Marine Scientist

Based: Hybrid working – London (Paddington) or Cornwall (Newquay) office three days per week with two days home working. 
Reports to: Director of Policy and Research
Holiday: 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays

Are you an ambitious science-based advocate for a healthy ocean in the UK?

• Are you passionate about protecting UK seas, including ending overfishing, stopping fossil fuel expansion, and protecting seabed habitats?
• Are you a scientist by background with the ability to research and translate the latest science and data in support of our campaigns?
• Do you have a good network of contacts in the academic and NGO communities?
• Do you have experience of managing or conducting research projects?
• Do you want to join one of the world’s most effective marine conservation organisations with an exciting and expanding UK presence?

Oceana

Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale. We are a leader in science-based advocacy, and we campaign for policies to make the world’s oceans more abundant, vibrant, and biodiverse. Globally, Oceana has won more than 325 policy victories for marine life and habitats. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent new hope for the world's ocean. Our talented staff consists globally of about 240 people, working in more than twelve countries, including scientists, communications, fundraising, finance, administration, policy, and advocacy experts. All team members have the opportunity for occasional travel to our headquarters in Washington, DC to connect with the global network.

Oceana in the UK is tightly focused on some of the biggest threats facing UK seas, including protecting seabed habitats, ending overfishing, and preventing new offshore oil and gas developments.

We fight for UK seas to get the protections they deserve through highly visible campaigns and detailed policy interventions to secure measurable changes to rebuild and maintain ocean abundance and health. We act as a vital public-policy interface – raising the profile of our issues through campaigns, science, communications, and expeditions, and influencing policymakers directly for commitments at key moments throughout the year.

Our small, experienced, and highly motivated team work in geographically diverse locations in London and Cornwall, coming together both digitally and in person as part of developing and delivering our ambitious campaign strategy to restore ocean biodiversity and abundance.

We’re proud to be bold, creative, agile and visual in our campaigns, and proud of the team we’re creating here in the UK. We’d love for you to join us.

Job Purpose

We are looking for a Marine Scientist to play a substantive role to support all of Oceana’s UK campaigns. Research, science and data are at the heart of Oceana’s UK work, underpinning our policy positions, creating campaign moments and answering key questions with new research.

The successful candidate will write and project manage research to unlock key campaign questions relating to overfishing, habitat protection and energy in particular, as well as other potential campaign areas in future. They will also work to increase Oceana’s presence within the academic community, attending relevant conferences and meetings and seeking future collaborations on topics of interest.

The Scientist will report to and be supported by the Director of Policy and Research, and work closely with science colleagues across the Oceana global network and beyond. Eligible candidates should have some experience in conducting research, including analysing data, but we’re equally looking for passion, motivation and a drive to protect the ocean. You should be a self-starter, with a strong ability to work independently and as part of a small but growing team.

Role Overview

• Support the delivery of Oceana’s campaigns, working with the Director of Policy and Research and relevant campaign teams.
• Research, draft and/or review content for Oceana’s scientific reports and other external communications, with particular attention to scientific accuracy.
• Gather evidence to support Oceana’s UK campaigns, including analysing primary and secondary data, conducting literature reviews and creating position papers.
• Commission and project manage research from external partners as needed, managing relationships through the duration of any projects.
• Work closely with the Oceana HQ Science and Strategy team and other scientist colleagues in the Oceana network to gather insights, inspiration and knowledge.
• Coordinate relevant stakeholders to ensure internal scientific reviews are completed in line with campaign timelines.
• Build strong external relationships within the academic community and represent Oceana to ensure we advance our goals with a wide range of stakeholders, from the general public to politicians.
• Actively participate in key policy and research conferences and events to defend and advance Oceana campaign goals.
• Maintain subject matter expertise and identify areas for new research by following the current literature, attending relevant meetings, and communicating with peers in the field.
• Represent Oceana externally in relevant networks, with partners and in the media as needed.
• Conduct other policy and research tasks as agreed and required.

Candidate Requirements

Education and work experience

• Degree, ideally masters-level, in environmental, fisheries or marine science, or a related field.
• Familiarity with marine and climate issues, regulations and policies in the UK, as well as with key institutions and decision-making processes.
• Experience writing or commissioning primary or secondary research and associated materials summarising the work.
• A passion for UK seas and delivering a healthy ocean in general.

Skills and knowledge

• Familiarity with UK marine and fisheries policy and science.
• GIS and database proficiency, including basic knowledge of GIS mapping and statistical analysis.
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing multiple workstreams and projects effectively to time and budget.
• Ability to represent Oceana in a professional and responsive manner both within and outside the academic community
• Excellent writing, editing, communication, organisational and research skills with the ability to confidently distil scientific messages to stakeholders with varying levels of expertise.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modelling inclusive behaviours, and proactively managing bias.
• Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and other organizations.

Equal Opportunities

Oceana is committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented within the conservation sector.

All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

• Application Deadline: Sunday 15th June
• Interview Dates (TBC): Wednesday 25th June / Thursday 26th June