Senior Economist - Environmental Defense Fund - United States

SENIOR ECONOMIST, FISHERY SOLUTIONS CENTER

Various

With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.

Oceans Program

The Fishery Solutions Center (FiSC) is internationally recognized for our expertise in the science, policy and economics of fisheries and in the design of sustainable solutions. Our team helps EDF’s partners and field staff around the world assess the challenges facing their fisheries and develop solutions. The Center is the world’s most comprehensive hub for tools, training and information on sustainable fishing and our experts are dedicated to advancing the cutting-edge of sustainable fisheries management, including providing mentoring and training to practitioners on the ground.

OVERALL FUNCTION

EDF’s Fishery Solutions Center seeks an experienced economist, researcher and practitioner as Senior Economist. S/he will oversee development and application of economic and social analytical and diagnostic approaches, ensuring they are relevant and accessible to our partners on the ground (including fishermen, managers, practitioners, etc). With a focus on problem-solving, the Senior Economist will help develop comprehensive solutions to key challenges to ensure fisheries interventions are designed and implemented for success, undertake ex post analysis of performance as catch share and other initiatives are implemented, and help ensure that the economic-related lessons of experience are incorporated in new policies and programs.

Reporting to the Director, Diagnostics and Design, s/he will manage a team of staff and consultants to deliver quality analysis and results, will coordinate with other team members to ensure comprehensive solutions, and where relevant will publish findings. The Senior Economist will also work with members of the FiSC leadership team and Oceans leadership to help shape and advance our program’s priorities for lasting environmental change.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as a thought-leader in key program areas including the diagnosis of fisheries and systems challenges including economic and social, development of integrated solutions to key challenges and design of programs to meet key challenges (e.g. low governance, low data situations).

Direct development and implementation of economic and bio-economic diagnostic and design tools including: ensuring approaches are economically sound and relevant, they meet regional team needs as well as larger FiSC goals, they are developed and executed in a timely and efficiency manner and they are used effectively.

Understand on-the-ground challenges of regional teams. Provide economic and policy analysis and strategic advice to regional programs to ensure fisheries interventions will be effective and reflect cutting-edge knowledge. Incorporate experience from the regional teams back into the FiSC, including into the development of tools and protocols.

Lead and direct team of economists and social scientists to deliver results. Ensure effective, timely analysis that is relevant for needs.

Distil lessons from experience to inform future programs and policies.

Establish, develop and support partners, as needed, to advance cutting-edge analysis that is meaningful for EDF and our partners on the ground.

Collaborate with other FiSC leadership with the goal of improving the effectiveness and coordination of our team and the overall Oceans Program. Identify synergies and gaps to ensure coordinated streams of work that meet the needs of partners, including EDF Oceans teams.

Externally represent EDF and the FiSC with various audiences including partners, governments, stakeholders, funders, media and more.

Coordinate with other team members to ensure comprehensive analysis and streamlined communication.

Collaborate with Program leadership and development officers, as appropriate, on fundraising efforts to secure the long-term success of the program. When necessary, engage directly with foundation officers and individual donors supporting the team’s work, and coordinate with development staff, as required.

Serve as a mentor for junior staff and identify opportunities for professional growth and development.

QUALIFICATIONS

At least 10 years direct program experience and advanced degree in economics or other closely-related field.

Ability to effectively manage program and staff including ability to motivate staff and grow talent.

Proven ability to understand and diagnose challenges from a variety of perspectives including economic, social, governance, etc.

Capacity and desire to develop innovative solutions to challenging problems using science, law, economics and policy. Ability to relate economic analysis to public policy.

Knowledge of fisheries management with proven experience in designing and implementing catch share programs.

Experience working in multi-cultural environments and within diverse teams and ability to translate our work to a variety of cultural contexts. Additional language (Spanish, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, or Japanese) a plus.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interface well with all programs/departments in the organization and to represent the Oceans Program in a highly professional manner.

Excellent communication skills. Superior public speaking and writing skills, with a high degree of comfort making presentations to large audiences.

Past experience working constructively with academic and nonprofit colleagues and partners, scientists, economists, industry, regulators and public policy decision makers, and publish findings

High comfort level to thrive in a fast paced environment while successfully managing priorities

Initiative and problem solving skills.

Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, including international travel

An understanding of and commitment to Environmental Defense Fund’s mission of protecting the natural environment and limiting humankind’s impact on the planet Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.

Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer