Project Seahorse (PS) is a leader in marine conservation, making discoveries & collaborating globally to take effective action for seahorses and their seas. The organization is committed to conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems, and has won significant awards for its unusual blend of research and management at scales ranging from community initiatives to international accords. Project Seahorse collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders and partners globally to build capacity for conservation, with a focus on saving seahorses, establishing marine protected areas, limiting problem fisheries and regulating wildlife trade.

FUNCTION

Leads Project Seahorse research, management and policy initiatives related to trade of marine wildlife at the national level, with particular reference to syngnathid fishes (seahorses, pipefishes, pipehorses and seadragons) and in consultation with PS Director and the PS Program Leader.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The employee will report directly to the PS Program Leader. They will also work closely with other research team members and collaborators based in Canada and internationally. Required to attend weekly group meetings.

WORK PERFORMED

Leads on development and implementation of national level initiatives to improve sustainability and legality of exploitation and trade of syngnathid fishes, primarily in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Liaises with governments to develop and implement national conservation action plans for syngnathids that respond to wildlife trade and associated issues.

Develops and executes training and capacity building initiatives related to wildlife trade (e.g. materials, meetings, workshops) in countries where key wildlife trade in syngnathids occurs.

Engages and advises in-country and international personnel to undertake field research in marine fisheries and wildlife trade: (i) contributes to project development; (ii) guides data gathering; (iii) ensures rigorous data processing and checking; (iii) leads or guides data analysis; and (iv) ensures completion of reports and papers.

Liaises with members of the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group to secure sustainable trade of syngnathid fishes.

Negotiates and oversees any sub-award agreements issued to external collaborators to advance agreed work.

Develops reports and manuscripts on the topic of wildlife trade, including data collection and curation, data analysis and writing, and submission for publication.

Establishes long-distance links to government and collegiate groups around the world, to acquire information and advance mutual engagement with wildlife trade.

Provides technical support to PS graduate students and other team members conducting research on wildlife trade and associated issues.

Writes grant applications to support agreed field and desk-based research, policy and management work on wildlife trade and associated issues.

Stays abreast of literature and information about wildlife trade and associated issues, briefing the PS Director, PS Program Leader, and colleagues on important new developments.

Develops outreach materials, such as policy briefs, info sheets, PowerPoint presentations (etc.), to advance PS initiatives.

Communicates PS work through websites, blogs, social media and other outlets.

Executes other duties as requested.

EXERCISING JUDGEMENT/IMPACT OF DECISIONS

Makes professional decisions and recommendations on all aspects of research work and is responsible for the quality of research and outreach activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Reports to Project Seahorse Program Leader. Works with considerable latitude on agreed tasks and projects, individually as well as within a team environment. Work is reviewed for achievement against project objectives.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

May manage junior researchers, research assistants and technicians, junior staff or students.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal office environment equipped with a computer, relevant software, internet and telephone.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Completion of a graduate degree in a relevant discipline, with publications. 

Experience:

Experience in mobilizing governments to take conservation action

Experience in planning and coordinating projects

Experience in capacity building in diverse countries, especially in Africa, Asia and/or Latin America

Experience in working with a range of interested actors, such as representatives from governments and civil society

Experience in wildlife trade research and analysis

Experience in field surveys of wildlife exploitation and/or trade

Familiarity with wildlife trade agreements and regulations

Familiarity with issues in aquatic conservation

Familiarity with fisheries

Skills

Must complete work to deadlines

Must be highly organised with great attention to detail

Must have good interpersonal and diplomatic skills

Must maintain a high level of professionalism in all interactions

Must be able to work independently on assigned tasks

Must be flexible and perform well under pressure

Must have a positive attitude and be a team player

Must be willing and prepared to work after hours when required, especially for calls and Zoom meetings with colleagues and collaborators in different time zones.

Must be willing and able to travel internationally for weeks at a time, especially in Asia.

Strong communication skills (written, oral and listening)

Good computer management and graphic skills

Fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin, French and/or Spanish highly valued

Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Thai or Vietnamese appreciated

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number EU-57706 during correspondence about this position.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

About UBC's Faculty of Science
UBC Science brings together a community of scholars internationally recognized for its commitment to discovery and innovation—in the lab and in the classroom. Our faculty conduct top-tier research in the life, physical, earth and computational sciences, driving insights into sustainability, biodiversity, human health, nanoscience, new materials, probability, artificial intelligence, exoplanets and more. Ranked among the world's top 40 universities, UBC's research prowess in environmental science, math, physics, plant and animal science, computer science, geology, oceanography and biology is consistently rated best in Canada by international and national rankings.

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