Table of Contents
Marine Fisheries Officer – Tanzania
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Who We Are
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.
Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”
Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate.
TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.
TNC’s Africa Oceans Strategy focuses on securing large-scale ocean protection by supporting effective marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries, and community-led conservation approaches. Our work seeks to establish sustainable financing to enable conservation outcomes at large marine ecosystem scale, by supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as local capacity, with emphasis on linking science and communities to habitat protection, restoration, and management. TNC envisions sustainable fisheries that are managed in a way that results in viable local fisheries, stable supplies of seafood, thriving coastal communities, biodiversity conservation, and healthy marine and coastal ecosystems. TNC’s Africa fisheries work aims at safeguarding productive marine fisheries for ecosystem health as an important foundation for food and livelihood security. Our vision is for aquaculture to grow in a responsible and sustainable manner with the least environmental impact.
TNC has established partnerships with several non-government and government agencies to support coastal and marine fisheries and coastal community-led conservation throughout Africa where TNC operates. The main areas of focus for TNC in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) are the Zanzibar Islands, coast of mainland Tanzania, Coastal Kenya, Seychelles and South Africa while also connecting with the greater WIO region. The focus of this Position is Zanzibar Islands and Coastal mainland Tanzania.
What We Can Achieve Together
The Marine Fisheries Officer (Tanzania) leads development, implementation, and coordination of TNC’s Africa Marine Fisheries Program in Tanzania in collaboration with TNC’s Africa Ocean Strategy team and other TNC staff as appropriate. They will advance TNC’s role in a national ocean conservation agenda in Tanzania by providing technical and scientific support to advance Fisheries Program goals under TNC’s Shared Conservation Agenda. They will support development and implementation of sustainable fisheries and coastal and marine conservation interventions in Tanzania. They will work to demonstrate effective community-based fisheries practices, improve monitoring and transparency systems, lead resource surveys, advance supportive policies, and assess and if appropriate, create market incentives that reward sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.
They will work closely and in partnership with an interdisciplinary team of conservancy staff, fishers, local communities, conservation partners, fishing industry, scientific community, and government to advance sustainable fisheries and coastal community-led conservation in Tanzania. They will advance replication and adaptation of lessons and success models in fisheries and coastal and marine conservation across Tanzania’s coast. The position is within TNC’s Africa Ocean Strategy team and will be based at TNC’s Dar Es Salam Office in Tanzania, reporting to the Africa Fisheries Strategy Manager. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements. This is an initial 3-year term limited position with an extension of tenure subject to performance and availability of funds.
WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
The Marine Fisheries Officer (Tanzania) develops and implements priority coastal and marine fisheries projects and serves as a technical resource on sustainable fisheries and coastal community-led conservation in Tanzania. They will be a key contributor to TNC’s growing portfolio of projects including coastal fisheries (including FishPath engagement projects), large-scale fisheries (electronic monitoring activities), fisheries policy as well as building fisheries and ocean governance with focus on addressing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Marine Fisheries Officer (Tanzania) ensures the implementation of site-based projects, coordinates with several team members and relevant staff from global TNC programs, sets deadlines and manages to completion.
They support and lead the design and implementation of effective co-management models for sustainable fisheries and to conserve coastal and marine habitats in Tanzania. They support fisher institutions and partners develop and enforce by-laws that advances sustainable fishing practices including effective patrols, monitoring, awareness and reducing the use of illegal and damaging fishing practices. They will apply a diversified knowledge of fisheries-related scientific principles and practices to a broad variety of assignments, from engagement with key stakeholders, research, assessment, analysis and writing, project coordination and management..
The Responsibilities And Scope For This Position Are
Support monitoring and establishment of baselines on socio-ecological systems including fisheries and coastal habitats to inform conservation planning and adaptive management at target geographies in Tanzania
Lead capacity building activities to strengthen governance and management of community-led institutions including fisheries Beach Management Units, Shehia Fisher Committees, fisher cooperatives, etc. for sustainable fisheries and coastal management.
Build the institutional capacity of key partners for lasting local capacity and multi-stakeholder collaboration on sustainable fisheries and coastal community-led conservation.
Support development and adoption of processes and tools for advancing sustainable fisheries and coastal community-led conservation through cross-cutting support from partners and TNC team.
Lead planning and coordination of FishPath engagement processes including workshops and trainings in collaboration with local partners, TNC Africa staff and the Global FishPath team to improve fisheries management and increase capacity in the management of data-and capacity-limited fisheries.
Expand development and implementation of local-level resource management plans and interventions in target coastal communities including collaborative fisheries management areas, protected area plans and community-led monitoring and enforcement systems.
Lead implementation of TNC’s electronic monitoring and commercialization interventions in Tanzania to advance sustainable fisheries management within the EEZ.
Working closely with the Reef Resilience Network to build capacity of local community, practitioners, coral reef managers and scientists on effective reef restoration approaches and sharing of lessons to support reef restoration and marine conservation in Tanzania.
Assess if appropriate, implement community-based enterprises that incentivize sustainable fishing practices including value chain improvement of fish and fisheries products
Foster cross learning between coastal communities and projects for sharing best practices and to leverage cross-fertilization of knowledge for adaptive management
Ensure development and management of work plans and large project budgets
May involve working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
Under minimal supervision, make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
The position will involve frequent travel domestically and internationally, including evening and weekend hours.
What You’ll Bring
BA/BS degree and 5 years of experience in coastal/marine fisheries management, conservation; or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience on collaborative/co-management approaches and marine science and conservation
Experience with national fisheries and other marine-management policies and frameworks in Tanzania.
Expereince with key contextual issues and dynamics relating to fisheries and coastal ecosystems conservation and relevant work experience in Tanzania.
Experience in developing supportive and collaborative partnerships with other non-profits, community groups and/or government agencies.
Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
Expereince with technical writing and data analytical skills, interpretation, and presentation of information to a broad range of audiences and stakeholders.
Experience in analyzing data and using statistical packages such as Excel and other analysis tools
Desired Qualifications
Advanced degree and over 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with the coastal fishing communities.
Experience in development and implementation of online and in-person trainings and workshops.
Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience are appreciated. Fluency in Swahili is an added advantage.
Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of field travel (at least 40%) domestically and internationally.
Politically savvy within the national context.
What We Bring
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.
APPLY NOW
To apply for job ID 53240, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button HERE . Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.
An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.
Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.
