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Director, Ending Overfishing in Europe Campaign


Pew Charitable Trusts

Brussels, Belgium


Job ID: 2012-3233

Department:

The Pew Environment Group – The mission of the Environment group is to promote policies and practices that protect the global environment, preserve healthy forests and marine ecosystems. For the past two decades, the Environment group has been a major force in driving conservation policy in the United States, and increasingly internationally. The group’s work is focused on reducing the scope and severity of three major global environmental problems:
  • Transition to a clean energy economy from one based primarily on the burning of fossil fuels;
  • The erosion of large wilderness ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity; and,
  • The destruction of the world’s marine environment, with a particular emphasis on global fisheries.
The Pew Environment Group’s European Marine Programme

Our oceans are being emptied. Globally, fish stocks have dramatically declined. Scientists have estimated that only 10 percent of large ocean fish may be left.

The European Union (EU) is contributing to the widespread overfishing of the oceans. EU fish stocks are in a worse state than the global average - more than 70 percent of assessed fish stocks in EU waters are overfished, with 14 percent outside safe biological limits. The EU has one of the largest fleets in the world, the largest Exclusive Economic Zone, is the largest importer of seafood and has significant political influence in international fora. Yet fisheries management policies in the EU are often poorly developed or not fully implemented.

In order to strengthen the role of the EU in ending global overfishing and reducing the destruction of the world’s oceans, Pew opened a European regional marine programme office in Brussels in 2008. This office directs a number of European-based marine projects, In particular, Pew is coordinating two coalitions: OCEAN2012 is an alliance of over 170 non-governmental organisations in 22 EU member states dedicated to stopping overfishing, ending destructive fishing practices and delivering fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks; and the Shark Alliance is a coalition of over 130 organisations worldwide dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving science-based shark conservation policy.
European Marine Programme staff support the activities of other Pew international marine projects that are focused in Europe, ensuring coordination and cohesion for campaign activities. In addition to the European Marine Programme and staff based in the Brussels office, Pew also has an office in London, and consultants throughout the EU.As part of our goal to end environmentally harmful subsidies to the fisheries sector, we also fund FishSubsidy.org, a project working to reveal how and where EU subsidies are spent.

Director, Ending Overfishing in Europe

The Director will lead the campaign to end overfishing in Europe, with the goal of leading a coalition to mobilise the public, media, and policymakers to strengthen fisheries management in Europe, to set science-based fishing limits, and end subsidies for overfishing. Key areas of responsibility include directing and overseeing the final stage of efforts to ensure reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), expected to be completed by March 2014. 

A specific area of focus will be to develop a strategy for work in Europe following the adoption of the new CFP, focusing on a specific marine eco-region in Europe, in order to achieve real change on the water. The Director will oversee and manage a talented team of campaign staff and report to the Senior Officer of the European Marine Programme. He or she will build effective relationships with senior policymakers at European institution level, key coalition partners, funders, scientists and the media to create support for the work of the campaign, through public education, advocacy, communications and research. 

Additionally, the Director is an integral part of the Pew Environment Group’s International Ocean Conservation team, and will contribute to efforts to raise resources for campaigns, and work collaboratively with team peers to support broader marine campaigns and initiatives. 

It is expected that this position is for a term period through March 31, 2014, with the possibility of an extension pending the success of the program, funding sources and board decisions on continued support.

Requirements

This is a senior role requiring extensive experience in the European fisheries conservation arena, with a proven track record of leadership and accomplishment in designing and implementing programs on an EU-wide or global scale aimed at solving conservation needs. The individual in this role must understand EU institutional processes, and will have well-honed political, strategic and analytical skills. The successful candidate must be flexible and results-oriented with exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills. Direct experience of working in Europe is essential, as is knowledge of marine fisheries conservation issues.
  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in public policy, international relations or environmental science or equivalent experience also preferred;
  • 10 years of professional experience helping shape the way the decision makers and the public perceive and respond to environmental and natural resource management issues. Specific experience with marine wildlife or fisheries issues is preferred;
  • Excellent strategic and program management skills, with a proven ability to analyze complex programs and then lead, develop, execute and evaluate a range of diverse strategies to achieve goals. A task-oriented, deadline driven style with a focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals;
  • Able to develop and move projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy;
  • Exceptional oral and written communications skills. Able to synthesize material and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue and the means to address it;
  • Confident in presenting one’s own ideas and diplomatically persuading others as appropriate;
  • Ability to communicate complex ideas for a general audience, with strong public speaking skills and an ability to persuasively engage individuals or groups in dialogue that results in a desire to take action;
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, with seasoned judgment and analytical capacity, and must demonstrate strong collaborative spirit and ability to make decisions;
  • Media-savvy and politically astute. Able to use marketing techniques and media exposure to communication the impact of research on conservation needs;
  • Demonstrable experience of successfully managing staff and teams based in dispersed geographies;
  • Able to develop and manage productive relationships with consultants, partners and others who contribute to the development of a project by anticipating possible outcomes;
  • Well-developed skills in diplomacy. Able to work productively with a wide array of different people and institutions that frequently disagree with and are in competition with one another;
  • Excellent analytic and problem solving skills. Must be flexible, creative and consistent, and assume high accountability for all areas of responsibility;
  • Partner and collaborate with the Pew Philanthropic Partnership Group in order to identify potential donors, cultivate relationships and generate interest and support for a cause that result in significant funding for projects;
  • Seasoned judgment, able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive, clear and firm with colleagues and partners;
  • Fluency in English and at least one other European language essential and fluency in further EU languages desirable.

Travel:

  • Must be able to travel throughout Europe and to the US;
  • Pew is an equal opportunity employer.