Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, February 22 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, TNC ’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

TNC Africa Oceans Strategy focuses on securing large-scale ocean protection by supporting effective marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries, and community-led conservation approaches. Our work seeks to establish sustainable financing to enable conservation outcomes at large marine ecosystem scale, support policy and regulatory frameworks, and build local capacity to enhance coastal and marine habitat protection, restoration and management. We do so through partnerships with government and non-government agencies throughout Africa including in Tanzania.

One such partnerships includes the 5-year, $25 million, USAID-funded Tanzania Heshimu Bahari Activity implemented by Chemonics International Inc. and consortium partners TNC and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The aim of this activity is to establish an enabling environment and science-driven framework for sustainable MMA and wild-caught fishery co-management by government, communities, and the private sector. The Activity has four integrated objectives: 1. Strengthen an enabling framework for a network of MMAs and fishery replenishment zones (FRZs) for resilient biodiversity conservation, climate resilient communities, and enhanced wild-caught fisheries production; 2. Community co-management of MMAs/wild-caught fisheries and climate resilience strengthened; 3. Private sector investment in MMAs and wild-caught fisheries expanded; and, 4. Integration of relevant science to MMA and fisheries policy and management improved. The Activity is implemented in collaboration with communities, the civil society, the private sector, and government in select regions along the coastline of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
The Marine Spatial Scientist will lead and collaborate in providing direct technical and scientific support, capacity-building, project support and thought leadership as a subject matter resource on spatial planning and prioritization approaches in Tanzania. The Marine Spatial Scientist supports building of a community of spatial planning practitioners that can work together to address complex challenges and achieve ambitious coastal and marine conservation goals in Tanzania. They work closely with diverse teams including the USAID Heshimu Bahari Consortia members, TNC’s Oceans team, TNC global and regional Marxan experts, the Africa Program’s diverse array of ecological and social scientists, fisher communities, conservation practitioners, relevant government institutions, scientists, and other stakeholders in collecting, collating, and processing information and facilitate designation of zones and rules/criteria for marine managed areas that have the best chance of maintaining the long-term health and abundance of coastal and marine resources. They have the expertise to employ and train stakeholders on a diverse set of spatial planning tools and prioritization approaches to scale up effective and equitable area-based conservation and national and regional collaboration as well as promote best practices.

This position supports the implementation of TNC’s ocean strategy and 2030 goals in Tanzania as well as the USAID-funded Tanzania Heshimu Bahari Activity.

The Marine Spatial Scientist will be based at TNC office in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and will report to the TNC Tanzania Country Director and the USAID Heshimu Bahari’s Marine Policy Lead. The position is part of the larger Africa Ocean Strategy. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labor employment requirements. This is an initial 2-year term-limited position with a possible extension of tenure subject to performance and availability of funds.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
The Marine Spatial Scientist will lead and provide technical support on development and implementation of novel methods on spatial and optimization conservation science for the expansion and improvement of marine managed areas in Tanzania. This includes MPAs, Fisheries Replenishment Zones (FRZs) and other zones in support of collaborative management of marine areas and sector uses. They will support characterization and mapping of coastal and marine resource and social targets through planning, gathering, and mapping important information on conservation species and social practices that can be used to develop zones and rules/criteria for marine managed areas with the best chances of providing community benefits. They will work with multidisciplinary and multi-partner projects and teams to curate, develop, and integrate coastal and marine spatial data into scientific and spatial conservation actions. They will work to demonstrate and communicate best practices and decision support for optimized ocean biodiversity conservation outcomes in Tanzania and beyond.

In particular, the Marine Spatial Scientist will:
• Provide advanced technical and scientific support and oversee the Heshimu Bahari project’s data and GIS needs for target biophysical data.
• Provide guidance on the technical framework for data collection, management, and storage.
• Support community engagement in identifying and mapping key ecological and biodiversity areas including potential MPAs and fisheries replenishment zones (FRZs) within priory areas in Tanzania.
• Employ the mapping and spatial planning optimization tool, such as Marxan, in the mapping, analysis, and validation of biophysical data.
• Define baseline data for biophysical and human influence metrics and monitor change over the life of the activity.
• Provide technical expertise in spatial planning and optimization for the expansion of MPAs and FRZs in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT).
• Provide spatial and optimization conservation science technical support to HB project partners.
• Lead HB colleagues in processes and protocols of data collection, spatial planning analysis in Marxan or other relevant platforms, and validation.
• Perform aquaculture spatial planning and site suitability analyses and build decision support tools to help stakeholders plan for aquaculture development while balancing environmental, social, and economic factors.
• Support development of ecosystem-wide spatial models to inform siting of ocean use sectors, environmental review and permitting.
• Develop and deliver training and capacity building to internal staff and partners on a suite of Marxan softwares including Marxan with Zones, Marxan with Connectivity and Marxan Planning Platform to a wide range of stakeholders on process and products of marine spatial analysis.
• Be an active member of TNC Africa science team.
• Develop and promote case studies and/or demonstration materials that can be shared on TNC and partners platforms, including demo data and projects overview and best practices.
• Lead development of technical reports and facilitation of stakeholder engagement workshops, conference events and other engagements.
• Assist the team and partners in developing proposals, reports, presentations, and assessments on related topics, as well as internal and external communications materials that reflect the program’s objectives and priorities.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING
• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in using a suite of Marxan tools (including Marxan with Zones, Marxan with Connectivity) in the context of coastal and marine conservation.
• Prior international development experience with USAID or other U.S. Government agencies and donors preferred. 
• Experience in development and implementation of online and in-person trainings and workshops
• Track record of research, publication, and application of spatial data to conservation science

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Advanced degree and over 7 years’ experience in conservation prioritization practice.
• Experience facilitating spatial planning process in more than one of academia, non-profit, private and government settings.
• Experience coordinating projects in a decentralized organization, working across teams, operating units, and functions to achieve optimal results.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Excellent facilitation, organizational and communication skills (writing and oral). Fluency in Swahili is an added advantage.
• Independent and self-motivated with the ability to participate effectively in a remote team environment.
• Knowledge and experience in GIS / Spatial Analysis and tools and recent practice in spatial planning and prioritization approaches for conservation planning.
• Basic knowledge of methods and standards of marine and coastal biodiversity conservation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with coastal fishing communities and conservation stakeholders in Tanzania.
• Ability to interpret and analyze scientific, social, and economic data related to coastal and marine ecosystems and application in conservation planning.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of field travel (at least 40%) domestically and internationally.
• Politically savvy within the national context

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Interested applicants?Click here to apply

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