The Nature Conservancy is looking for a Marine Spatial Planning Coordinator

The MSP Coordinator supports coordination of the development of a MSP for Kenya in collaboration with the GoK team while liaising with relevant stakeholders and other partners as appropriate to ensure effective organization and advancement the MSP process. They support partners in designing and organization of the marine spatial planning process and overseeing the successful implementation of all MSP-related workshops and meetings.

They work with governments, stakeholders, academics, NGOs, civil society, private sector, coastal communities, and other partners to develop a holistic evidence-based marine spatial plan. They support development and application of diverse and tailored decision-support tools and approaches for conservation prioritization and planning to scale up effective and equitable area-based conservation through coordination, capacity building, national collaboration, and promoting lessons sharing and best practices. They support integration of decision-support tools into Kenya marine biodiversity and conservation strategies as part of the MSP process.

Want to help save the ocean? This is an exceptional career opportunity for a highly motivated, capable individual interested in joining the world’s leading conservation organization!

Develop an elaborate Marine Spatial Planning approach and implementation plan with the objective of improving effective decision-making.
Coordinate, monitor and ensure timely implementation of the Marine Spatial Plan for the Kenya project and ensure its implementation in accordance with the workplan.

Facilitate, engage, and support the relevant Government and non-governmental MSP stakeholders and MSP Coordination and Technical Working Groups in Kenya to ensure they provide the necessary MSP process contributions in the required time and quality.
Collaborate with TNC subject matter experts and other partners as appropriate to identify and mainstream additional support for marine spatial planning process.
Assist in building technical and management capacity of stakeholders in support of Kenya’s Marine Spatial Planning.
Supporting spatial action mapping to achieve the GoKs BE vision and TNC’s 2030.
Support the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of MSP workshops, meetings, and events.
Process and compile all contributions provided by internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective MSP plan development.
Support knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of MSP process in Kenya.
Maintain weekly, monthly, annual project reports and prepare timely bi-annual and technical progress reports including news coverage, outreach materials etc.
Ensure that all MSP outputs are publicly available on websites maintained by GoK, TNC and other partners’ websites as specified from time to time.
May involve working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
May involve frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

BA/BS in natural sciences, social sciences, ecology or related field with 5 years’ experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
Demonstrated on-the-ground experience and knowledge with advancing ocean conservation and participatory processes such as marine spatial planning, coastal zone management, marine protected area networks and/or sector-based management plans, and remote sensing.
Experience and significant knowledge of ocean-based economic development (blue economy), including sectors and users of Kenya’s ocean space.
Experience establishing and maintaining relationships with multiple levels of government, private sector, non-governmental agencies, coastal community leaders, donors and other development partners.
Experience with facilitation, building stakeholders consensus and conflict resolution.
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
Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Web Browsers.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Over 7 years of experience in interdisciplinary conservation and Marine spatial planning
Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
Experience with leading strategic and adaptive planning and operations in the areas of public policy, governance and/or economic or community development.
Ability to explain marine and ocean conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
Knowledge of current trends in Fisheries, aquaculture practices in conservation, and natural resource preservation.
Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s), conversant with analysis tools and management skills
Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.