communications units.

The Marine Program is working in seascapes in the provinces of Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku, as well as three marine national parks. The Indonesia Marine Program prioritises an integrated approach that consists of the following: ecological and socioeconomic science; rights-based sustainable resource use; building climate resilient coastal communities; technical assistance for the participatory creation and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) / OECMS and marine national parks; addressing destructive fishing practices; marine and fisheries policy reforms; and sustainable financing.

Job Summary

This position will provide the strategic oversight and technical support for the Marine Program to successfully implement marine conservation and coastal fisheries initiatives funded by multiple donors. This role supports the WCS management team in the development and implementation of strategic plans and policies. The position reports to the Indonesia Program Deputy Country Director and works closely with the Indonesia Marine Program team, in collaboration with the Southeast Asia Pacific (SEAP) Regional Program and WCS’ Global Marine Program (focusing on Coral Reefs, Community Fisheries, Sharks & Rays, Marine 30x30, and Ocean Giants themes). The position advises on all technical aspects of the Indonesia marine program, strategic research activities, and maintains regular communication with WCS project leads, key donors, funding agencies and NGO partners.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Provide and facilitate technical assistance for WCS Indonesia’s marine programmatic activities, and support effective, high-quality management across the program.
• Collaborate with staff to maintain an updated and ambitious vision and strategic plan for WCS' marine and coastal work in Indonesia that aligns with the 2022-2026 WCS Indonesia Program Strategy.
• Strengthen the Indonesia Marine Program’s integration with WCS’s regional and Global Thematic and cross-cutting strategies through regular communication and strong interpersonal relationships.
• Work with the Regional and Country Program Directors in SEAP to explore and develop opportunities to link Indonesia marine program activities with WCS programs across the wider region and support the development of regional program learning and exchanges.
• Support the strategic growth of WCS Indonesia, generating new ideas and concepts, for example, market-based initiatives that might help to unlock access to private capital.
• Strengthen WCS Indonesia’s position as a thought leader in marine conservation by with Government partners, by supporting scientific research, publications, communications pieces and engagement with international scientific institutions. Amplifying the profile of the WCS Indonesia Marine Program.
  
  

Program Management & Monitoring

• Support the program teams (e.g. site leads/teams) to ensure effective coordination between programmatic activities and the administrative and financial aspects of WCS Indonesia Program.
• Improve the program’s monitoring, measurement and analysis of program outcomes, and use of scientific results for adaptive management leveraging existing WCS technology initiatives (e.g., SMART, MERMAID).
  
  

Technical Expertise

• Provide technical assistance on MPA design and management, tropical coastal fisheries, species conservation, social safeguarding, social sciences, and/or other appropriate tropical marine conservation issues.
• Support the WCS Indonesia team to ensure robust, high-quality marine monitoring in coordination with regional and global programs.
• Work with Rights and Community team to ensure that the highest standard participatory and rights-based approaches are applied to all of our marine portfolio activities.
• Support the marine team to integrate scientific research and results into program activities, assess the impact of conservation interventions, and contribute to adaptive management interventions.
• Support the growth of the marine species conservation in WCS Indonesia.
  
  

Donor cultivation, stewardship, and management

• Actively lead and manage donor (public, private and individual) relations through frequent networking (such as one-on-one meetings, attending ceremonial events and field trips) and support senior WCS Indonesia staff to effectively engage with key donors and partners to secure long-term funding and support for marine conservation.
• Represent WCS Indonesia to donors, public, other key stakeholders and partners; and ensuring excellent working relationships are maintained, conveying the program’s objectives effectively and that it remains at the forefront of marine conservation dialogues
• Work with WCS Country, Regional and Global Staff to identify and cultivate new funding opportunities for Indonesia and leading the development of compelling funding proposals.
• Oversee technical reporting to donors, government agencies, and other WCS offices.
  
  

Talent Management & Capacity Development

• Participate in recruitment of new team members and short-term specialists
• Collaborate with Marine Program Manager in employee performance reviews by contributing insightful references to team performance. Support capacity development of WCS Indonesia staff, identifying/creating opportunities for their professional development (such as trainings, conferences, post-graduate studies, short-term academic placements) and awards.
  
  

Qualification Requirements

• PhD or equivalent experience (at least 10 years) and strong record in marine and/or coastal conservation, tropical marine ecology or biology, or a relevant biological or social science field, including field-based conservation and project management experience.
• Minimum of ten years professional experience relevant to on-the-ground science-based marine and coastal conservation in tropical developing countries, preferably in Indonesia / Southeast Asia.
• Strong abilities to build partnerships with relevant national authorities, civil society, private sector, donor agencies and international institutions.
• Experience in equitable community-based and collaborative conservation initiatives, Marine Protected Area (MPA) design and implementation, sustainable management of coastal fisheries, coral reef conservation, and/or marine species conservation, with a priority on initiatives that balance conservation efforts and human well-being.
• Demonstrated expertise in marine monitoring and robust data collection / analysis (coastal fisheries, coral reefs, sharks and rays, etc).
• Demonstrated success in publishing scientific articles in peer reviewed journals and ability to communicate scientific information to a general audience.
• Ability to navigate sensitively and effectively with people of diverse cultures, value systems, perspectives and levels of education, and to manage and work with staff in these contexts. Thus fostering teamwork within the country and across the region
• A working knowledge of environmental and social safeguards processes and human-rights based approaches to conservation.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, management, and leadership skills.
• Professional proficiency in oral and written English. Working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a variety of partners and stakeholders, to collaborate on solving complex issues that involve multiple actors and/or interest areas associated with field-based tropical conservation.
• Successful and diverse experience in proposal development/fundraising across a range of private, public and individual donors, coupled with strong grant management / grant reporting.
• Ability to build capacity in community-driven natural resource management, field research, conservation biology, conservation advocacy, and project management.
• Willingness to travel within Indonesia and internationally.
• Patience and flexibility a must.
  
  

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, colour, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations

Salary Range

Competitive salary commensurate with experience