Now Hiring: USAID Melanesia Project Coordinator

February 26, 2024

Project Overview
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) OurFish OurFuture Project is a cooperative agreement awarded by USAID that seeks to address the drivers of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing that are degrading coastal fisheries and biodiversity and negatively impacting local livelihoods, food stability, and maritime security in the Pacific Islands region. The five-year project (2021-2026) is implemented by the University of Rhode Island (URI) in collaboration the Locally-Managed Marine Areas Network International Trust (LMMA), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and The University of the South Pacific (USP). The project is implemented across six countries in Micronesia and Melanesia: Palau, the Federated States of Melanesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands (SI), and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Role
The Melanesia Project Coordinator will coordinate the field implementation of the project activities in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands (SI), and Papua New Guinea (PNG) and will support country-level project activities implemented by partners World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the University of the South Pacific (USP). The Coordinator will work closely with the OurFish Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Community of Practice (ECOP) Facilitator. The role will be under contract with URI and reports to Chief of Party for formal supervision, technical coordination and collaboration. The position location is optional – either the University of Rhode Island (URI) foreign branch office in Suva, Fiji, or in one of the Melanesian countries (PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu).

Requirements, Qualifications and Experience

  • University degree in Environmental/Marine Science, Biology, Fisheries, Marine Affairs, Management, or a discipline relevant to sustainable coastal fisheries management.
  • At least five years’ experience in project coordination or management, community-based resource management, and/or sustainable development projects in the Pacific Islands, preferably in coastal fisheries in Melanesia.
  • Demonstrated field implementation experience in fisheries or project coordination with a preference for sustainable coastal fisheries management and other development issues at the national level.

Required Skills and Competencies 

  • Demonstrated ability to initiate and establish partnerships and networks, maintaining effective relationships and influencing key partners and stakeholders.
  • Coordinating and overseeing the timely implementation of annually approved project activities with project leads in Vanuatu, SI and PNG.
  • Maintaining up to date project management systems to enable timely reminders to field teams and partners for upcoming activities and deliverables and updating the OurFish OurFuture project work plan for each quarterly period;
  • Preparing internal and external communications, working with the Fiji based Communications Specialist to highlight project progress in Vanuatu, SI and PNG;
    Coordinating with the OurFish Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor in the collection, update, and maintenance of Melanesia data for the project’s monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning database;
  • Outcome driven focus, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities.
  • High level capacity for self-management and initiative while operating with minimal supervision.

Compensation & Benefits:
An attractive package will be offered to the successful candidate based on appropriate qualifications, experience and skills.

Contract Duration:
Contract duration is for 1 year and to be renewed annually upon positive annual performance through the end of this project being October 2026.

Job Description
For more information on the role and job description, please email info@ourfish.crcuri.org

How to Apply:
To apply please email all of the following, in order, in one single PDF file to the OurFish acting Chief of Party on email only at rjimmy@ourfish.crcuri.org and cc the OurFish Finance and Administration Manager at vnair@ourfish.crcuri.org:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume or CV (must include contacts of 3 recent referees)

Deadline: Application will close at 4.00pm (Fiji Time) on March 20, 2024. The position remains open until filled.

This Project follows US Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity laws and does not discriminate in consideration or hiring of individuals.