JOB SUMMARY

The Marine and Fisheries Specialist provides technical support for natural resources management and private sector engagement in the marine and fisheries sector on environment, agricultural development, governance, and humanitarian assistance activities. The job holder engages with host government officials and other partners working with donor institutions, private sector actors, and NGOs to advance Mission programming in the areas of conservation and environmentally friendly marine and fisheries development. The Specialist provides expert advice on market systems, conservation-enterprise and value chain development, and linkages between food security, sustainable marine and fisheries development, and natural resource management interventions including community based natural resource management and marine protected areas management. The job holder will provide strategic vision and contribute to team cohesion.

The overall responsibilities of the Marine and Fisheries Specialist are to provide technical expertise and professional guidance to USAID/Madagascar and the U.S. Mission as a whole in the broad area of environmentally sustainable marine and fisheries development. The position requires a depth of technical expertise and program management skills that will allow the job holder to provide leadership on these and other policy issues, meeting and collaborating on a regular basis with senior officials and partners working with USAID and Embassy Antananarivo, other donor organizations, USAID contractor and grantee organizations, professional organizations, Government of Madagascar (GOM), NGOs, international organizations, and the private sector. The Specialist’s management decisions require the ability to identify, assess, understand, and systematize complex issues as they relate to Madagascar’s broader economic, political, and cultural realities that can lead to important changes or adaptations in relevant national policies.

The Marine and Fisheries Specialist serves as the Mission’s chief technical expert and resource person on marine and fisheries. The job holder represents USAID in donor groups ensuring the coordination of USG and other donor policies and investments and coordinates closely within USAID.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Offers will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether they have met the minimum qualifications below. A list of qualified offers will be referred to the evaluation committee for further consideration and screening.

a. Education:

A minimum of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (or equivalent), in the areas of marine biology/conservation, environment, international development, or other relevant areas.

2. Prior Work Experience:

At least five years of work experience in the areas of marine and fisheries and/or natural resource management in an international development setting, with a minimum of two years of this experience working in task-oriented teams.

3. Language Proficiency

Language proficiency equivalent to level IV (fluent) in English, French and Malagasy are required.

d. Job Knowledge:

Job holders must demonstrate an understanding of marine and fisheries development as a means to improve poverty, nutrition, resilience, and biodiversity outcomes. It is also critical that the incumbent is able to easily engage donors, international partners, private sector, government, and other stakeholders involved in marine and fisheries development. In addition, the incumbent must have a strong knowledge of Madagascar and an understanding of the development agenda of the country. Knowledge of communication approaches is required.

5. Skills and Abilities:

Incumbent will demonstrate strong problem-solving skills involving complex or conceptual problems, particularly in the areas of marine and fisheries development. Similarly, strong analytical and critical thinking skills are needed. The incumbent must be a team player and be able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders both within the Mission and outside with private sector, donor and GOM representatives. The incumbent must be computer literate with advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point packages and familiarity with social media (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.).

The incumbent must have experience, technical skills, training and/or competencies in using market-based systems approaches to achieve development and humanitarian outcomes.