We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Project Leader to oversee and manage the implementation of the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway program. The program aims to transform the lives of stakeholders in aquatic food systems across Africa and Asia, addressing the challenge of feeding 9.8 billion people by 2050 in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner. As the Project Leader, you will be responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team and coordinating activities across multiple countries, with a focus on Bangladesh, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Your primary goal will be to ensure the successful execution of the program, achieving its objectives and contributing to sustainable aquatic food systems, climate adaptation, and shared prosperity.
The Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway program, led by WorldFish, aims to unlock the potential of sustainable aquatic food systems to address the challenge of feeding a growing global population while adapting to climate change. The program focuses on coastal communities in Africa and Asia that provide aquatic foods but face threats from climate change, limited access to technology, and inadequate policy environments. The program will be implemented in two phases over seven years, starting with Phase 1 in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Vietnam. It aims to reach over 300,000 primary beneficiaries, with at least 50% being women and youth, and over 400,000 secondary beneficiaries. The program consists of four synergistic work packages:
- Bridging data gaps in small-scale aquatic food systems
- Integrated seawater farming for Africa
- Tackling aquatic food loss and waste
- Incentive-based coastal fisheries management
The work packages involve South-South collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the adaptation and scaling of evidence-based methods across different contexts in Africa and Asia. The program also includes a country-to-country knowledge exchange platform, which provides a forum for stakeholders to share challenges, solutions, and learn from each other in a participatory approach.
As the Project Leader, you will be responsible for overall program management, team leadership, strategy implementation, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships. Your role will be critical in ensuring the program's success and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and African Union priorities on food systems transformation.
The successful candidate will:
Program Management:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive project management plan, ensuring effective coordination of activities, resources, and timelines.
Team Leadership and Supervision:
Lead a diverse team of professionals, providing clear direction, guidance, and support to achieve project goals. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, promoting knowledge sharing and innovation within the team. Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members, fostering their professional development.Program Strategy and Implementation:
Develop and refine the program's strategic framework, in alignment with the overall goals and objectives. Oversee the implementation of the four work packages, ensuring that evidence-based methods are adapted and scaled effectively across different contexts. Facilitate South-South collaboration and knowledge exchange among participating countries, fostering a participatory approach and co-creation of actionable knowledge products. Ensure compliance with project deliverables, budgets, and reporting requirements.Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships:
Represent the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway program in national and international forums, conferences, and workshops. Foster strong partnerships with governments, donor agencies, private sector entities, and civil society organizations to leverage additional resources and support for the program. Advocate for policy changes and create an enabling environment for sustainable aquatic food systems, climate adaptation, and coastal ecosystem conservation.Requirements
The successful candidate will have:
A completed Masters or PhD in Aquaculture, Fisheries or related field. Possess 8 - 10 years in aquaculture development, with at least 3 years working within or in close cooperation with the private sector. Excellent knowledge and technical skills, with demonstrated ability to perform critical thinking on market systems. Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring skills, with proven ability to provide technical guidance and leadership in scientific matters, particularly in sustainable aquaculture research. Evidence of excellence in writing and reporting. Extensive professional network with private sector, donors, partners and academia. Experience in conducting synthesis work and publishing research findings. Proven ability to manage multi-partner and multi-disciplinary research projects. Proven fundraising experience with international donors. Ability to work in developing countries. Excellent written and verbal English proficiency.Desired Skills/Experiences
Working and living experience in developing countries in Africa and Asia. Experience in market systems analysis. Private sector engagement.Benefits
This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with annual salary ranging between USD 86,760 to USD 96,950 gross per annum. WorldFish's IRS shall receive comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, accident, and long-term disability insurance. Internationally recruited staff employed outside of their home base/country of nationality will also be eligible to receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for school-age dependents between age 4 and high school graduation. The duration of the contract will initially be for a three-year period with possibility for extension, depending on funding and performance. All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.
Your application must include:
A copy of your curriculum vitae, A cover letter which addresses key requirements stated above; and Contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.To be considered, applications must be submitted by no later than 24:00 (MYT), 6 August 2023.
Location: The post holder will be based in Penang, Malaysia. This position will involve international travel.
The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.
WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.
People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.
We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.