Marine Spatial Planning Coordinator, Kenya at Nature Conservancy

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Coordinator Kenya would work to support development and implementation of Africa Ocean Protection and Resilience Strategy. The MSP Coordinator will be part of the implementation team that oversees the new project: “Strengthening the Blue Economy of the WIO through integration of ecosystem services and effective biodiversity conservation” including all aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations. The 5-year German government funded project is the focus of this new role, which will be a 2-year initial contract position with possibility of renewal, depending on funding arrangements. This position will report to the Project Manager – WIO Blue Economy, and work closely with TNC’s Africa Fisheries Team, Africa Oceans Strategy Director and Global Oceans Team. The position will be based at TNC’s office in Mombasa, Kenya

Essential Functions

The Marine Spatial Planning Coordinator (Kenya) will mainly support development of the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy of the MSP with the government of Kenya (GoK), creation of a National MSP Framework with GoK, completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and development of a Zoning Plan. The Marine Spatial Planning Coordinator will play a key role in the preparatory stages of marine spatial planning and supporting coordination of the implementation of the MSP project in Kenya. They will support development of a marine spatial plan and fisheries management goals for Kenyan chapter. They will provide the IKI WIO Blue Economy Project and World Bank-funded KEMSFED Projects, the Kenya MSP Coordinating team and government agencies with technical advice on the development of a science-based MSP for Kenya.

The Marine Spatial Planning Coordinator (Kenya) will also provide technical and scientific support on some elements of TNC’s Africa Fisheries Strategy in the application of FishPath to the Lobster and Octopus Fisheries for improved fishery management. The position will apply a diversified knowledge of fisheries-related scientific principles and practices to a broad variety of assignments, from research, analysis and writing, capacity building, and coordination and management support of specific projects.

Responsibilities

And Scope

• Coordinate, monitor and review the implementation of the MSP project following the and workplan.
• Ensure effective coordination with stakeholders/ project implementing partners to ensure smooth implementation of assigned activities
• Provide relevant technical support to the MSP Coordination Team and other relevant MSP stakeholders throughout the process
• Assisting to build technical and management capacity in support of Kenya’s Marine Spatial Planning
• Elaboration and implementation of a Marine Spatial Planning approach with the objective of improving and implementing effective decision-making for activities within MSP.
• Facilitate, engage and support the relevant Government and non-governmental MSP stakeholders and MSP Coordination and Technical Working Groups to ensure they provide the necessary MSP process contributions in the required time and quality
• Liaise and work with other stakeholders, experts, TNC teams, CSIRO, IKI WIO Blue Economy Project and KEMSFED Project structures as required in and for the process.
• Process and compile all contributions provided by internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective plan development
• Support the design, prepare, implement, and evaluate MSP workshops, meetings and events.
• Support knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of MSP process.
• Participating in and helping organize and manage various workshops for application of FishPath approach to priority fisheries in collaboration with other TNC members, CSIRO, Government Agencies, CSOs and fisher communities.
• Support development of a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) for Kenya’s Octopus fishery eying a future export fishery that could be certified.
• Providing relevant assistance on fisheries including supporting working groups on data-limited stock assessment methods, harvest strategy development, use of FishPath and development of an action plan for octopus FIP.
• May involve working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Maintain all information and prepare technical progress reports
• May involve frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours.
• May help develop and manage work plans and large project budgets.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS in natural sciences with 5 years’ experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in marine spatial planning and conservation
• Experience manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data on fisheries and fisheries performance as well as ecosystem interactions.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
• Fluent in English.
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Web Browsers.

Desired Qualifications

• MSc degree in a related field and 6 -10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Experience in the management and implementation of multi-stakeholder projects/processes.
• Proven capacity as team player and team builder
• Good knowledge of and demonstrated experience in spatial planning, related policies and GIS as applied to marine ecosystems.
• Knowledge of coral reef fisheries, related ecosystems, ecosystem processes, and their conservation needs preferred
• Record of publications in scientific peer reviewed journals related to fishery science and/or coastal management and planning
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to work independently including keeping timelines.
• Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences including through strong writing skills
• Politically savvy.