Country Officer - Costa Rica

The application period will close on January 19, 2026 00:00 CET. Please note that if we receive a high volume of qualified applicants, the posting may close sooner, so we encourage candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

 

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, Global Fishing Watch 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. To pursue our unified organisational strategy, by 2030 across 30 countries we aim to empower institutions and people to 1) support the reduction of illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices 2) better enforce and protect the rights of 1 million small scale fishers and 3) improve the effective designation and management of marine protected areas and other area based conservation measures. 

Latin America is a region deeply intertwined with the ocean—its more than 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) of coastline shape the lives, economies and cultural identities of its coastal communities. Global Fishing Watch works closely with countries across the region, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Panama and Peru, to strengthen ocean stewardship and advance global conservation goals. A major focus of our efforts is the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), one of the most biodiverse marine regions on the planet. While most countries in the region have already designated at least 30 percent of their waters for protection, they continue to face significant challenges. Through improved monitoring, transparency and enforcement, Global Fishing Watch aims to support countries in achieving meaningful conservation outcomes and contributing to the global 30x30 target.

 

The Position

This is an exciting opportunity to join Global Fishing Watch and support the delivery of our mission, both national and regional priorities within the ETP, working alongside a dynamic, international team committed to advancing transparency and effective ocean governance. The Country Officer will play a central role in driving two of our key organizational impacts: making data accessible and actionable by coordinating national partnerships, government engagement, and enabling the use of our data, tools across partner institutions. S/he will also have the responsibility of coordinating strategic regional activities across four countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama.

 

The Officer will collaborate closely with the regional team to implement an agreed work plan, including securing and publishing additional vessel tracking data to improve understanding of maritime activity in the four countries mentioned above. Working with colleagues across GFW, they will help expand the application of satellite-based vessel monitoring enhanced by artificial intelligence and big-data analytics; deploy user-friendly tools that make vessel information publicly accessible and improve transparency and accountability; and co-develop specific dashboards and analytical products that strengthen surveillance and enforcement operations. A key responsibility will be ensuring data becomes actionable by supporting enforcement agencies with the capacity to translate information into effective and lasting compliance outcomes.

 

The Officer will also support Costa Rica in championing transparency by preparing briefs and proposals, coordinating meetings and workshops, and engaging with national stakeholders across government and civil society. Global Fishing Watch is a dynamic and rapidly evolving organization that values creativity and innovative thinking and fosters strong teamwork.      

 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Primary responsible for the successful development and implementation of a work plan to achieve our transparency and making data accessible and enforcement outcomes.

 

GFW ETP Regional Project Management:

 

• Lead coordination and track execution of the GFW ETP regional project across Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.
• Support effective grant management by coordinating implementation, monitoring progress against deliverables, and preparing high-quality grant reports in line with donor requirements.
• Facilitate national work plans development, manage timelines, track deliverables and drive cross-country alignment.
• Coordinate regional workshops, exchanges, meetings and capacity-building activities with ETP institutions.
• Support the preparation of regional reports, briefs and donor-facing updates summarizing progress, risks and opportunities.
• Support integration and application of vessel tracking data, analytics and Marine Manager prototypes across ETP MPAs in the selected countries.
• Identify regional synergies and opportunities that enhance monitoring, enforcement and transparency.

Government Actions and Transparency

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Costa Rica’s government agencies, civil society and relevant stakeholders.
• Support GFW’s transparency agenda by advancing the public sharing of vessel identification, authorization and tracking data.
• Facilitate interagency dialogue to strengthen cooperation on monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).
• Monitor national developments in fisheries, biodiversity, maritime policy and enforcement; provide timely updates to internal teams.
• Promote and secure data-sharing agreements and support integration of new vessel tracking data into GFW platforms.
• Represent GFW in Costa Rica and abroad in meetings, events and strategic processes relevant to transparency and ocean governance.

 

Capacity Development 

• Organize and deliver workshops, seminars and training sessions to build capacity of government partners, communities and stakeholders on the use of technology and data for fisheries and biodiversity management.
• Train partners to independently analyze marine data, monitor authorized and non-authorized activities in MPAs and EEZs, and detect suspicious behavior in near-real time.
• Collaborate with GFW teams to develop and test prototypes that support integration into Marine Manager, with a focus on MPAs’ biological monitoring protocols.

Candidate Description

Required

 

1. University degree in marine sciences, fisheries, international affairs, law, or equivalent professional experience.
2. At least five years of relevant professional experience in the marine sector, including fisheries management and enforcement, technology, biodiversity management, and/or conservation.  
3. Strong understanding of Costa Rica´s marine and fisheries institutional landscape and decision-making processes.
4. Native Spanish speaker with excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
5. Demonstrated ability to manage grant reporting processes in a cross-regional context, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and timely submission.
6. Proven experience collaborating effectively with government and private stakeholders on marine and fisheries issues.
7. Experience working with current and evolving political, sustainability, and/or conservation trends and translating them into actionable insights.
8. Excellent research and analytical skills, with proven ability drafting documents and reports, and translating complex scientific concepts for diverse audiences.
9. Proven ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with government entities and civil society. 
10. Strong diplomatic skills and capacity to communicate effectively across diverse cultural environments.
11. Proactive self-starter with the ability to identify opportunities and take initiative.
12. Highly organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, including the management of complex projects.
13. Comfortable working autonomously and asynchronously with globally distributed teams.
14. Commitment to continuous improvement, including seeking and integrating feedback appropriately.

Preferred

 

• Experience working in fisheries enforcement operations.
• An understanding of the complexities and internal communications surrounding collaboration in a global matrix and remote organization.
• Familiarity with technological platforms and data used in marine spatial planning, fisheries compliance, or marine biodiversity management. 

 

 

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 January 19, 2026 00:00 CET.

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Latin America.

Manages: NA

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 Costa Rica for this role.

Permanent/Fixed Term/Contractor: Fixed-Term

Duration: 1 year with a potential review closer to end date

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$ 50,000 per year for Costa Rica employees- 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.