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Sustainable Fisheries Program Senior Coordinator
Conservation International Ventures
Apia, Samoa
Posted on Sep 23, 2025
Sustainable Fisheries Program Senior Coordinator
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.
POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Apia, Samoa
The Senior Program Coordinator oversees the delivery and implementation of Jurisdictional Approaches for Pacific Tuna in Samoa. They will manage a diverse workstream and provide technical and programmatic support for CI’s Jurisdictional Approach initiatives in Samoa, working with governments, human rights and labor groups, environmental organizations, market partners, certification bodies, civil society, fishing communities and other key stakeholders to co-identify key environmental, social, and economic improvement areas in Pacific tuna fisheries, and design potential solutions through policy and market- based approaches to support social responsibility and environmental sustainability in the region.
The Senior Program Coordinator will conduct a regulatory analysis of regional, national and fishery level key enabling conditions and relationships required to strengthen a JA initiative in Samoa waters to (i) sustain tuna stocks and catches through the growing climate crisis, and (ii) safeguard the fundamental human rights of crew, communities and observers.
This role includes implementation of project activities that specifically relate to human rights, social responsibility, environmental sustainability, climate change, seafood market and supply chain strategies. Project management includes projects built around relationships with CI’s Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Program, human and labor rights organizations, and multi-lateral agencies, as well as development and implementation of workplans associated with multi-stakeholder alliances. They will work to ensure that program outcomes and goals further Conservation International’s (CI’s) human development and conservation priorities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supports the strategic development of jurisdictional approaches (at country level (Samoa) and regional scales) for tuna fisheries, working with governments, market partners, civil society and other key stakeholders to co-identify key improvement areas in Pacific tuna fisheries, and design potential environmental, social, and economic solutions through policy and market-based approaches.
- Conducts regulatory analysis of regional, national and fishery level human rights and labor policies in Samoa and the Western Central Pacific Ocean, to identify compliance risks applicable to crew, communities, observers, and regulatory capacity. Designs human rights policy commitment recommendations for industry partners operating in the WCPO, specifically Samoa— with respect to WCPO regulations and WCPFC labor and human rights policies, and in line with the Monterey Framework, that establish measures on issues such as Flags of Convenience (FoCs), beneficial ownership and supporting coastal communities.
- Conduct a desk-based landscape assessment to identify key Economic Improvement areas in Samoa, and regionally.
- Nourish existing and forge new partnerships with key national agencies, appropriate government authorities and key human right, labor and environment partners in Samoa and the Pacific Islands Region to build environmental and social improvements into actionable work plans, identifying systems, tools and technologies to monitor, verify, and improve social performance and working with private sector partners to develop accountability mechanisms.
- Supports the identification of opportunities for program growth and development, including through partnerships with regional agencies like the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Organization of Migration (IOM), The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), and others.
- Develops and implements program strategies, project management, technical oversight, monitoring and capacity building.
- Represents CI as a key technical resource and builds alliances with key external stakeholders including human and labor rights groups, government and NGO officials, donors, and others critical to project success.
- Co-leads dissemination of project results, including but not limited to presentations to RFMOs and national governments about human rights issues and improvements in Pacific Island tuna fisheries.
- Ensures compliance with CI policies, program and funding agreements, and local requirements.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Liaises with global and country program, as well as field division staff, and other relevant CI Divisions, to ensure coordination with aligned initiatives.
- Supports Conservation International’s Pacific Fisheries Network.
- Program development and fundraising.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Frequent travel to project site and other office locations.
- Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods.
- Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions; may be required to board fishing vessels or exposed to out-at-sea working conditions when required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree level studies in a related field (marine science, human rights, environmental social sciences, fisheries, economics, environmental management, law, business, international development, conservation or other related field).
- 2 to 4 years of relevant work experience in Samoa.
- Understanding of human rights and labor rights standards in the Western Central Pacific Ocean and the associated Regional Fisheries Management Organization.
- Experience working in the Pacific Islands at country or regional level.
- Experience in the implementation of social science methods. Experience working with fishers and their representative organizations, fishing communities, the fishing industry representatives.
- Experience in the implementation of human rights risk assessments, seafood commodity social risk assessments, supply chain management systems, risk mitigation strategy and responsible sourcing in global supply chains.
- Knowledge of Marine Stewardship Counsel, Fishery Improvement Projects, including the FIP process, guidelines, and the fisheryprogress.org Human Rights and Social Policy.
- Sectoral expertise in environmental and social responsibility issues, climate resilience, climate justice, achieving social change, corporate social responsibility, industry standards, certifications and value chain systems.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects or initiatives involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Superb oral and written communication skills.
- Global understanding of marine conservation and/or socioeconomic development issues.
- Excellent technical and analytical skills, including demonstrated experience in project management.
- Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, with proven ability to turn vision and strategies into outcomes.
- Proven ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. Adept at working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities with limited supervision.
Preferred
- Post-Graduate or Masters degree is an advantage.
- Working knowledge on legislative and industry requirements for sustainable seafoods in Samoa.
- Established track record in research and writing on human rights, fisheries, and CSR topics in business or academic settings through published reports, articles or contributions to significant company consulting projects.
- Familiarity with the Monterey Framework, The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small Scale Fisheries, the Social Responsibility Assessment Tool, Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries, Port State Measures Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals & 2030 Agenda.
- Understanding of national, sub-regional & regional groupings involved in Pacific Tuna Fisheries, including but not limited to the Samoa Fishing Industry Association, Samoa Human Rights Commission, Parties to the Nauru Agreement, the Tokelau Arrangement, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Te Vaka Moana Arrangement,the Pacific Tuna Forum and other relevant regional fisheries working arrangements.
To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
Application Deadline: October 7, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
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