Director of North America Regional Programs

The North America Regional Director will work with the President, other regional directors, Chief Scientist, Seafood Choices Program team, and communications, science, and operations support staff to manage its Silver Spring office and lead its North America initiatives. The primary programmatic focus of the director is to manage SeaWeb’s sustainable seafood work directed at key audiences in the North American market. Externally, she/he will work closely with marine conservation groups, scientists, government officials and innovative thought leaders in the sector to help large and small businesses explore how seafood sustainability can best be integrated into their operations. Among the responsibilities of this position will be to provide strategic leadership and guidance to the Seafood Choices team for the successful development and implementation of the International Seafood Summit and for achieving outcomes and goals of the Seafood Choices North America regional strategy. Further, the Director is encouraged to develop new initiatives, campaigns, and programs for the North America region that are in line with SeaWeb’s mission, such as issue directed campaigns or broader ocean industry engagement work. 

This position will provide exposure to the full suite of sustainable seafood issues and stakeholder networks. An experienced public speaker, the North American Director will have the ability to cultivate media and public attention, and to engage key policymakers. Effective project management experience is required in order to successfully implement a fast-paced program across the North American marketplace and integrate those activities with complementary work being done by Seafood Choices Program in Europe and other places around the world. The successful candidate must be a strategic, flexible and results-oriented individual with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Knowledge of market-based approaches to solving environmental challenges is critical. Specific experience in the seafood industry is not required, although familiarity with the nonprofit sector, resource conservation, supply chain dynamics, corporate social responsibility and industry best practices is strongly preferred. The North American Director will report to the President and will manage staff working on a variety of projects. This position is based in our Silver Spring, MD (Washington, DC) office.

Key Objectives and Responsibilities

The primary objectives and major responsibilities for the North America Regional Director will include:

• Providing focused and innovative leadership to the development of sustainable seafood activities and other projects in North America;
• Representing and providing leadership to Silver Spring staff, setting the tone for a positive, effective, dynamic, and collaborative work environment;
• Cultivating corporate partner relationships and assisting in strategic outreach;
• Facilitating regular cross-sector dialogue among corporate, academic, governmental, and conservation partners;
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships with ocean conservation groups, scientific bodies, certification entities, trade association colleagues and industry leaders, to identify and support opportunities that promote sustainable seafood and create solution-oriented approaches;
• Serving as a spokesperson in order to cultivate and engage the media, major buyers and suppliers of seafood, key policymakers and the public about the need to find global solutions to the threats facing the ocean;
• Developing and managing various North American events;
• Representing the Seafood Choices Program at trade shows, meetings, and conferences;
• Managing US-based staff working to implement Seafood Choices and other communication-driven projects;
• Designing and maintaining grant budgets and the overall program budget;
• Grant proposal writing and reporting, donor management, and other fundraising including recruiting corporate sponsors for the International Seafood Summit.

Qualifications and Experience

For this important role, SeaWeb seeks an individual with solid leadership skills and a proven ability to engage a broad array of industry and ocean conservation partners, and policymakers. The successful candidate will bring the motivation, energy and focus necessary to advance program objectives, and combine exceptional communication skills with well-honed strategic instincts in order to function effectively within corporate, non-governmental and policy arena settings.  Specifically, an ideal candidate will bring the following professional experience and personal characteristics to the position:

Professional Experience

• At least 10 years experience in business, marketing, non-governmental organizations or a related field, of which at least three of those years should be in the corporate world.
• Excellent strategic abilities, with the capacity to articulate programmatic needs and translate them into effective initiatives.
• Politically savvy with a proven ability to engage policymakers, government leaders, business and other key audiences. 
• Strong program management skills, with a proven ability to lead, develop and execute a range of diverse strategies and approaches.
• Prior knowledge of the seafood industry is not essential, but an understanding of North American industry markets is advantageous. 
• Strategic communications experience or background is highly desirable.
• Programmatic or strategic corporate social responsibility experience is desirable, as is prior experience in the non-governmental sector, although relevant transferable experience will be considered.
• Experience in working with the North American press and generating media interest and attention for issues is required.

Personal Characteristics

A minimum of a BA or BS degree in a relevant field is required, and an advanced degree is preferred.

• Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and persuasively, be an effective public speaker and have the ability to engage a broad array of individuals at all levels.
• Demonstrated strengths in advocacy, negotiations, public education and outreach. An ability to work effectively as a member of a team, and to provide guidance and leadership to colleagues, with an ability to motivate others.
• Creativity, tenacity, good humor and a high level of energy combined with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. 
• A willingness to travel.
• Proficiency in foreign languages is a plus, particularly, Chinese, French, or Spanish.
• An interest in, and commitment to, ocean protection is essential.

More Information about SeaWeb and Seafood Choices:

SeaWeb has offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Honolulu, London, Paris, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. SeaWeb is the only international, non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to using the science of communications to convince people to take greater responsibility for ocean health. We work collaboratively to inform and empower diverse ocean voices and conservation champions in strategic, targeted sectors to encourage market solutions, policies and behaviors that result in a healthy thriving ocean. We transform knowledge into action by shining a spotlight on workable, science-based solutions to the most serious threats facing the ocean such as climate change, pollution and over-exploitation.

Seafood Choices is an international program of SeaWeb that promotes information sharing and collaboration, setting the vision for sustainability for the seafood industry and conservation community. By building relationships and stimulating dialogue, SeaWeb's Seafood Choices program is encouraging and challenging all sectors of the seafood industry to move along the road toward sustainability.

To apply: Interested candidates should a submit letter of interest, resume and three references to hr@seaweb.org with Director of North American Regional Programs Positionin the subject line. Please include salary requirements in the letter of interest. SeaWeb will move aggressively to fill the position. Applications will be accepted through February 11, 2013.

Applications are strongly encouraged from candidates reflecting diverse educational, cultural and experiential backgrounds. We encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, people of diverse ethnic, racial, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, educational and work experiences, geographic and national origins, sexual orientations and ages.

SeaWeb is an equal opportunity employer.

For more information about SeaWeb, visit our Web site at www.seaweb.org