Who You Are
You are a marine conservation specialist passionate about advancing cetacean conservation through science, technology, and collaboration. You bring strong expertise in program and project delivery, stakeholder partnerships, and data-driven conservation, with the ability to connect diverse partners and translate complex information into practical solutions that strengthen the Whales Program and its conservation impact.
What You Will Be Doing
Program Leadership & Delivery
- Lead the implementation and continual improvement of the WRAS, ensuring activities align with the Whales Program’s strategic plan, annual goals, funding agreement requirements, and measurable conservation outcomes.
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the WRAS portfolio, ensuring projects, timelines, deliverables, budgets, funding and reporting requirements are completed on schedule and to a high standard.
- Work with the Whales Director and Senior Manager to develop annual work plans and priorities to monitor progress, while adapting activities to maximize conservation outcomes and operational effectiveness.
- Chair the WRAS Advisory Committee by establishing priorities, coordinating meetings, facilitating collaboration among partners, and ensuring recommendations are translated into WRAS improvements.
- Supporting cross-program initiatives within the Whales team and contributing to broader Ocean Wise conservation and education programs as required.
Technology & Product Management
- Serve as the project lead and product owner for the WRAS platform, working collaboratively with Ocean Wise’s IT team, software developers, contractors, and external technology partners to maintain, enhance, and expand WRAS functionality.
- Collaborate with the Whales Director, WRAS Coordinator, and the Ocean Wise IT team to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the digital reporting and alerting application for the WRAS, including using user feedback, project data, and emerging technologies to inform its continual improvement, usability, reliability, and scalability.
- Define WRAS user and data requirements, prioritize software enhancements, evaluate new features, oversee user acceptance testing, and support the implementation of system upgrades and maintenance activities.
- Oversee database governance, data quality standards, system documentation, and platform performance to ensure the WRAS remains a trusted conservation decision-support tool.
Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, & Outreach
- Develop, manage, and strengthen strategic relationships with industry, Indigenous communities, government agencies, researchers, NGOs, and marine organizations to increase participation in and conservation impact of the WRAS.
- Work with the Whales Director to establish and maintain strong strategic partnerships by developing, negotiating, and executing partner data-sharing agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that support the successful delivery and growth of the WRAS.
- Represent Ocean Wise at conferences, workshops, advisory committees, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, and public events to communicate conservation outcomes and promote the adoption of the WRAS.
- Oversee external communications for the WRAS in collaboration with the WRAS Coordinator, and Ocean Wise’s Communications and Education teams, including educational resources, promotional materials, presentations, signage, website content, and stakeholder communications.
- Support the WRAS Coordinator with the development and delivery of stakeholder training that promote the effective use of the WRAS and improve participation in whale conservation initiatives.
- Support the expansion of WRAS data and users by identifying opportunities for integration with partner networks, new technologies, and stakeholder groups.
Research, Reporting, & Funding
- Lead or overseeing the preparation of high-quality reports for WRAS funders, partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring reporting requirements are met and impacts are clearly communicated.
- With support from the Director, Whales, develop WRAS metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of the tool, evaluate conservation outcomes, and support adaptive management.
- Lead the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of WRAS metrics.
- Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and other knowledge products using WRAS data to advance marine conservation science.
- Support the Whales Director and Ocean Wise’s Philanthropy & Partnerships team in securing funding for the WRAS through the preparation and completion of grant proposals and funding pitches.
What You Bring
- Master’s Degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Resource Management, or related field; PhD considered an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in program and project management.
- Strong background in marine conservation, environmental science, resource management, and sustainability, or related field.
- Track record of stakeholder and partnership management
- Demonstrated experience working successfully with academic, government, industry, and/or NGO partners in Canada.
- Experience in grant and funding procurement and management.
- Excellent scientific and technical communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders and represent Ocean Wise externally.
- Well-versed in data analysis, monitoring, and program evaluation.
- Understanding of statistical analysis, ecological modelling, spatial analysis, quantitative data analysis, data visualization, and interpretation.
- High level of digital literacy ideally working with various platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Salesforce, GIS, R, or equivalent programs.
- Assets include:
- Experience with budget and operational planning.
- Record of publishing scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Experience with hydrophones, infrared cameras, AIS, or vessel navigation systems.
Salary range: $67,500 – 75,000
Location: This role requires the successful candidate to be located in either the Vancouver lower mainland area or Southern Vancouver island region with intended start date of November 2nd, 2026
