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Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor

Conservation International Ventures

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Legal

Suva, Fiji

Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2024

Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

The Asia-Pacific Field Division (APFD) contains an extremely diverse range of geographies, economies, and cultures. As Cl's largest field division, encompassing roughly a third of the globe and housing half of our organization's institutional priorities, the APFD team's strategic direction, on ocean management, sustainable food peoples, is landscapes and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples and local communities.

Cl has been working in the Pacific Islands region for more than 20 years, with long-term investments in key geographies and thematic areas of work. Cl's programs in the Pacific are focused on ocean protection at scale, sustainable fisheries and seafood, and building climate-resilient island communities to preserve cultural heritage and human well-being. Working in the Pacific requires:

Knowledge of and experience in the region, including political and cultural dynamics.
Knowledge of regional and national policy context.
Understanding of national, regional, bilateral, and multilateral funding across the region.
An ability to secure and manage large public funding.
Capacity to manage relationships with national governments, regional organizations, donors, and partners.
Ability to identify and secure strategic and innovative opportunities at national and regional levels.
Focus on the delivery of programming that is aligned with Cl's global mission.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Suva, Fiji

In the role of Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor for the Pacific Islands in the Asia-Pacific Field Division will shape essential components of Cl's programmatic and partnership strategy for the Pacific Ocean and Islands program, reporting to and supporting the Vice President (VP) for the Pacific. The position is responsible for helping to shape activities related to the establishment, management, and financing for Protected Areas in the Pacific region. Specifically, the role will help to mobilize and inform prioritization of national and international funding for legal support to marine conservation in the Pacific Islands region. The Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor will further serve as a regional content expert on this issue, shaping efforts to drivelegalization of new protected areas in the Pasifika context.

This position will further support the implementation of Cl's Pacific strategy-which is aligned to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue PacificContent-to establish a network of scaled ocean conservation areas across the Pacific. Duties involve the provision of legal technical advice to Cl Pacific/Asia leadership on the application of United Nations Conventions on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), loss and damage associated with the impact of climate change to small island states and legal aspects associated with initiatives such as a regional network of protected areas across the Pacific. The Director provides broad programmatic, project, monitoring, and technical oversight and continuously engages key internal and external partners critical to program success. In collaboration with Country Directors and Operations leads, the Director ensures compliance of Pacific initiatives with Cl policies, program and funding agreements, and local requirements.

The Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor will play a leading role in liaising with regional partners such as the Office of thePacific Ocean Commissioner under the Pacific Island Forum and other regional bodies engaged with UNCLOS, BBNJ, Loss, and Damage as well as large scape marine and terrestrial protected areas. The incumbent will represent Cl and leverage alliances to engage and influence key internal directions and external commitments and collaborate with stakeholders including government representatives, NGO officials, donors, regional organizations, development partners, and other parties that are critical to program success. The role will also collaborate with the Asia Pacific Policy team as well as other staff throughout Cl to ensure the Pacific program forms an integral part of achieving organization-wide goals. The incumbent is expected to identify capacity gaps and develop and implement strategies that build the capacity of Cl Pacific to drive program objectives forward, including building tools and resources for project and program leads to fulfill Ci's institutional priorities.

This position will not manage staff and will work a high degree of independence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership on Ocean Law:

Technical lead on the development of ocean law initiatives for Cl in the Pacific, developed in deep and collaborative partnerships with regional organizations and partners.
Together with the regional VP, identify priority areas of investment to advance ocean conservation across the PacificIslands region
In partnership with country and regional leads, identify areas of support to advance Cls work on protected areas establishment in specific countries
Lead on technical analysis of legal framework in Cl countries in the region where marine and terrestrial protected areas are newly established
Support and backstop the project design thinking to ensure alignment of project activities to local laws and regulations of countries where Cl investment is directed.

Institutional Strategy:

Develop and lead an internal Pacific strategy for advancing the legal aspects of PAs and MPAs across the Pacific in alignment with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Content, with prospects of developing Peace Parks and a network of PA systems.
Provide technical support to CROP agencies, Governments, and IP& LC to establish and manage a network of marine and terrestrial protected areas across the Pacific Ocean
Support the Cl Pacific Program in aligning its program of work with the 2050 Strategy, Cl's Global Islands Program(emerging), and other institutional efforts with SIDS.
Support Pacific countries and the regional program with strategic positioning and technical design of project proposals under GEF, GCF, and other public funding.
Ensure legally appropriate institutional strategy metrics reporting in the Pacific Islands region.
Champion opportunities for program growth and development related to global UN Conventions, related explicitly to UNCLOS, BBNJ, and loss and damage

Partnerships:

Work with CROP, NGO, and Government leads across the Pacific to champion knowledge sharing and cross-collaboration to build capacity and address capacity gaps in national laws on conservation at scale, loss, and damage as well as climate adaptation.
Position Cl as a recognized and sought-after partner of choice in ocean management, landscapes, traditional knowledge, loss and damage, and climate adaptation.
Represent Cl or facilitate participation of key Pacific staff {behind-the-scenes facilitation) in regional learning events to share Cl's expertise, and best practices and amplify success with key audiences.
Continuously cultivate and engage stakeholders, including donors, government and NGOs, technical colleagues, and other partners critical to program success.

Resource Mobilization:

Under the leadership of the VP Pacific, provide technical support to the design of new programmes, including supporting fundraising efforts through policy/legal analysis that strengthens business cases and theories of change for Cl's work in the Pacific.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position requires in-region travel, as well as travel to Government officials, partners, donors, and others. Meetings and calls outside of normal office hours may be required to ensure coordination with key staff in the Asia-Pacific Field Division and global teams.
Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
This is a fixed-term assignment, anticipated to begin immediately until June 2025.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
7 or more years of related professional experience.
Senior-level advisory and some fundraising experience, preferably in the global conservation, NGO, advocacy, or related for-profit arena.
Demonstrated ability to analyze national policy and legal application of Global Conventions, UNCLOS, environmental laws, BBNJ, loss and damage, and other emerging issues that support the establishment of large-scale marine and terrestrial protected areas within and beyond national jurisdiction.
Excellent and proven technical and analytical skills.
Excellent organization and time management skills.
Proven leadership skills and success in effectively inspiring and engaging diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, team building, written and oral communication, negotiation skills, and always engaging in a culturally sensitive manner.
A record of success partnering with, and influencing, key stakeholders and successfully raising funds.
Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities. Adept at working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities with limited supervision.
Fluency in English is required and at least one additional Pacifika language.
At least five years of experience living in the Pacific Islands region and working on conservation and conservation finance-related issues (e.g. Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Palau, or New Caledonia).
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and management skills, with a high level of attention to detail and an ability to identify strategic priorities, issues, and solutions.
Understanding of key conservation issues, laws, and regulations in the Pacific Islands region.
Ability to absorb and synthesize content-specific information to key conservation issues.
At least 6 years of experience with civil society organizations, and significant knowledge of the expectations and demands of public funding donors, including the GCF, GEF, and ADB.
Superior organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail.
Ability to operate with considerable independence.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: September 6, 2024 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.

This job is no longer accepting applications

See open jobs at Conservation International Ventures.See open jobs similar to "Protected Area & Ocean Legal Advisor" Schmidt Marine.

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