International Policy Associate

Background:

Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, GFW became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. Our major focus is on commercial fishing because it is the most widespread human activity at sea, the most impactful on ocean health, and the most crucial for global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all. 

The Position:

Reporting to the Director, International Policy, the International Policy Associate will support the International Policy team and our regional partners in their efforts to demonstrate the effectiveness of transparency as an ocean governance principle. The incumbent will assist in the organisation and coordination of events and delegation attendance at international meetings. They will lead the development and maintenance of internal international policy databases and will contribute to the creation of policy briefs, proposals and presentations. The International Policy Associate will also engage with governments and civil society partners throughout our work in regional and international fora. 

The ideal candidate will be organized, proactive and collaborative, seeking opportunities to expand our impact externally at international events and meetings, and increase our efficiencies internally. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage Global Fishing Watch’s international policy projects related to stakeholder engagement and track the planning and delivery of our objectives and key results 
• Support implementation of a government engagement work plan that outlines priority policy fora for advancing Global Fishing Watch’s mission
• Conduct policy research, reviews and analyses on issues related to industrial fisheries, small-scale fisheries and marine biodiversity
• Proactively track relevant international political developments and policy landscape in key regions and maintain up to date information within internal databases
• Contribute to the development of policy briefs, proposals, presentations, letters and communications materials
• Carry out translations of materials and communications 
• Provide administrative support to the International Policy team and International Meeting Delegations, assisting with events and convenings, including planning logistics, drafting stakeholder communications, note taking and managing multiple timelines
• Represent Global Fishing Watch in specific external international and multilateral fora
• Contribute to and participate in other project and department tasks as assigned

Candidate description

Required

• At least two years relevant professional experience working in project management for public policy, public affairs, or political work
• Education or experience in ocean conservation/ sustainable development
• Fluent English speaker
• Fluency in a language other than English including French and/ or Spanish
• Proven ability to research, analyze, summarize and draft policy documents and communications materials
• A willingness to carry out a wide range of activities, including both professional and logistical tasks
• Proactive attitude and desire to move projects forward, seeking solutions to challenges that may occur along the way
• Highly organized, analytical, detail oriented and self-motivated
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently to a very high standard of detail
• Ability to take ownership of projects and communicate project updates to stakeholders in a transparent and proactive manner
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines while performing in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Understanding of the complexities and internal communications surrounding collaboration in a global matrix and remote organization

Preferred

• Training in project management
• Experience with the Notion project management software
• Experience of both international and national policy development
• Understanding of international negotiation processes
• Understanding of industrial fisheries, small-scale fisheries and/ or marine biodiversity

The successful candidate will meet most, but not necessarily all, of the criteria above. If you don’t think you check all the boxes, but believe you have unique skills that make you a great fit for the role, we want to hear from you!

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Additional Information

Note: The application period for this role closes on July 4, 2025 (11.59pm CEST)

Reporting to: International Policy Director

Manages: None

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not supported at this time. 

Candidates must be authorized to work for GFW without visa sponsorship for at least two years after their start date, or for the entire duration of their contract if on a fixed-term agreement 

Individuals on student visas must be eligible for full-time employment on their visa and have valid work authorization (such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) or equivalent) that remains valid for at least two years or the duration of their contract. Candidates relying on a spouse’s visa for work authorization are not eligible, as they must independently qualify for employment.

Location: This is a remote role, but candidates must be legally authorized and based in the following countries to be considered: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Panama, Senegal, Spain, UK, USA

Permanent/Fixed Term/Contractor:

Duration: Open-ended

Full Time hours: Yes

Recruiting process: Recruiting Process: A cover letter along with a CV will be requested to see how your experience and interest connect to the position. We expect the cover letter to allow applicants an opportunity to explain details on how their skill set aligns with the role and provide a better understanding of their suitability for the position. If selected for consideration, the hiring process for this position will include an initial call with our Talent Acquisition team, followed by a formal 45 minute interview with 1-3 team members. Candidates advancing beyond this round will be asked to take a technical assessment and/or submit a representative code sample. Lastly, a final interview with 2-4 teams members to review your assessment and assess functional skills.

Compensation: A compensation range for this position is US$ 50-70K per year for US-based employees, GBP 40-50K per year for UK based employees, USD 20-25/h for Argentina based - For applicants located outside of the US, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire. Compensation is commensurate with experience and will vary depending on the hired candidate’s country of residence, in accordance with local laws and regulations. GFW offers pension/retirement, health and other benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment. The position may be a GFW employee, an employee of our Employer of Record Partner, or a contractor depending on the country of residence.

Equal opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.

Accessibility and Accommodations: We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and need accommodations or adjustments at any stage, please let the Talent Acquisition Manager know during your initial call. We’ll do our best to support your needs. Any information you share will be kept confidential and used only to ensure you have a positive experience.

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