Senior Marine Officer - MSP Coordinator

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

Position Summary - This position is based in Apia, Samoa

Here at Conservation International (CI), we work collaboratively with communities, government, civil societies, and the private sector to support and enhance the management and protection of nature. CI has worked in Samoa for over 20 years to protect the nature we depend on.

Since 2020, CI has supported the implementation of the Samoa Ocean Strategy (SOS), the national policy framework that seeks to sustainably manage Samoa’s vast ocean and marine resources for the well-being of all Samoans. The SOS provides bold and comprehensive integrated ocean management solutions (IMS) that will advance ocean stewardship and ensure the cultural and the economic values that Samoans derive from their 120,000 square kilometer ocean are preserved for generations to come.

In April, 2026, Samoa achieved one of its 13 SOS IMSs with the legal adoption of its national Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). The MSP establishes an ocean management system designed to protect, conserve, and manage marine resources within Samoan waters and includes nine new large-scale marine protected areas in the offshore space and incorporates existing near-shore marine managed areas; combined and implemented, these achieves Samoa’s commitments to protecting 30% of its ocean.





CI Samoa is seeking a Marine Spatial Plan Coordinator to provide senior technical leadership and coordination for the implementation of Samoa’s Marine Spatial Plan (2025-2035). The role will support cross-government collaboration, spatial planning processes, and the integration of ocean management initiatives under the Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020 - 2030). In partnership with the Government, the MSP Coordinator will be based at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, within the Division of Environment and Conservation, Marine Section.

CI is committed to diversity, cultural competency, and inclusion. All applicants are welcome.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Lead overall coordination and implementation of the national Marine Spatial Plan and related activities.
- Facilitate MSP implementation workplans, timelines, and progress tracking, providing timely and periodic updates to the NOSC and other government partners.
- Facilitate coordination among ministries and partners involved in MSP implementation, including coordination of working groups, updating TWG, and NOSC.
- Provide technical support to national coordination processes related to the Samoa Ocean Strategy and Marine Spatial Planning initiatives
- Lead support to relationships between and among government agencies, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, and development partners.




- Monitor policy developments and provide recommendations to support successful MSP implementation.
- Support the periodic review of the MSP to ensure it continues to achieve its goals and is responsive to the needs of stakeholders and communities.
- Facilitate transparent communication on MSP implementation.
- Support stakeholder engagement, awareness campaigns, and public engagement activities.
- Ensure MSP outputs align with SOS and the national framework.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

- Bachelor's degree in natural resource management, marine biology, or related field.
- Minimum of 4 years of progressive experience in program management, preferably across the Pacific region.
- Knowledge of marine spatial planning, marine conservation, fisheries management, and/or ocean policy and governance.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs involving governments, NGOs, consultants, and interdisciplinary teams.
- Strong program management skills, including work planning, budgeting, reporting, and coordinating implementation across multiple workstreams.

Preferred

- Independent, team-oriented, strategic problem-solving, and detail-focused.
- Creative thinker, able to seek out impactful ways to deliver communications for CI Samoa, SOS, and CI more broadly.
- Ability to function well in a multicultural, diverse, and fast-paced work team environment.
- Service focus. Courteous, tactful, and proven ability to work effectively with others.
- Ability to work under general supervision and work directly with immediate supervisor to solve problems.

Application Deadline: August 27, 2026 (11:49PM EST)

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📌 Senior Marine Officer-msp Coordinator (Apia)
🏢 Conservation International
📍 Apia