Project Manager – The Beqa Lagoon Initiative
Organisational background
Pacific Blue Foundation (PBF) is a Fiji-based Charitable Trust and USA-based non-profit founded in 2004. PBF provides research, education, encouragement, and dissemination of sustainable practices in coastal regions with the ultimate goal of preserving and promoting biological and cultural diversity.
Position background
PBF is seeking an experienced project manager to lead the implementation of the Beqa Lagoon Initiative (BLI) in collaboration with local community groups and diverse range of stakeholders. The BLI is a local community-driven seascape management program that brings together 10 local Fijian villages of Beqa Lagoon, tourism operators, industry, government agencies and academia, to develop and implement community sustainability, natural resource management and ecological protection solutions through a Seascape strategy.
The BLI operates across four integrated strategic Pillars: 1) Vanua: People, Land, Culture and Spirituality; 2) Yaubula: natural resources and environmental management; 3) Green Schools: healthy school environments; and 4) Blue Communities: sustainable community and green/blue economy development.
Contract duration: 2 years, full time (3-month probation); Second year contingent upon performance and funding.
Position start date: April 1, 2023.
Location: Based in PBF’s Suva office, with frequent travel to project sites in the Beqa Lagoon Seascape.
Remuneration: FJ$55,000-65,000 p.a.; Competitive and commensurate with experience.
Closing date for applications: March 1, 2023.
Key responsibilities of position
- Works effectively, professionally, and collegiately with PBF Fijian and international leadership teams to deliver organizational and program goals.
- Leads the reviews, updates and implementation of BLI strategy and annual operating plans,
- Provides supervision, direction and support to project staff and seeks to provide professional development opportunities.
- Oversees contracts and other agreements with consultants and collaborators.
- Fosters collegial working relationships with community leaders, partners and builds alliances with key external stakeholders critical to project success.
- Provides leadership, direction and mentoring to the BLI field team to ensure project deliverables are completed within agreed timeframes.
- Monitors and reports on project implementation, performance and provides accountability to set project timelines, budgets and outputs.
- Leads the development of BLI’s community development and training program and delivers training, workshops and community education modules.
- Coordinates socio-economic research, data analysis and development of technical reports.
- Provides technical support to BLI’s stakeholders to generate market-based solutions to improve community well-being, economic progress, and environmental sustainability.
- Represent PBF at external meetings, forums and events.
- Develops new ideas for grant proposals and leads in preparing and submitting applications.
- Contributes to external and internal communications and preparing and presenting relevant promotional and marketing material.
- Contributes to workplace policies and procedures and other tasks at the direction of the PBF Leadership team.
Skills and Experience
The successful candidate must be able to meet all the essential criteria below. A written application is required demonstrating how each Essential Criteria has been met, considering the key responsibilities of the position.
Essential Criteria:
- Proven leadership skills with at least 5 years’ experience demonstrating ability to lead natural resource, community-based, marine protected area and / or ecological protection programs, or complex projects to deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes.
- Proficiency in leading teams and managing staff with a minimum of three years’ experience in a team manager role.
- Proven team player, self-motivated and able to work autonomously, with minimal supervision.
- Experience in working with local communities, leading community consultation and delivering programs.
- Demonstrated experience in liaising, negotiating and co-operating with government officials, municipal authorities, academic institutions, NGOs and the private sector.
- Considerable knowledge of the traditional structures, practices and procedures governing local government and municipal work relevant to Fiji and experience in applying iTaukei traditional protocols.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including fluency in written and verbal English and Fijian.
- Willingness to spend time in the field including weekends where required.
- A tertiary qualification in a field relevant to the roles and responsibilities of the position.
Desirable Criteria:
- Previous leadership experience in the global conservation, NGO, advocacy or related non-for-profit arena; preferably related to natural resource management and marine protected areas.
- Strong background in political and community governance, policy and law.
- Experience in the tourism sector, focused on co-management and community-based ecotourism.
- Experience in working with stakeholders to develop sustainable economic solutions such as small business and cooperatives.
To apply
If you believe you are the best fit for the position, we would love to hear from you!
- Please send a PDF file containing: 1) current CV/resume; 2) a written application describing how you meet the selection criteria based on your qualifications, experience and skills; and, 3) contact details (email address essential) of three (3) professional referees to: contact@pacificbluefoundation.org, with the title “Project Manager Application”, by March 1, 2023.
- Importantly, to obtain the position shortlisted applicants would need to provide: 1) clean police/criminal record; 2) recent (last 3 months) medical check demonstrating you are healthy and in strong medical state, and capable of undertaking all position roles and needed activities.
