Overview

Position Title:            Development Officer                                             

Location:                    London or Bristol, UK, with overseas travel

Closing date for applications:          Monday 6th April 2015                                

Contract duration:                            Full time position                 

Start date:                                          May 2015

Remuneration and benefits:                        Competitive salary based on experience

Rebuilding tropical fisheries with coastal communities

Blue Ventures develops transformative approaches for nurturing and sustaining locally led marine conservation.  We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and we are committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people.

More information about Blue Ventures’ mission and our approach to marine conservation can be found on our website.

 

Summary Job Description

We are currently recruiting a Development Officer to lead our programme fundraising activities, supporting existing conservation initiatives and catalysing new initiatives.

The position will play a key role within Blue Ventures’ headquarters team, working with senior managers to provide coordination of programme development efforts, and working closely with field colleagues and partner organisations to support the resourcing of effective, scalable conservation interventions in fulfilment of our mission.

The role will enable innovation in marine conservation through securing the resources necessary for the development and advancement of new models for engaging coastal communities in conservation. The position offers excellent opportunities to play an instrumental role in shaping Blue Ventures’ conservation efforts, and making a substantial contribution to fighting the downward trajectories so many small-scale fisheries and tropical marine ecosystems are experiencing.

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, experienced conservation or development professional with an excellent knowledge of the small-scale fisheries, marine conservation and development sectors, as well as a proven track record in grant writing, partnership development, and programme design.  

You will thrive in environments that are dynamic, fast-paced, collegiate and ambitious, and be able to demonstrate experience working independently and solving complex problems in challenging environments.  

The role entails working as part of an interdisciplinary and international team, with excellent opportunities for professional development.  

The Development Officer will report to Blue Ventures’ Executive Director, based in Blue Ventures’ United Kingdom offices in London or Bristol, with occasional overseas travel to work with partners and field teams.

 

Key responsibilities

Development mapping

  •     Mapping development and fundraising needs across country programmes and conservation models, prioritising development efforts in line with Blue Ventures’ strategy and operating plan.

Development

  •    Translating project plans into clear funding proposals, incorporating best practice, learning and feedback from field colleagues and partners.  Liaising with partners and funders, coordinating the preparation, internal review and submission of project proposals to funding partners.

Programme review

  •    Supporting the Conservation Programmes Manager in reviewing project progress, documenting learning and impact, and reporting to funding partners.

Advocacy and engagement

  •    Supporting Blue Ventures’ efforts to raise awareness of the critical threats facing tropical coastal communities, small-scale fisheries and marine biodiversity.  Contributing outreach communications and thought leadership pieces highlighting these issues and the global importance of incentive based approaches to community-led marine conservation.

Specific requirements

  •     MSc (or equivalent) in marine conservation, development, or related field (or highly relevant work experience of 5+ years)
  •     At least three years practical experience in community-based conservation initiatives
  •     Experience working with a range of donors, including corporations, trusts, foundations and bilateral agencies
  •     Fluency in English; French and Portuguese beneficial
  •     Strong technical understanding of marine environmental and social science and a proven ability to communicate complex issues clearly
  •     Excellent writing skills (shortlisted candidates may be asked to sit a written test), and a proven ability to write concisely and persuasively, managing time and balancing priorities to meet deadlines
  •     Experience in grant proposal writing and reporting
  •     Demonstrated track record in the preparation of budgets and log frames
  •     Excellent communication skills and ability to give strong public presentations
  •     Dynamic, enthusiastic, hardworking and highly organised