Regional Director, Gulf and Southeast - Oceans Program

With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships, and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents, and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.
 
EDF's Oceans Program works to improve the health of the oceans through innovative and durable solutions to today's toughest fishery management challenges. EDF's Gulf and Southeast Oceans Program seeks a Director to be responsible for the development, oversight and implementation of strategies that advance these goals in the Gulf. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has expertise in fisheries and oceans policy and a demonstrated success managing regional teams and affecting environmental policy change. The Director will report to the Associate Vice President for regional programs.
 
Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Director – Gulf and Southeast Oceans Program will perform the following and other duties as assigned:

• Manage the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Oceans Program team. Enhance communication, coordination, and efficiency, and leverage the strengths and experience of Oceans Program staff in EDF's Texas and North Carolina offices.  
• Supervise Program operations, review and update budget and strategic planning documents and work plans for all major program initiatives in the region, as necessary.  
• Serve as primary liaison with other EDF regional and national Oceans Program staff and contribute to their objectives.
• Analyze complex fishery management programs and find ways to eliminate overfishing, rebuild depleted fisheries and strengthen commercial and recreational communities through the adoption of catch shares or other effective accountability measures.
• Forge alliances among disparate interest groups and coordinate citizen and environmental groups in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast. Help to build regional and national coalitions and promote conservation leadership in the commercial and recreational fishing communities.
• Engage the media to advance project objectives and communicate project results to a broad array of audiences.
• Coordinate the region's work with the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, National Marine Fisheries Service, and other federal, state and interstate fishery and ocean conservation agencies.
• Engage academic scientists, policy experts, and others to solve complex fishery management problems.
• Represent the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Oceans Program at regional advisory board and national trustees meetings as needed.
• Work with EDF development officers to identify potential funding sources and secure funding to help expand the program.
• Prepare and supervise the annual budget for the regional program.
• Function as a member of the Ocean Program's Leadership Team with the goal of improving the effectiveness and coordination of the Ocean Program.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Knowledge of federal and state ocean conservation laws and regulations
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a growing program and staff
• Ability to use science, law, economics and advocacy to initiate and win positive environmental change
• Experience achieving results in environmental policy and politics
• Minimum ten years of experience with significant time working with state and federal natural resource management agencies, state legislatures, or the U.S. Congress
• Knowledge of the biological, economic and management issues related to major U.S. fisheries, especially commercial and recreational fisheries
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively with nonprofit colleagues and partners, scientists, economists, industry leaders, regulators and public policy decision makers
• Bachelor's Degree required, advanced degree in law, marine biology, natural resource economics, or related discipline highly preferred

Compensation and Benefits

EDF offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. This position will be located in Austin, TX.
 
Application

To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements.
 
Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.
 
Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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