Pacific Marine Specialist

Final date to receive applications:
Friday 7 August 2026 – 23:59 AEST
Location: Fiji, New Zealand or Australia

Full-time: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Fixed-term for 2 years

Salary: Salary and benefits will vary by location
Annual Leave: Annual leave entitlement will vary by location

We’re Bird Life International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders.

We are looking for a Pacific Marine Specialist to lead science translation and advocacy initiatives, with a focus on supporting delivery of an evidence-based area‑based management proposal(s) for the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea region.

In this role, you will be delivering operational support to the work of the Birdlife International Marine Programme in the Pacific to understand, protect and restore seabird populations.

• Lead coordination of the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea project, bringing together internal teams, partners, governments, and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of project objectives.

• Translate complex scientific and technical information into clear, persuasive policy briefs, position papers, and communications that influence regional marine policy and decision‑making.

• Drive advocacy for area‑based management proposals under the BBNJ Agreement, with a particular focus on the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea region.

• Provide strategic analysis and evidence on priority marine areas, including Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs), and on the impacts of human activities on seabirds and marine ecosystems.

• Strengthen marine conservation advocacy across the Pacific by distilling and communicating key developments from regional and global policy processes to partners.

• Deliver high‑quality analysis to support decision‑making, including fisheries policy analysis, spatial assessments of seabird‑fisheries interactions, and other technical analyses relevant to marine conservation priorities.

• Produce clear, accessible information and guidance that supports policy development, fisheries management, and conservation action among governments, regional agencies, Bird Life partners, and conservation networks.

• Build and nurture trusted relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including High Seas Alliance members, Bird Life Partners, Pacific governments, NGOs, research institutions, and Indigenous and community‑based organisations.

• Represent the Marine Programme in regional and international meetings, working groups, and scientific forums, advocating for project priorities and broader marine conservation objectives.

• Support the development of skills and knowledge among Pacific partners by facilitating capacity‑building initiatives and sharing technical expertise.

• Champion locally led conservation by promoting the ownership, understanding, and use of conservation data by communities and national agencies.

This role will require occasional international travel.

Success in this role will require a degree or higher qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant subject along with strong knowledge of relevant marine policy instruments, seabird ecology, and marine conservation, together with experience delivering marine conservation initiatives. You will be an excellent relationship builder with strong project management, coordination, and leadership skills, and a proven ability to manage priorities across multi‑country initiatives.

You will be a proactive and adaptable professional who can work both independently and as part of a team, consistently delivering high‑quality work to deadlines and quickly acquiring new skills when needed. Exceptionally written and spoken English is essential, along with the ability to communicate complex scientific and technical information clearly and concisely to a wide range of audiences through reports, presentations, and public speaking engagements.

You will also bring experience in analytical approaches, including contextual analysis and spatial mapping, supported by…