Marine & Fisheries Program Director

Summary

The Marine & Fisheries Program Director leads WWF-Indonesia's national Marine and Fisheries Program, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and leadership to ensure impact, accountability, and sustainability.

This role ensures that all program initiatives contribute to WWF's mission — conserving marine biodiversity, ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources, and improving the welfare of coastal and fishing communities. The Director integrates science, policy, advocacy, innovation, and partnerships to influence marine and fisheries governance, strengthen sustainable seafood value chains, and advance ecosystem-based management across Indonesia's priority seascapes.

As the head of the Marine & Fisheries Directorate, the Director holds full accountability for the design, implementation, and performance of WWF-Indonesia's Marine & Fisheries Program. This includes developing strategies, mobilizing resources, ensuring high-quality program execution, and delivering measurable conservation outcomes that align with WWF-Indonesia's Strategic Plan and the WWF Global Oceans & Food Practices.

The Director works closely with the Marine & Fisheries Conservation & Innovation Expert, who provides technical and scientific guidance to ensure that all programs are evidence-based, innovative, and credible. Together, they form a complementary leadership team — the Director driving strategy, partnerships, and delivery; the Expert ensuring scientific rigor, innovation, and learning.

The Director also champions cross-directorate collaboration, especially with the Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Social Inclusion, to embed equitable, inclusive, and rights-based approaches into all marine and fisheries initiatives.

Finally, the Director is responsible for inspiring and guiding a high-performing team, cultivating the next generation of conservation leaders within WWF-Indonesia. Working hand in hand with government agencies, local communities, private sector partners, and donors, the Director drives policy reforms, sustainable marine governance, and responsible stewardship of Indonesia's oceans — securing a sustainable future for both people and nature.

Work Location
: Jakarta, Indonesia

Job Description:

• Lead the development and implementation of WWF-Indonesia's Marine & Fisheries Program Strategy in alignment with national priorities and WWF Global Oceans & Food Practices.
• Ensure program strategies are science-based, results-oriented, and contribute to WWF's long-term conservation goals.
• Identify and prioritize program opportunities, ensuring alignment with WWF's principles and Indonesia's marine conservation agenda.
• Oversee the implementation of all Marine & Fisheries projects, ensuring they meet performance, quality, and compliance standards.
• Approve work plans, budgets, and operational strategies for program execution.
• Supervise project delivery to ensure timely achievement of conservation and socio-economic outcomes.
• Lead the development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for WWF-Indonesia's Marine & Fisheries Program, focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation, sustainable fisheries, blue economy, sustainable finance, market transformation, and nature-based solutions.
• Identify and pursue diverse funding opportunities from bilateral and multilateral agencies, international development banks, corporate sustainability programs, impact investors, and philanthropic foundations that support sustainable ocean and fisheries initiatives.
• Develop high-quality funding proposals in collaboration with the Partnerships & Growth, Program Design & Development, and Impact Monitoring & Quality Divisions, ensuring strong theories of change, measurable impact frameworks, and alignment with WWF-Indonesia's Conservation Plan and WWF's Global Oceans & Food Practices.
• Lead the development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for WWF-Indonesia's Marine & Fisheries Program, focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation, sustainable fisheries, blue economy, sustainable finance, market transformation, and nature-based solutions.
• Identify and pursue diverse funding opportunities from bilateral and multilateral agencies, international development banks, corporate sustainability programs, impact investors, and philanthropic foundations that support sustainable ocean and fisheries initiatives.
• Develop high-quality funding proposals in collaboration with the Partnerships & Growth, Program Design & Development, and Impact Monitoring & Quality Divisions, ensuring strong theories of change, measurable impact frameworks, and alignment with WWF-Indonesia's Conservation Plan and WWF's Global Oceans & Food Practices.
• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems are embedded in all program activities.
• Oversee performance monitoring to assess outcomes and inform adaptive management.
• Work closely with the Impact Monitoring & Quality Division to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts.
• Lead, coach, and mentor program managers and technical staff to foster professional growth and excellence.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and succession planning to strengthen leadership pipelines.

Qualification:

• Master's degree (or higher) in Marine Science, Environmental Policy, Natural Resource Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of proven experience at a senior level in a related field, programme leadership, design and management.
• Substantial proven experience in marine sustainable resource management, oceans governance and conservation issues.
• Demonstrated success in program management, policy advocacy, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Proven experience managing large-scale conservation portfolios and budgets.
• Proven ability to represent WWF credibly at high-level forums.
• Proven ability in working and managing relationships with a range of donors and/or stakeholders, particularly intergovernmental organisations, the corporate sector, aid agencies, civil society and NGOs.
• Experiences in raising and mobilising funding and maintaining effective donor relations.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, leadership, and team management abilities.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills with diverse audiences.
• Understanding of blue economy, sustainable finance, and ecosystem-based management.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills under complex, multi-stakeholder contexts.
• Proven leadership and supervisory skills with an ability to mentor and develop multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams, both inhouse and remote. A confident, assertive demeanour, negotiation skills for dealing with internal and external partners.
• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and English (written and spoken).

Applicants who are interested must submit their applications no later than December 3, 2025.

The World Wildlife Fund Indonesia Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and equal opportunities are available to all. Therefore, we welcome applicants from various backgrounds and offer a range of benefits to support a healthy work–life balance.