Overview

Project Officer, Marine Conservation Jobs in Malé, Maldives at IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa

Title: Project Officer, Marine Conservation

Company: IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa

Location: Malé, Maldives

Vacancy #: 7681 Unit: Maldives Country Office Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Maldives Project Office, Malé, Maldives Reporting to: Manager, Maldives Country Programme Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 01 October 2026 Type of contract: Fixed-term (up to 24 months with possibility of renewal) Closing date: 26 August 2026

BACKGROUND

The Maldives hosts globally significant marine and coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and associated island ecosystems that underpin the national economy, food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience. However, these ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to multiple and cumulative pressures, including climate change, overexploitation of marine resources, coastal development, and pollution.

In response, conservation and management approaches are evolving beyond a sole focus on threat reduction towards strengthening ecosystem resilience by supporting natural processes that enhance resistance, recovery, and adaptive capacity under changing climatic conditions. This shift underscores the need for effective, science-based, and locally informed conservation actions.

Within this context, IUCN Maldives implements a diverse portfolio of initiatives spanning biodiversity conservation, marine and coastal management, waste management, pollution reduction, and environmental governance.

Job Description

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The Project Officer, Marine Conservation will provide technical and operational support to IUCN Maldives’ marine and coastal conservation initiatives, working closely with government counterparts, implementing partners, and project teams to support effective project delivery. The position will contribute to Improved Biodiversity Management to support a Blue Economy in the Maldives Project funded by the European Union.

  • Technical Support
  • Provide technical support to the design, execution and application of ecosystem and biodiversity assessments, as well as ecological monitoring to identify conservation priorities and advance marine protected area management.
  • Plan and execute the full lifecycle of field surveys and data collection including the formulation of site-specific methodologies, including the delivery of technical training, field logistics and manpower requirements.
  • Assist with capacity building activities for government institutions, CSOs, community stakeholders, and private sector partners to support monitoring of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, as required.
  • Assist in the collection, organisation, and preliminary analysis of ecological data to support various project outputs and reporting requirements.
  • Maintain, manage, and deploy IUCN Maldives field equipment, in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • Project Management and Implementation Support
  • Provide technical and operational support to marine and coastal project activities through the day-to-day coordination and management to ensure delivery of agreed targets and quality outputs.
  • Contribute to the preparation of annual workplans, ensuring alignment with programme and national priorities and support financial planning and budgeting.
  • Determine technical requirements and prepare draft terms of reference for consultants and support technical quality assurance of consultant deliverables.
  • Support preparation of technical reports; recommending appropriate measures for management of natural resources.
  • Conduct project field visits and provide technical and operational support to site partners and implementing agencies, as required.
  • Support to Communication
  • Support project advocacy and visibility by providing thematic technical content to meetings, workshops, trainings, and other outreach events, as assigned.
  • Provide thematic technical inputs for reports, briefs, communication products, and donor and institutional reporting, supporting outreach and knowledge-sharing activities.
  • Support to Project Development and Fundraising
  • Assist in technical inputs on marine and coastal conservation context to support project formulation and proposal development.
  • Undertake any other tasks that may be assigned and mutually agreed upon with the line manager.

Requirements

  • Competencies
  • Sound technical understanding of marine and coastal conservation, biodiversity, and ecological monitoring, with the ability to apply established methods under supervision.
  • Ability to support implementation of conservation projects involving multiple stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, and community partners.
  • Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage field activities, logistics, and technical inputs efficiently.
  • Good analytical skills, including the ability to organise, interpret, and summarise ecological data for reporting purposes.
  • Strong drafting and reporting skills, with the ability to contribute to technical reports and project documentation.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including timely and professional written and verbal communication.
  • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and to take initiative within defined responsibilities.
  • Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including field-based work in remote locations.

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in marine biology, Marine Science, Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Fisheries, or a closely related discipline.

Experience

  • Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in marine or coastal conservation, ecological surveys, or natural resource management.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting field-based ecological surveys and conservation activities.
  • Experience working with government agencies, research institutions, CSOs, or community stakeholders is an asset.
  • Experience in preparing technical inputs, data summaries, and project-related reports.
  • Prior experience working in donor-funded or internationally funded projects is an advantage.

Language

  • Fluency in spoken and written English.
  • Fluency in spoken and written Dhivehi.

Computer and Technical Skills

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Experience with data management and basic data analysis tools; familiarity with ecological or statistical software and spatial software (e.g. CPCe, R, ArcGIS or similar) is an advantage.
  • Ability to use web-based platforms and databases for data management and reporting.

Additional Requirements

  • Certified scuba diver with demonstrated knowledge of dive safety procedures; Divemaster certification is an asset.
  • Strong swimming ability and willingness to undertake regular fieldwork in marine environments.
  • This position is open to Maldivian nationals only.

SALARY

The minimum gross annual salary for this position is MVR 297’200. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN’s compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the “Apply” button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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