Position Vacancy for Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist

Blue Ventures Conservation Level 2 Annex, Omnibus Business Centre, 39-­‐41 North Road, London N7 9DP Tel: +44 (0) 20 7697 8598 Fax: +44 (0) 800 066 4032 [email protected] www.blueventures.org Registered charity #1098893 Position Vacancy for Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist Position Title: Mangrove Fisheries Scientist Location: Ambanja, Madagascar, with frequent travel to other project sites Closing date for applications: 6th April 2015 Contract duration: 24 months, with possibility of renewal Start date: April 2015 Remuneration and benefits: Competitive based on experience and commensurate with in-­‐country cost of living. Flight and insurance packages offered for those relocating from outside Madagascar. Organisation overview Blue Ventures works to rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities. We develop transformative approaches for nurturing and sustaining locally led marine conservation, and are committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and where there is a fundamental unmet need to support human development. Summary Job Description Approximately 60 million people live in the western Indian Ocean coastal zone, and this number is expected to double by 2030. Many are directly dependent upon the natural resources in the region for their survival and livelihoods. However, the ecosystems, the services they provide and the resources within them are already under significant pressure from human activities that result in habitat degradation and overexploitation of resources. Although a critical habitat for threatened marine biodiversity and a vital source of food and income for coastal communities, Madagascar’s mangrove forests, and the fisheries they support, are in peril. Widespread degradation and deforestation of mangroves, combined with a growing demand for fish products from a rapidly expanding human population and poorly regulated international markets, is driving extensive declines in mangrove forests and the fisheries they support. This pressure is amplified by the use of destructive fishing techniques whose negative environmental impacts are poorly understood. While coastal communities are one of the primary agents of mangrove resource depletion in Madagascar, they also stand to lose the most from the consequent loss of ecosystem goods and services. Engaging coastal people is critical to the development and establishment of sustainable mangrove forest and fisheries management. Through its Blue Forests programme, Blue Ventures works with coastal communities in western Madagascar to develop innovative approaches to locally-­‐led marine resource management that both catalyse and fund sustainable mangrove management. A primary goal of this programme is the development of sustainable models for small-­‐scale fisheries management. Blue Ventures is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and self-­‐motivated fisheries scientist to join the team as the Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist and guide our mangrove fisheries projects. The position is based in Ambanja, with frequent travel to other Blue Ventures’ field sites throughout Madagascar and Blue Ventures’ Antananarivo office, including extended stays. This position requires a scientist who is passionate about applying their skills and knowledge to real life scenarios in coastal Malagasy communities. The Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist will play a key role in the development of Blue Venture’ mangrove fisheries work and must be able to communicate this vision effectively with colleagues and partners through both written and verbal communications. The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to work independently and solve problems in challenging environments. The role entails working as part of an interdisciplinary and international team, with excellent opportunities for professional development. Position responsibilities The Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist, reporting to the Blue Forests Project Coordinator, will ensure the timely delivery and achievement of all project objectives relating to Blue Ventures’ mangrove fisheries projects. Ideally you will be a committed scientist with a strong understanding of the challenges associated with tropical marine conservation and development. Strong data analysis skills are essential (particularly in data deficient scenarios), as is an ability to think laterally and creatively. You will possess excellent communication skills and thrive in environments that are dynamic, collegiate and ambitious. Playing a leading role in the implementation of Blue Ventures’ mangrove fisheries work •
Working closely with our field teams to ensure consistent and scientifically sound design for community-­‐led fisheries monitoring and management approaches •
Management of Blue Ventures’ Mangrove Fisheries Community Liaison Officers •
Providing technical input on all aspects of Blue Ventures’ mangrove fisheries work, including workshops, outreach and educational programmes •
Managing and analysing Blue Ventures’ mangrove fisheries data and synthesizing results for dissemination to communities, private sector and NGO partners plus regional and national authorities •
Coordinating the publication of our mangrove fisheries work in scientific journals, news articles and blogs •
Overseeing feasibility research for mangrove aquaculture work at Blue Forests’ project sites and work with Blue Ventures’ community-­‐based aquaculture team to ensure activities are harmonised between both the aquaculture and Blue Forests’ projects Ensuring the development of Blue Ventures’ mangrove fisheries activities, through partnerships, national-­‐level project representation, and student mentoring •
Working with Blue Ventures’ Conservation Officer to ensure that Blue Ventures’ work on mangrove fisheries is adequately represented at the national level •
Maintaining and building positive and productive working relationships with national research institutes within Madagascar that are involved in mangrove fisheries science •
Building partnerships with international academic and applied research institutions related to fisheries science, in order to build collaboration with experts in the field of fisheries •
Providing mentorship, guidance, and oversee coordination between student researchers, consultants, and Blue Ventures’ staff on the subject of mangrove fisheries Developing the mangrove fisheries strategy of the Blue Forests’ project •
Contributing to fundraising proposals as required •
Leading the development of the fisheries aspects of the Blue Forests project strategy Specific requirements of candidates Qualifications/Skills Required •
MSc (or equivalent) in marine conservation, fisheries and aquaculture, or related field (or highly relevant work experience of 5+ years) •
Three years of experience working on fisheries science in a developing world context •
Demonstrable knowledge and experience working with small-­‐scale fishery monitoring, stock assessment, and modelling •
Proficient in the data management and analysis in Microsoft Excel, Access and R •
Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders including local communities, NGO partners, government and private sector actors •
Fluency in English and competency in French; Must be able to read and write in French •
Excellent time management and organisational skills •
Capacity to undertake research and development work independently as well as part of a team •
Strong technical reporting skills, and experience of preparing project reports for funders •
Experience in scientific report writing and preparation of research papers for publication •
Team player with excellent communication skills Qualification/Skills Desired •
Experience working in the western Indian Ocean region •
Conversational level of Malagasy Application process Applicants should submit a completed application form, recent CV (including full telephone and e-­‐mail contact details of three professional and academic referees), and cover letter relating to this position vacancy to [email protected]. Please include the reference “Blue Forests Fisheries Scientist” in the subject line. The closing date for applications is 6th April 2015.