We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities

Blue Ventures develops transformative approaches for catalysing and sustaining locally led marine conservation. We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and are committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. Our story started over a d...

The Head of Government Engagement and Public Policy - East Africa will play a critical role in developing and leading Blue Ventures' engagement with government authorities at all levels. This role involves advocating for policies that support community -based fisheries management, ensuring existing policy is effectively implemented, and identifying strategic partnerships with government agencies.

The Head of Government Engagement and Public Policy - East Africa will also specifically be responsible for building strategic relationships with government agencies and stakeholders that are aligned with Blue Ventures’ technical pillars: secure rights, community-based fisheries management, financial inclusion, and food security. Working closely with the Advocacy Team, Technical Team, Partner Network Team and community partners, the manager will help identify cultural, religious, and policy barriers affecting coastal communities and support participatory approaches that amplify community voices in decision-making.

With experience in the sub-region, the post holder will provide broad support to Blue Ventures' actions to promote effective, safe and efficient management of our presence in Kenya and Tanzania. Reporting to the Regional Director, with a dotted line to the Advocacy Director, this is a full-time position based in Kenya/ Tanzania, with occasional travel to work closely with partners and the Blue Ventures staff team.

You will demonstrate a proven track record of representation at the highest levels, developing strategic partnerships for public affairs and policy changes. Ideally, you will have experience of small-scale fisheries, community-based conservation and development initiatives in the region.

We are looking for an individual who is open to new ideas and embraces innovation and who can demonstrate experience building effective working partnerships for conservation and/or development. Applications will be assessed based on candidates’ alignment with BV’s core values and mission to support human rights-based approaches to marine conservation and fisheries management.

• Developing and leading Blue Ventures' engagement with government authorities at all levels.
• Advocating for policies that support community-based fisheries management.
• Ensuring existing policy is effectively implemented.
• Identifying strategic partnerships with government agencies.
• Building strategic relationships with government agencies and stakeholders aligned with Blue Ventures’ technical pillars: secure rights, community-based fisheries management, financial inclusion, and food security.
• Identifying cultural, religious, and policy barriers affecting coastal communities.
• Supporting participatory approaches that amplify community voices in decision-making.
• Providing broad support to Blue Ventures' actions to promote effective, safe and efficient management of our presence in Kenya and Tanzania.

• Proven track record of representation at the highest levels.
• Developing strategic partnerships for public affairs and policy changes.
• Experience building effective working partnerships for conservation and/or development.
• Openness to new ideas and innovation.

• BA/BSc/HND
• Experience in the sub-region.
• Ideally, experience of small-scale fisheries, community-based conservation and development initiatives in the region.