Deputy Director; Ocean Program

This position will be hybrid which requires 8 days/month in Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program: 

The ocean is fundamental to the future of people, nature, and climate. More than 3 billion people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods and food, and the ocean provides numerous ecosystem services that benefit humanity. Moreover, ocean-based climate solutions can potentially reduce the “emissions gap” by up to 35% on a 1.5°C trajectory by 2050.

Recognizing this importance, the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute (WRI) seeks to catalyse a world where effective ocean protection enables sustainable production of what the ocean provides, yielding prosperity for all. In other words, we seek a world where not only Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14) is met but also many of the other SDGs for which the ocean can provide solutions.

Learn more: Accelerating Ocean Action for a Sustainable Ocean Economy https://www.wri.org/ocean

Job Highlight: 

Reporting to the Global Director, you will integrate equity into your work. You will work closely with the Global Director to provide strategic guidance, foster collaboration, and drive innovative initiatives for ocean conservation and sustainable development. You will play a key role in WRI's contributions to global platforms, and provide leadership over key initiatives, including the 100% Alliance for a sustainable ocean economy and the Ocean Finance workstream.

We offer an opportunity to shape global ocean conservation efforts, develop impactful partnerships, and spearhead innovative approaches to advance ocean health and prosperity.

What will you do: 

Strategic Leadership and Program Management (60%):

• Collaborate with the Global Director to refine and implement the WRI Ocean Program’s strategic priorities
• Lead the 100% Alliance initiative, overseeing program development, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of measurable outcomes
• Manage the Ocean Finance workstream, ensuring alignment with WRI’s broader sustainable development goals
• Ensure effective planning, coordination, and monitoring of program activities and budgets
• Support the Our Ocean Conference and High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy secretariats, including planning, organizing, and participating in high-impact initiatives

Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement (25%):

• Build and maintain high-level partnerships with governments, private sector stakeholders, and multilateral organizations to support program objectives
• Represent the Ocean Program in international forums, conferences such as the UN Ocean Conference, CBD and Climate COPs, and Our Ocean Conference, and bilateral meetings to advance WRI’s ocean agenda
• Cultivate collaboration with WRI country offices, donors, and partner organizations to drive implementation and scalability
• Engage with policymakers and global leaders to foster alignment with WRI's ocean agenda

Team Leadership and Capacity Building (15%):

• Mentor and manage a team of staff and consultants, fostering a high-performing and inclusive work environment
• Lead efforts to secure funding for program sustainability, including proposal development and donor stewardship
• Promote cross-team collaboration within WR