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Campaigns & Advocacy Director
Oceana
Accra, Ghana
Posted on Apr 4, 2026
OCEANA is the largest organization working exclusively on ocean conservation. Established in 2001 and based in Washington, D.C., OCEANA works on many strategic campaigns to achieve measurable results in marine management and conservation for the seas in each country. OCEANA believes especially in the importance of science to identify problems and find solutions.
The Ghana office, the first OCEANA office in Africa which opened early 2026, will campaign alongside coastal communities to rebuild fish populations, increase vital nutrition, and strengthen livelihoods. The OCEANA in Ghana office headquarters is in Accra.
The Campaigns & Advocacy Director will lead the design, development, and execution of Oceana’s campaigns in Ghana, working in close partnership with fish-dependent communities to rebuild fisheries, strengthen food and nutrition security, and protect coastal livelihoods. This role is accountable for delivering measurable policy and conservation outcomes by driving strategic advocacy, influencing key stakeholders, mobilizing public support, and leading integrated, high-impact campaigns.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable shaping long-term campaign strategy and managing day-to-day execution, ensuring that grassroots advocacy efforts translate into tangible results. The Campaigns & Advocacy Director will report to the Vice President
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions:
- Design and deliver national campaigns with clear policy objectives, timelines, and KPIs.
- Lead the development and implementation of campaign programs and projects.
- Lead projects and other advocacy initiatives as part of an interdisciplinary campaign team of scientists, advocates, and communications professionals to achieve Oceana’s campaign goals in Ghana.
- Represent and advocate for Oceana’s position concerning fisheries and oceans policy issues to government agencies, NGOs, public, media, stakeholders, and decision makers
- Develop advocacy, communications, outreach, and legal strategies to achieve the goals of the campaign in conjunction with outreach, policy, law, communications, and science teams.
- Serve as a spokesperson for the campaign and related issues in the press, at outreach events, and elsewhere as needed.
- Develop and monitor campaign budget and oversee financial and accounting aspects of the campaign.
- Oversee the research and writing of reports, papers, press releases, and other materials.
- Manage and develop a high-performing advocacy and campaigns team
- Support the growth and engagement of Oceana’s supporters, known as Wavemakers in Ghana using relevant strategies, tactics and tools.
- Manage and nurture external relationships and initiate outreach with scientists, fishing communities, NGOs, private sector, decision-makers and other stakeholders.
- Identify and engage key influencers and decision-makers
- Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign objectives.
Job Requirements
Education and Work Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree with relevant campaign experience and a minimum of 8 years, or an advanced degree and a minimum of 5 years related professional experience. Related experience or a relevant combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Minimum 4 years of management experience leading teams.
- Demonstrated success in achieving policy or legislative change in Ghana.
- Strong understanding of Ghana’s political, regulatory, and fisheries landscape or related sectors strongly preferred.
- Proven experience engaging high-level decision-makers and managing complex stakeholder environments.
- Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Experience organizing high-impact events to achieve campaign objectives.
- Must have exceptional management skills with proven ability to lead a professional staff and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Experience completing projects under tight deadlines and effectively managing a demanding workload.
- Ability to work on multiple projects in parallel.
- Desire and ability to advocate for complex, aggressive conservation positions in both small and large settings.
- Valid authorization to work in Ghana
- Some travel is required
Required Competencies:
- ACTION ORIENTED: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm.
- INSTILLS TRUST: Is able to gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
- EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
- ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY: Follows through on commitments and makes sure others do the same. Has a reputation of taking ownership and responsibility for decisions, actions and failures.
Oceana values a diverse workforce and welcomes people different from each other in many ways, including characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Oceana considers all qualified candidates and seeks to recruit from a diverse candidate pool.
Oceana's offices operate on a hybrid schedule. Staff are required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home on Monday and Friday. Please apply by April 24, 2026.