Reports to: Campaign Director

Type: Full time

Location: Ottawa (preferable) or Halifax

Expected Start Date: Immediately

Language Requirement: Bilingual in English and French preferred

Summary

Oceana Canada is an independent charity committed to rebuilding Canada’s oceans by winning science-based policy victories that increase biodiversity and abundance. We have successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. Oceana Canada is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Globally, Oceana has won more than 200 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 oceans.

Oceana Canada is hiring an experienced campaigner to lead our work in Canada to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from extinction. This position will also support other campaigns. The ideal candidate is preferably bilingual in French and English and will work in our Ottawa or Halifax office, with Ottawa being the preferred location. The campaigner will collaborate with a multidisciplinary and binational team to develop and implement Oceana Canada’s Protect North Atlantic Right Whales campaign. This campaign aims to get the government to establish permanent regulations to protect right whales from vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear. This work will be in support of and in coordination with Oceana’s right whale campaign in the United States.

This position requires strong strategic thinking, persuasion, communication, problem-solving, project management, and campaigning skills. The ideal candidate is action and detail-oriented with experience working to advance government regulations. The campaigner will report to the campaign director who is based in Ottawa.

Principal duties and responsibilities

• Develop and advance advocacy, science, legal, communications, and grassroots strategies and tactics to achieve campaign goals, in collaboration with a campaign team.
• Establish Oceana Canada’s leadership in protecting North Atlantic right whales.
• Supported by the campaign director maintain relationships with government officials, decision-makers, rightsholders and stakeholders, industry groups, institutions, supporters and others to advance policy change.
• Support the government relations tactics of other campaigns when required including efforts to end plastic pollution, rebuild ocean abundance and protect marine habitats.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to develop, track and achieve ambitious annual and long-term campaign goals, milestones and activities.
• Conduct research, consult with key influencers, write campaign reports, and develop and direct messaging for government briefs and other materials.
• When necessary, attend conferences and organize community-level campaign events to support campaign goals.
• Act as the media spokesperson and subject matter expert for the campaign, and brand-building opportunities as appropriate.
• When necessary lead in the planning and implementation of events to propel campaign goals.
• Manage and track campaign-related expenses.
• Coordinate with the U.S. North Atlantic right whale campaign team by providing updates on key tactics and campaign progress and identify opportunities to align efforts.
• Regularly report on campaign progress and ensure goals and objectives are met including weekly updates, reports to the board, grant proposals and other reports as required.
• Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign objectives.
• Perform additional duties as needed and/or assigned.

Requirements

• At least five years of demonstrated success in managing and executing campaigns related to influencing government policy.
• University degree in environmental law or policy, political science or related degree, or comparable work experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of government policy making.
• Highly effective negotiation, diplomatic, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong problem-identification and resolution skills.
• Exceptional project management skills and ability to work effectively with team members located in different cities and countries.
• Experience completing projects under tight deadlines, and effectively managing a demanding workload.
• Strong writing skills and experience developing policy briefs, reports, and other written materials.
• Superb meeting facilitation skills.
• Able to effectively communicate with technical, professional, and senior staff.
• Able to build and maintain lasting relationships with stakeholders.
• Bilingual (English/French) both written and spoken (preferred).
• Experience as a media spokesperson is an asset.
• Some travel is required.

Oceana Canada is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, support will be provided in the recruitment process and accommodations for disabilities will be provided on request wherever appropriate. All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.