Director, Arctic & Northern Waters (Fisheries

Director, Arctic & Northern Waters (Fisheries)

Ocean Conservancy's Arctic and Northern Waters program works to address the complex challenges facing the maritime Arctic by advancing science-based solutions in U.S. and international venues. Healthy, abundant and biodiverse oceans also ensure the peoples, cultures and ecosystems of Alaska and the Arctic are thriving. Arctic Fisheries are central to that work.

The Director of Arctic Fisheries designs, leads and manages Ocean Conservancy's Arctic fisheries portfolio, advancing a campaign to protect the biodiversity, abundance and resilience of fisheries and the marine ecosystems that sustain them across Alaska and the broader Arctic. Working with Tribes, tribal entities, and other partners and grounded in the integration of Indigenous knowledge and western science, the Director identifies solutions, produces supportive policy and technical materials, and advances climate-ready and biodiversity-centered fisheries conservation in domestic and international fisheries venues.

The Director manages a small team. Together they work in close coordination with fellow Directors across the Arctic & Northern Waters team, the Senior Director of Fish Conservation, Tribal partners, Alaska Native and Indigenous organizations and coalition partners to ensure that fisheries conservation strategies for Alaska and the Arctic have the greatest impact and are coordinated with our fisheries work in the Central Arctic Ocean and our national fisheries work.

The Director also supports Ocean Conservancy's communications and development teams to build popular, political and financial support for the Arctic fisheries portfolio and its conservation objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

• Working with partners, is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure sustainable and equitable fisheries management in the North Pacific and U.S. Arctic Oceans which centers Indigenous leadership and supports communities over the long term.
• Designs, leads, and manages Ocean Conservancy's Arctic fisheries portfolio, formulating high-impact, science and Indigenous knowledge-based initiatives, that protect the biodiversity, abundance, and resilience of Alaska and Arctic fisheries and the ecosystems on which they depend,
• Designs and leads a comprehensive communications plan to engage and educate decision makers, partners, and the public to build support for fisheries conservation. Plans, drafts, and reviews fisheries-related messaging for media and outreach in coordination with Ocean Conservancy's communications team, ensuring Indigenous knowledge and other relevant perspectives are reflected in external communications.
• Monitors, analyzes, and researches administrative, legislative, judicial, and other developments affecting fisheries and marine biodiversity in Alaska and the U.S. Arctic. Maintains relationships and communicates with decision-makers on a regular basis.
• Advocates policy and legal positions in the regulatory process and administrative venues, working to ensure sustainable fisheries management based on Indigenous knowledge and science.
• Coordinates with coalition partners, including NGOs, Alaska Native Tribes and Indigenous organizations, and local governments, to strengthen and maximize the impact of fisheries conservation strategies, ensuring Indigenous knowledge and other relevant perspectives inform decision-making at every level; develops and nurtures relationships and opportunities for collaboration with Arctic Indigenous peoples and organizations.
• Engages closely with fellow Directors across the Arctic and Northern Waters team and the Senior Director Fish Conservation, staying coordinated on cross-initiative work and contributing as a collaborative team member to advance shared program goals.
• Manages and supports a small team, developing agendas, leading team meetings and the annual work planning process for the fisheries portfolio, and providing management support to direct reports.
• With Ocean Conservancy's Development team, helps steward funding partnerships, contributes to fundraising materials and grant proposals, writes and submits grant reports, and helps develop and track the Arctic fisheries program budget.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• At least seven years of professional experience in fisheries science or law, marine biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, conservation, public policy, research or a related field; experience working on Alaska or Arctic fisheries and connections with Arctic and Alaska stakeholders required.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading high-impact campaigns, coalitions and partnerships that achieve conservation goals, including the ability to motivate a small team and coordinate across a larger, multi-disciplinary organization.
• Demonstrated experience and genuine commitment to integrating Indigenous knowledge alongside western science, with a track record of building respectful, trust-based…