Your Position with TNC:
The Marine and Coastal Program Manager directs all aspects of The Nature Conservancy’s Marine and Coastal Program across Solomon Islands. They lead all conservation work pertaining to marine and coastal ecosystems – including national projects spanning Solomon Islands, and more localized community-based conservation programs and Protected Area Networks in Guadalcanal, Choiseul, and Isabel provinces. Additionally, they collaborate within the Solomon Islands Leadership Team to develop and implement conservation strategy across the country more broadly. This permanent full-time position is based in Honiara, Solomon Islands and reports to the Solomon Islands Deputy Director.
Essential Functions:
The Solomon Islands Marine and Coastal Program Manager works within the Solomon Islands Conservation Management Team to deliver impactful conservation across marine and coastal ecosystems under The Nature Conservancy Solomon Islands Strategic Plan. They lead a team, using the best available information to prioritize ecosystems for protection, including through facilitation of Ridges to Reefs conservation planning. They collaborate with local, regional, and global teams within The Nature Conservancy to design and implement conservation projects across these priority ecosystems in close partnership with government agencies, major institutions, community-based organizations, and landowners. The Solomon Islands Marine and Coastal Program Manager oversees the Solomon Islands Safety Program and trains staff and partners both in classroom and practical settings.
Responsibilities and Scope:
- Works within the Solomon Islands Conservation Management Team to design and implement diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs of work to meet The Nature Conservancy Solomon Islands Strategic Plan.
- Manage the Solomon Islands Marine and Coastal Program, including work planning and budgeting.
- Manage staff, including performance management, training, and career development. Establish clear directions and objectives.
- Assist as needed to raise public and private funds to meet program needs.
- Lead and manage a diverse team to support and improve conservation efforts in Solomon Islands, including:
- Collect, manage, analyze, and present data to evaluate and demonstrate conservation impact, and communicate to key stakeholders through oral and written methods.
- Facilitate training of staff and partners in environmental monitoring, management, and scientific techniques.
- Build strategic long-term partnerships through regular communication with Solomon Islands Government (particularly Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry of Environment), Provincial Governments, landowners, and other parties to accomplish program goals.
- Manage and negotiate any disputes on customary lands at or around project sites.
- Manage the Solomon Islands Safety Program, including supply, maintenance and tracking of safety equipment; training of staff in safety protocols, incident response, tracking, and reporting; management of safety approval and documentation across the Solomon Islands Program; and membership of regional and/or global safety committees.
- Work with TNC’s relevant Provincial Program Managers to ensure that all Marine and Coastal work is aligned with our provincial strategies.
- Work with TNC’s Partnership Program to ensure that all Marine and Coastal work is aligned with the Solomon Islands Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Strategy.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Travel 30% of their time.
- Frequently make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
Minimum Qualification:
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
- Experience negotiating.
Desired Qualifications
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Politically savvy.
- SCUBA Certification
- First Aid Certification
- Emergency First Responder Certification
