Fisheries Manager

About the role

The Fisheries Manager provides technical leadership and programme management support across GFRA's fisheries management, governance, co-management and marine conservation initiatives. Reporting to the Fisheries Enforcement and Legal Advisor and within the strategic direction of the Country Director, the manager leads planning and implementation of assigned activities, grounded in sound fisheries science, effective governance and meaningful stakeholder participation. The role suits an experienced, hands-on professional who supervises field teams, works with government institutions and fishing communities and manages competing priorities independently.

Key responsibilities

• Lead technical planning and implementation of fisheries management initiatives such as sustainable harvesting, gear management, resource conservation and science-informed measures, applying knowledge of fisheries biology, stock sustainability, catch-and-effort monitoring and fisheries assessment.
• Provide technical inputs to fisheries management plans, guidelines, protocols and operational tools consistent with Ghana's fisheries policy and regulatory framework, and support marine conservation including marine protected area planning and ecosystem-based management.
• Develop and oversee workplans, project schedules and field arrangements, track progress against outputs, timelines and budgets, and coordinate field operations, supervision, quality control and mentoring.
• Plan and facilitate technical workshops, community consultations, training sessions and stakeholder meetings, and identify operational risks and bottlenecks.
• Strengthen participatory governance and co-management at community, district and regional levels, supporting co-management committees, Landing Beach Enforcement Committees, chief fishermen and fisher associations, and promoting inclusive participation of artisanal fishers, women in fisheries and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate field surveys, data collection and monitoring, analyse technical findings, prepare technical reports, policy briefs and presentations, and contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Maintain working relationships with the Fisheries Commission and other government agencies, engage with communities, civil society and research institutions, and represent GFRA at technical working groups and coordination platforms.
• Support the Country Director with technical inputs to workplans, proposals and donor reports, and supervise, coach and give performance feedback to field officers.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science, Fisheries Management, Marine Biology, Marine Conservation, Natural Resource Management or a closely related discipline.
• At least seven years of relevant professional experience in fisheries science, management, governance, co-management or marine conservation, with responsibility for implementation.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with artisanal fishers and coastal fishing communities in Ghana, and sound knowledge of Ghana's fisheries sector and its governance arrangements.
• Ability to supervise field officers or enumerators and coordinate activities across field locations.
• Excellent English writing, speaking, facilitation and presentation skills, including producing rigorous technical reports.
• Desirable: postgraduate qualification, experience in fisheries governance, marine protected areas, co-management, community-based monitoring or fisheries assessment, experience coordinating externally funded programmes, and ability to communicate in Ga and/or Ewe.