The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a UK-based NGO working internationally to address environmental security and associated human rights abuses. In West Africa, EJF’s work has focused on preventing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and safeguarding the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities. EJF has two offices in Sierra Leone that have been operating since 2009 and two offices in Liberia established in early 2012, with other offices being established across the region.
To help advance our work in West Africa and drive the implementation of our projects in Ghana, EJF is seeking to recruit an ambitious, extremely competent Ghanaian Project Officer with a proven track record in successful project management, based in Accra or Cape Coast.
The successful applicant will work under the overall responsibility of the EJF Director, report directly to the Project Coordinator, based in London and work in close relationship with EJF’s other staff in Ghana, West Africa and the London office.
In addition to other tasks and responsibilities to be defined over the time, the Project Officer will have primary responsibility to:
- Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, representing EJF in relevant forums as directed by the Project Coordinator;
- Put sustainable and transparent fisheries management on the agenda of the Ghanaian Government (Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fisheries Enforcement Unit, etc.), Members of Parliament, diplomatic missions, international organizations;
- Work with the Project Coordinator to raise the profile of fisheries issues in Ghana by disseminating press releases, policy papers, reports, engaging the media, facilitating the training of journalists; responding to press enquiries in coordination with the EJF Communication Coordinator and Project Coordinator in London;
- Conduct research/surveys and draft concise reports on various elements of the Ghanaian Fisheries sector such as the legal framework in relation to IUU fishing, Marine Protected Areas, etc.
- Facilitate the visits of London Office staff, in particular filming trips from the video producer;
- Ensure the day to day implementation of EJF’s project in Ghana through the smooth, efficient and timely execution of all administrative requirements related to EJF’s activities in the country (e.g. bank formalities, registration procedures, etc.);
- Track and record project expenses and prepare detailed monthly financial reporting to the London office;
- Gather and compile relevant data and information required to meet EJF’s reporting requirements and provide input for donor reports;
- Conduct any other relevant task in relation to EJF’s projects in Ghana as instructed by the Project Coordinator or the Directors.
Required skills and experience:
- Ability to work independently, be proactive, maintain a high level of motivation and ensure that all tasks are executed to the highest possible standards;
- Superb inter-personal and communication skills, with an ability to establish strong relationship with fishermen communities and local authorities;
- Ability and willingness to learn and adapt as well as to respond calmly and effectively to difficult and rapidly changing situations;
- Fluent spoken and written English, along with computer literacy;
- Ability to design and execute scientific research and present results in the form of reports with statistical data analysis, graphs and recommendations;
- Higher qualification/degree, preferably in the field of marine biology, biodiversity, environmental management or a related field;
Desirable skills and experience:
- Understanding of ecosystems-based approaches to community management of natural resources;
- Experience developing, managing and reporting on a project budget;
- Basic experience in photography, video shooting and editing.
- Good knowledge of project management cycle, from proposal writing, log frame development, M&E to final reporting.
A basic health insurance package; 20 days paid leave (rising by 2 days each year plus all Ghanaian national holidays); and a competitive salary (with regular reviews for high achievers once in post) will be provided to the successful candidate.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a concise covering letter, explaining why you want this post and why you are the right person for it and a detailed CV in PDF format to Olivier Laboulle at recruitment@ejfoundation.org with “Project Officer Sustainable Fisheries Ghana” in the subject line of your email. Please name all files starting with familyname_firstname.
The deadline for the submission of your application is 19 November 2014. Initial telephone interviews and face to face interviews will take place during November/December 2014. Candidates must be able to assume the post before the end of January 2015. Please note that due to the high volume of applicants expected, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
